These dinner recipes are the epitome of comfort food. As a quick-cooking, budget friendly protein, ground beef is transformed in these recipes into tasty skillet dinners, pastas and casseroles. Try recipes like our High-Protein Cheeseburger Salad or Loaded Broccoli & Beef Casserole for a cozy, delicious dinner that you’ll turn to again and again.
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Unstuffed Zucchini Casserole
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood.
This hearty dinner takes all the flavors of classic stuffed zucchini and turns them into an easy casserole. Instead of hollowing and stuffing each zucchini, everything is layered in one dish for a quicker, no-fuss dinner. A sprinkle of shredded cheese on top melts into a bubbly, golden layer that ties it all together. This cozy casserole is perfect for a weeknight dinner and is an excellent way to use up summer zucchini.
High-Protein Cheeseburger Salad
Photographer: Hannah Hufham, Food Stylist: Marianne Williams , Prop Stylist: Keoshia McGhee
This cheeseburger salad is a fun twist on a classic burger. It features a crisp base of chopped iceberg lettuce, thinly sliced red onion, pickles and juicy cherry tomatoes. A melty cheeseburger patty is served warm on top, along with a tangy ketchup-mayo-pickle sauce that ties all the flavors together. Optional sesame seeds add a hint of crunch and nod to the traditional burger bun.
High-Protein Ground Beef & Sweet Potato Skillet
Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Stylist: Sammy Mila, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco
This ground beef and sweet potato skillet is a fast, hearty meal made with just five simple ingredients (not counting oil, salt and pepper) for a flavorful one-pan dinner. The sweet potatoes cook until tender, soaking up the savory flavors from the beef and veggies. With no complicated prep or cleanup, it’s a satisfying and stress-free option for any night of the week.
5-Ingredient Taco Stuffed Peppers
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Styling: Josh Hoggle.
These five-ingredient stuffed peppers are a simple, satisfying twist on taco night with all the flavors you love. Sweet bell peppers act as the perfect vessel for a filling of lean ground beef, black beans, salsa and melty cheese. Serve them with a dollop of sour cream, sliced avocado and/or fresh cilantro for a little extra flair.
Loaded Broccoli & Beef Casserole
Photographer: Hannah Hufham, Food Stylist: Giovanni Vazquez, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong
This loaded broccoli-and-beef casserole is packed with comforting flavors. Lean ground beef teams up with broccoli and brown rice to create a hearty, fiber-packed base with a creamy sauce. The highlight is the melted cheese on top—once broiled, it transforms into a golden, crispy layer that’s finished with bacon and scallions for the ultimate “loaded” experience. To keep prep simple, look for bags of pre-cut broccoli florets.
Taco Skillet Pasta
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
This taco pasta casserole is the ultimate mashup of comfort food and Tex-Mex flavors. This one-pan wonder that combines pasta with classic taco ingredients cuts down on cleanup and packs a serious protein punch, thanks to lean ground beef and shredded Mexican cheese. Top it off with fresh cilantro, avocado, tomato and a dollop of sour cream for a nutritious, flavor-packed meal that’s sure to become a weeknight favorite.
Cheesy Beef & Black Bean Skillet Casserole
Photographer: Jennifer Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
Think of this creamy skillet casserole as a one-pan taco. The corn tortillas crisp up under the broiler, adding crunch to go with the creamy filling. If you enjoy a bit of spiciness, opt for hot salsa or chipotle salsa for some smoky undertones. Tomatillo salsa works well, too, adding tang and a fresh flavor to this easy skillet dinner.
Cheeseburger Casserole
Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop stylist: Gabriel Greco
If you love a classic cheeseburger with all the fixings, you’ll love this family-friendly cheeseburger casserole. Rotini pasta picks up all the flavors of this comforting dish, but any shape pasta you have in your pantry will work well. We love the crunch shredded fresh lettuce offers, but feel free to mix it up with another green like spinach or kale, or top your casserole with Swiss cheese and sautéed mushrooms for a different spin.
Copycat Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
This copycat Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli soup features lean ground beef, ditalini pasta and plenty of beans—just like the original.
Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Skillet
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
This savory, meaty dish is prepared in a skillet and baked, capturing the essence of the classic dish while simplifying the process. To expedite prep, we recommend using precooked microwaveable brown rice.
Stuffed Pepper Skillet
Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist Tucker Vines
This stuffed pepper skillet recipe takes the ingredients in a classic stuffed pepper and spins them into a convenient skillet dinner. Earthy, sweet bell peppers take the spotlight, softening just enough while still retaining their delightful crunch. Ground beef packs in the protein and can easily be swapped out for ground turkey or crumbled tofu. Precooked brown rice completes this hearty dish. With a blanket of gooey melted cheese on top, it’s a meal that hits all the right notes.
Easy Meatloaf
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf
Comforting, flavorful and filling, this easy meatloaf recipe has it all. A combination of ground beef and Italian turkey sausage provides tons of flavor. Of course, you can’t forget the familiar ketchup topping. Serve alongside a leafy salad or with mashed potatoes and green beans.
American Goulash
Photographer: Brie Goldman Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco
American goulash, also known as old-fashioned goulash, is the perfect economical family meal. The pasta cooks right in the sauce, so this satisfying dish can be made in just one pot.
Mom’s Chili
This healthy basic beef chili recipe is well worth doubling so you can throw a batch in the freezer. Serve topped with diced red onion, sliced scallions, shredded cheese and your favorite hot sauce.
Skillet Ravioli Lasagna
Photographer: Kelsey Hansen, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Breanna Ghazali
This easy inside-out ravioli lasagna is the ultimate weeknight comfort food—no layering or mixing bowls required. Feel free to swap in ground turkey for the beef. Look for fresh mozzarella balls (also called “pearls”) in the specialty cheese section of your grocery store.
Baked Ziti
Photographer: Jennifer Causey, Food stylist: Ruth Blackburn
From saucy noodles to melted cheese, this baked ziti recipe is comfort food at its finest. We like a 50-50 combination of ground beef and Italian turkey sausage, but you can use just 1 pound of either, if you prefer. Rather than using jarred meat sauce, making your own helps cut back on sodium. Fresh basil leaves finish this dish that the whole family will love.
Smash Burgers
Fred Hardy
This garlicky smash burger recipe includes a hefty amount of portobello mushrooms, which adds a light texture and rich umami flavor. Using a hot skillet and flattening the burgers evenly forms the crispy golden brown crusts that smash burgers are known for. The sweet and smoky balsamic sauce pairs well with the meatiness of the burgers.
Air-Fryer Empanadas
These air-fryer empanadas cook up golden-crisp in the air fryer. The simple filling of peppers and ground beef pairs beautifully with bright and herby chimichurri sauce.
Cheesy Meatball Casserole
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
This cheesy meatball casserole is a family favorite, with basil adding flavor to the meatballs and grated onion adding moisture. Melted mozzarella cheese tames the spice, but feel free to cut back or eliminate the crushed red pepper if you prefer a milder dish.
