19 Healthy Ground Beef Recipes You’ll Come Back To
Perhaps you hear “healthy ground beef recipes” and get a little confused. And that’s okay! Ground beef is usually associated with dishes that aren’t the most nutrient-dense (looking at you, smash burgers and sloppy joes—still love you both). But there are actually tons of ways ground beef can fit into nutritious meals. Turns out, the macros-tracking gym-goers enjoying their “kibble” of ground beef and rice may be onto something: Ground beef is a high-quality protein option (over 20 grams per 3.5-oz. serving!), and packed with iron, vitamin B₁₂, and zinc. It’s naturally low-carb and gluten-free, leaving you free to add your preferred carbohydrates to fit which recipe you’re making, from potatoes to pasta to brown rice. When it comes to extra-healthy dinners, opting for lean ground beef or grass-fed beef can be great options, all equally delicious in any of the following recipes. And when you’re really ready to take it to the next level, this juicy bison burger is waiting for you.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Leslie Raney Garetto, Prop Styling by Emma Ringness1/19Spiced Beef Baked Potatoes
When it comes to healthy ground beef recipes, I must shout out the new edition of my column Good for You, which features a big baked potato with smoky spiced beef filling. Yes, white potatoes are a nutrition powerhouse!
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Leslie Raney Garetto, Prop Styling by Emma Ringness2/19Cottage Cheese Meatballs
Want to get your protein, carbs, and fat in one bite? Give meatloaf a break and check out these tender cottage cheese meatballs. They’re just as good swimming in marinara as they are in with tahini sauce, pickles, and onions.
Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne, and Prop Styling by Emma Ringness3/19Grilled Kofta-Stuffed Peppers
Photographs by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr. & Travis Rainey, Prop Styling by Emma Ringness, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne5/19Smoky Lamb With Spiced Yogurt
Double the protein, double this fun in this Greek yogurt bowl. While ground lamb can be quite rich and gamey, beef is a more mellow option.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Alexandra Massillon6/19Miso Curry Beef and Green Beans
Japanese curry powder and a salty-sweet blend of condiments bring so much flavor you’ll find yourself making this simple dinner at least once a week. (At least, I find myself doing it!)
Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Food Styling by Micah Morton, Prop Styling by Emma Ringness7/19Weeknight Pumpkin Chili
Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Food Styling by Drew Aichele, and Prop Styling by Adrian Ababović8/19Spiced Meatballs With Golden Raisin–Pistachio Pilaf
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht, Prop Styling by Emma Ringness9/19Red Curry Pork and Rice Cake Stir-Fry
This speedy weeknight dinner has help from frozen Korean rice cakes and store-bought curry paste. It officially calls for ground pork but makes an excellent ground beef stir-fry.
Photo by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht, Prop Styling by Christina Allen10/19Five-Spice Beef Noodle Soup
No Instant Pot or slow cooker needed to make this pho-inspired soup, which I regularly turn to when trying to ignore the siren call of the delivery app. A squiggle of sriracha on top brings some welcome heat to the spiced broth.
Photograph by Heami Lee, food styling by Judy Kim, prop styling by Nicole Louie11/19Spiced Beef Taco Bowls
Photography by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Christina Allen12/19Beefy Cheesy Sweet Potatoes With Kimchi
It’s probably obvious at this point that I love potatoes with beef. This one brings a nachos vibe. Sweet potatoes offer a more fiber-packed option than tortilla chips, and there’s gut-health-boosting kimchi instead of salsa. In addition to the green onion topping, gild the lily with some thinly sliced avocado.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Micah Morton, prop styling by Tim Ferro14/19No-Skewer-Needed Kebabs With Onion Salad
Photograph by Cody Guilfoyle, Prop Styling by Nicole Louie, Food Styling by Thu Buser15/19Spicy Kimchi Sujebi
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova, Prop Styling by Gerri K. Williams16/19Meatball Soup With Beef Stew Vibes
Photo by Chelsie Craig, food styling by Frances Boswell18/19Hummus With Spiced Summer Squash and Lamb
More Healthy Cooking From Bon Appétit
- Learn to love cottage cheese and hit your protein goals with this berry smoothie.
- Turn bone broth into a complete and nourishing meal—all in 10 minutes.
- In our recipe advice column, Dear Bon Appétit: A new mom needs protein-rich meals that come together in a hurry.
- Try these high-fiber breakfast recipes to get you, ahem, moving.
- Meal prepping doesn’t have to be a slog. These healthy recipes keep things interesting.
- 43 healthy recipes for craveable, satisfying dinners.
- No time to cook? We reviewed the best high-protein meal delivery services.
- Check out the healthy snacks our editors are obsessed with.
