6 Ways to Turn a Pound of Ground Beef Into Dinner
All ready in under an hour.
If you were handed a pound of ground beef, you’d probably know what to do with it. Burgers, some Midwest Mom tacos, maybe a meatloaf if you’re in the mood. These options are solid, potentially crowd-pleasing, and—hard as it is to admit—just a little bit boring. But ground beef is far more versatile than we give it credit for. Here are six of our favorite ways to turn a pound of ground beef into dinner—none of which take more than an hour to prepare.
Have a bag of frozen peas? Try Curried Ground Beef and Peas
This skillet version of keema matar—curried ground beef with peas—gets its high-impact flavor from caramelized shallots, garam masala, and ginger. Adding the beef at the end and cooking it gently prevents it from drying out and becoming tough and mealy. Finish with a drizzle of cooling yogurt and handfuls of fresh herbs, and serve with warmed naan bread.
No time for skewers? Make Turkish Skillet Kebab with Charred Peppers and Tomatoes
On an Istanbul culinary tour, our good friend Özlem Warren taught us to make her tepsi kebabi, or “tray kebab,” a skillet of juicy meat and roasted vegetables. It’s a hearty dish of spiced meat, tomatoes, and loads of veggies arranged in concentric circles, baked in a tray until browned and bubbly. Özlem recipe differs somewhat from the traditional format, taking inspiration from her mother’s recipe. She inserts the potato wedges into the meat, helping the meat cook faster and more evenly, while letting it soak up the pan juices.
Canned Chili not cutting it? Make Eight-Ingredient Beef and Bean Chili
Pull together a flavor-packed weeknight chili with just eight ingredients and a few tricks. A generous amount of tomato paste, cooked until deeply browned, develops rich, concentrated flavor, and a surprising addition of cocoa powder creates depth and complexity—but don’t worry, it won’t make your chili taste like chocolate.
Miss the Hot Pockets of your youth? Fry up some Skillet-Toasted Beef-Stuffed Pitas (Arayes)
Arayes are a Levantine favorite. These pita breads, stuffed with spiced ground beef or lamb, then pan-fried or griddled until the meat is juicy and the bread is crisp, are deeply satisfying, with tons of browned bits. We season the meat with baharat, a Middle Eastern spice blend. (If you can’t find it, use 1 teaspoon each ground cumin and sweet paprika, plus ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon.) We think you’ll find they’re almost Hot Pocket-like, but in the most grown-up way possible.
Got a samosa craving? Try Indian Spiced Beef and Peas (Keema Matar)
This dish brings to mind classic samosa filling, with tomato paste and garam masala creating deep, savory flavors. If you'd like the bite of chili in the dish, serve it with hot sauce or minced fresh jalapeños or serranos. Warm naan is the perfect accompaniment, but basmati rice is also good.
Need help kicking the takeout habit? Make Spicy Beef Salad with Mint and Cilantro (Larb Neua)
This spicy beef bowl with mint and cilantro is comfort food at its best—a heap of ground meat and plenty of sauce to sop up with rice, creating loads of flavor and freshness. (“My favorite Milk Street recipe so far,” a reader writes.) It’s a version of Thai minced beef salad (larb neua), but it makes a crave-able quick dinner. Easy-to-make toasted rice powder, called khao kua, is an essential ingredient here—it imparts a unique flavor, absorbs a small amount of the liquid, and adds a subtle crunch.
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Claire Lower
Claire Lower is the Digital Editor for Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street, with over a decade of experience as a food writer and recipe developer. Claire began writing about food (and drinks) during the blogging boom in the late 2000s, eventually leaving her job as a lab technician to pursue writing full-time. After freelancing for publications such as Serious Eats, Yahoo Food, xoJane and Cherry Bombe Magazine, she eventually landed at Lifehacker, where she served as the Senior Food Editor for nearly eight years. Claire lives in Portland, Oregon with a very friendly dog and very mean cat. When not in the kitchen (or at her laptop), you can find her deadlifting at the gym, fly fishing or trying to master figure drawing at her local art studio.
