Quick Meals Using Ground Beef
No matter what day of the week you come over to my house, there’s a good chance you will find some ground beef both in my fridge and in my freezer. It is inexpensive and a great way to make some quick meals in about 15 minutes.
My big time-saving trick when it comes to ground beef is to go ahead and brown it as soon as I get back from the store. I just season it with a little salt and pepper while it cooks, then allow it cool and store it in the fridge.
When dinner time comes around and I am in a rush, I use the already browned ground beef to make:
Spaghetti Sauce
Just heat the meat in some tomato sauce while the pasta boils. Serve with garlic toast.
Tacos
Heat and season the meat, scoop into taco shells and top with lettuce, tomato, cheese and a little sour cream. Serve with refried or black beans.
Quick Beef and Vegetable Soup
Add the ground beef to a stock pot along with several cans of vegetables (we like green beans, tomatoes, corn and lima beans) and some beef broth. Bring to a simmer and allow to cook for at least 5 minutes or until you are ready to eat. The longer it simmers the better the soup will be. Serve with some bread, cornbread or biscuits.
Quick and Easy Chili
Heat your ground beef in a pot with 2 cans of chili beans and a small can of tomato sauce. Add salt, pepper and chili powder to taste. Serve with tortillas or corn chips.
I always include at least 2 dishes that include precooked ground beef or chicken in my weekly meal plan to use on days when I know we are busy. It’s a great time saver as well as frugal. If this is something you are interested in, take a moment to read a conversation I had with my good friend Christine about family meal planning here.
