The Best ways to use Ground Meat!
Easy, family-friendly ground meat recipes using beef, chicken, turkey, pork, and lamb. Perfect for busy weeknights when you need dinner ideas fast.
Ground meat is one of those weeknight heroes that doesn’t get enough credit. It’s affordable, cooks quickly, and works in just about every cuisine, which makes it perfect for busy families.
And yet… it’s also very easy to get stuck making the same two or three dinners on repeat (looking at you, taco night).
This list is here to help you break out of that rut without adding stress. Below you’ll find easy, family-friendly ground meat recipes from around the web that:
- Are ready in about 30 minutes
- Use mostly simple, everyday ingredients
- Work for real life (and real kids)
Think of this as a choose-your-own-adventure for dinner — no pressure to try everything, just lots of good options when you need them.
Go ahead and save this post so you can come back to it on busy nights. You don’t have to reinvent dinner every week
How to use this list:
Start with the protein you already have, pick one recipe that sounds doable, and call it a win. There’s no need to try everything.
Ground Chicken/Turkey Recipes:
Lighter options that still feel filling and kid-friendly.
Teriyaki Turkey Bowls – Its Cheat Day Every Day
Easy 20 Minute Turkey Bolognese – Salt and Lavender
One Pot Italian Wedding Soup – Chef de Home
Chicken Meatloaf Muffins – Haute and Healthy Living
Thai Turkey Zucchini Meatballs – The Gingered Whisk
Easy Ground Beef Dinners:
Familiar, comforting, and endlessly adaptable — great for busy weeknights when you want something reliable.
Best Ever Skillet Lasagna – The Life Jolie
Mini Taco Beef and Bean Pies – Kylee Cooks
Whole 30 Sloppy Joes – Physical Kitchness
Summer Harvest Chili – Peppers and Pennies
Sweet Potato Taco Bowl – My Kitchen Love
20 Minute Taco Pizza – The Life Jolie
Beef Empanadas – The Gingered Whisk
Clean Eating Hamburger Helper Skillet – A Mindful Mom
Deconstructed Cabbage Roll Casserole – Coffee with Us 3
Mexican Breakfast Hash – Athletic Avocado
Pizza Meat Muffins – Raia’s Recipes
Shitake Swiss Beef Stuffed Squash – WholesomeYum
Weeknight Ground Pork Recipes:
Richer flavor without extra work, perfect for switching things up just a little.
Spiced Pork Meatballs from The Gingered Whisk
Pork Fried Rice – Family Food on the Table
15 Minute Thai Basil Pork Stir Fry – Scrummy Lane
Ground Pork Tacos from The Gingered Whisk
Ground Lamb Meals:
A great entry point for exploring global flavors in an approachable way.
Greek Brown Rice Bowls – Running to the Kitchen
Moroccan Lamb Meatballs – Sprinkles and Sprouts
Moroccan Lamb Couscous – Nutmeg Nanny
Need more recipe inspiration? Try these other roundups:
- 30 Meals in 30 Minutes – These easy dinner recipes for families are perfect for busy weeknights! Over 30 weeknight one pan and 30 minute recipes your family will love!
- The Best Weeknight Slow Cooker Meals – These easy and family friendly slow cooker recipes are exactly what your busy weeknight need! Easy “dump and go” recipes with easy ingredients, tons of flavor, and exactly what you need in an easy dinner!
- Cast Iron Skillet Recipes – These easy one pan recipes are perfect for your cast iron skillet! Perfect for busy families who crave flavor and ease, these dinners deliver!
If coming up with dinner ideas feels harder than it should, you’re not doing anything wrong.
Inside my free Foodie Family Community, I share simple meal plans, foodie bingo sheets, and low-pressure ways to add variety without turning dinner into a battle.
You’re always welcome to join — even if you just need a little inspiration and fewer decisions.
For busy, real life families
A gentle place to make meals feel easier
For parents who want to feed their families well without making things harder, join our free, low-pressure space beyond the blog. It’s a place for encouragement, simple ideas, and occasional fun freebies – shared slowly and thoughtfully.
What a delicious round-up! Thank you so much for sharing my Pizza Meat Muffins! 🙂
You are so welcome!