Maybe you’re like me and you like to stock up on ingredients for your freezer in fear that when dinner rolls around you’ll have nothing to offer! To avoid this anxiety…I often buy those huge packs of ground beef from Costco, or I’ll buy a few here and there when there is a good deal at the store.
No matter what, though, I always have ground beef in the freezer…and that was before Coronavirus! So…if you’re stocked up on a ton of food and aren’t sure what to do with any of it other than tacos and burgers…I’ve got 7 recipes for you to rotate through your weekly menu that your family is sure to love.
(In most of these cases, you can swap ground turkey or ground chicken for the beef and still have a great meal!)
Before I share the recipes, here are a couple of food safety tips to keep in mind:
- Ground beef typically only keeps in the fridge for about two days. Try to keep the meat stored in its original packaging and on the bottom shelf of your fridge.
- Cooked ground beef typically lasts in the fridge for about 3-4 days. So, if you don’t have plans to use it up in leftovers, go ahead and freeze it for tacos or a soup later on.
- Frozen ground beef typically keeps in the freezer for about 3-4 months. Again, keep it in its original packaging, but if you bought a huge pack from Costco, you might keep it wrapped up in a heavy duty freezer safe bag, aluminum foil, freezer paper, or plastic wrap to prevent freezer burn. Don’t forget to label how much meat you’re storing and the date!
- Ground beef has usually gone bad when it turns a grayish-brown color, looks a little dull color-wise, smells sour, and/or is slimy (ewww).
I hope this helps you along your cooking journey!
7 Recipes You Can Make with Ground Beef
If you're stocked up on a ton of food and aren't sure what to do with any of it other than tacos and burgers...I've got 7 recipes for you to rotate through your weekly menu that your family is sure to love.
One Pan Spanish Rice Bake
Busy family? This One Pan Spanish Rice Bake is for you. Other than the produce, it's a pantry meal, and it also comes together in a single pot!
Homestyle Mini Meatloaves
These homestyle mini meatloaves finally won my husband over to meatloaf! What's the secret? Besides scrumptious flavors, broiling right at the end adds a yummy crusty texture to the outside!
Indoor Classic Cheeseburger
Got that craving for a burger, but the weather outside is not conducive to grilling? Make this indoor classic cheeseburger and free yourself from the climate's control of your burger fix!
Spaghetti and Meatballs
Finding spaghetti and meatballs a bit bland? So were we! This recipe for the classic pasta dish is easy, cheap, and bursting with flavor!
Trainwreck Crock Pot Taco Salad
"Trainwreck" crock pot taco salad is simple, inexpensive, easily customizable, and incredibly tasty! It will please your family, or a crowd of almost any size!
Tex-Mex Taco Pasta
On the table in 30 minutes or less, this cheesy pasta is full of zesty spices and your favorite tex-mex ingredients!
Teriyaki Meatballs
Basted in a simple, sweet and tangy homemade sauce, these teriyaki meatballs are baked in the oven, making them easy, quick...and yummy!