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7 Ground Beef Dinners Under $5 Per Serving

Ground beef isn’t cheap anymore, so when I buy a family pack, I want it pulling its weight.

The easiest way to stretch it further is by pairing it with ingredients like rice, potatoes, and pasta. They cost less, fill people up, and help turn one package of ground beef into multiple dinners without hearing complaints from the table.

This meal plan includes 7 ground beef dinners designed to keep costs down while keeping dinner simple. You’ll also get a complete shopping list so you’re not hunting through seven recipes trying to figure out what to buy.

This Week’s Dinner Plan

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1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook 8 oz pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside. 2. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. 3. Add 1 lb ground beef, patted dry, in a single layer. Cook 4-5 minutes until browned, breaking up meat. Drain fat. 4. Add 1 cup diced onion and 2 cloves minced garlic. Cook over medium heat until onions are translucent, about 3 minutes. 5. Stir in 2 tbsp taco seasoning and 1/2 cup water. Simmer on medium-low until sauce thickens and coats meat, about 2-3 minutes. 6. Reduce heat to low. Add cooked pasta and 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese to skillet. Stir until cheese melts and coats pasta and meat evenly. 7. Remove from heat and finish with chopped fresh cilantro.

pasta
ground beef
onion
garlic
taco seasoning
water
cheddar cheese
olive oil
cilantro

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. 2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tbsp olive oil and let it shimmer. 3. Add 1 lb ground beef, patted dry, in a single layer. Cook without stirring for 3-4 minutes until browned on one side. Stir and cook until no pink remains and internal temperature reaches 160°F. Drain excess fat. 4. Add 1 cup diced onion and 2 cloves minced garlic. Cook over medium heat for 4-5 minutes until onions are translucent. 5. Stir in 1 cup tomato sauce, 1 tsp salt, and 0.5 tsp black pepper. Simmer for 3 minutes until sauce thickens and coats beef. 6. Stir in 2 cups cooked pasta (penne or elbow macaroni), then 1.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese. Mix well off heat. 7. Transfer mixture to a greased 9x9 inch baking dish. Sprinkle 0.5 cup shredded cheddar cheese evenly on top. 8. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly. 9. Let rest 5 minutes before serving. 10. Finish with 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley.

ground beef
olive oil
onion
garlic
tomato sauce
salt
black pepper
cooked pasta
cheddar cheese
parsley

1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tbsp olive oil and let it shimmer. 2. Add 1 lb ground beef, patted dry, in a single layer. Cook without stirring for 3-4 minutes until browned on one side. Stir and cook until no pink remains and internal temperature reaches 160°F. Drain excess fat. 3. Add 1 cup diced onion and 2 cloves minced garlic. Cook over medium heat for 4-5 minutes until onions are translucent. 4. Add 3 cups diced peeled potatoes in a single layer. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 15-18 minutes until potatoes are tender and golden brown. 5. Stir in 1 tsp smoked paprika, 0.5 tsp salt, and 0.25 tsp black pepper. Cook 2 minutes to combine and coat ingredients. 6. Remove from heat and finish with 2 tbsp chopped fresh chives.

ground beef
olive oil
onion
garlic
potato
smoked paprika
salt
black pepper
chives

1. Heat a large pan over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and onion. Cook until beef is browned and no pink remains. 2. Add garlic and seasoning. Cook 30–60 seconds until fragrant. 3. Add rice, broth, and sauce. Stir and bring to a simmer. 4. Reduce heat to low. Cover and cook 15–20 minutes until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed. 5. Turn heat to low. Add cheese and stir until melted and creamy. Rice should be soft and mixture cohesive.

ground beef
onion
garlic
rice
beef broth
tomato sauce
cheese

1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tbsp olive oil and let it shimmer. 2. Add 1 lb ground beef, patted dry, in a single layer. Cook without stirring for 3-4 minutes until browned on one side. Stir and cook until no pink remains and internal temperature reaches 160°F. Drain excess fat. 3. Add 1 cup sliced mushrooms and 2 cloves minced garlic. Cook over medium heat for 4-5 minutes until mushrooms are softened. 4. Stir in 4 cups beef broth, 3 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp grated ginger, and 1 tsp sugar. Bring to a simmer. 5. Add 4 packages ramen noodles (discard seasoning packets). Cook 3-4 minutes until noodles are tender. 6. Remove from heat and finish with 2 tbsp sliced green onions.

ground beef
olive oil
mushroom
garlic
beef broth
soy sauce
ginger
sugar
ramen noodles
green onion

1. Heat a large pot over medium-high heat. Add 1 tbsp olive oil and let it shimmer. 2. Add 1 lb ground beef, patted dry, in a single layer. Cook without stirring for 3-4 minutes until browned on one side. Stir and cook until no pink remains and internal temperature reaches 160°F. Drain excess fat. 3. Add 1 cup diced onion and 2 cloves minced garlic. Cook over medium heat for 4-5 minutes until onions are translucent. 4. Stir in 1 can (15 oz) black beans drained and rinsed, 1 can (15 oz) corn drained, 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes with juice, 4 cups beef broth, 2 tbsp taco seasoning, 1 tsp salt, and 0.5 tsp black pepper. 5. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes. 6. Remove from heat and finish with 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro.

ground beef
olive oil
onion
garlic
canned black beans
canned corn
canned diced tomatoes
beef broth
taco seasoning
salt
black pepper
cilantro

1. Preheat skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tbsp olive oil. Oil should shimmer. 2. Add 1 lb ground beef, patted dry, in single layer. Cook 6-8 minutes, breaking apart, until browned and no pink remains. Internal temp 160°F, firm texture. Drain fat. 3. Stir in 1 tsp dried oregano and 0.5 tsp salt. Cook 1 minute until spices coat beef. 4. In large bowl, combine 4 cups mixed salad greens, 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes, 0.5 cup sliced cucumber. 5. Top salad with warm ground beef. 6. Finish with 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley sprinkled over salad.

ground beef
olive oil
dried oregano
salt
mixed salad greens
cherry tomato
cucumber
fresh parsley

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One Plan. One Grocery Trip.

This is what the grocery list looks like inside MyGroceryPlan.

Everything is sorted by department automatically, so you’re not zig-zagging across the store trying to remember what you forgot.

Can’t find a specific brand or item? Pivot fast. The meal tied to each ingredient is listed right beside it, so substitutions are simple instead of stressful.

This is the exact system I use every week.