15 Ground Beef Skillet Recipes That Save My Weeknights

One skillet and one package of ground beef, in 45 minutes or less.

By
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud

Devan Grimsrud is a Berlin-based writer, editor, and recipe developer originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota. After working in television production with James Beard Award-winning chef Andrew Zimmern, she relocated to Berlin and became the managing editor at Kitchen Stories, an international digital cooking platform with millions of active users. 

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Updated July 31, 2025
Devan Grimsrud
homemade hamburger helper in a skillet at a table setting with two glasses of soda and a side salad

Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

As a person who cooks and develops recipes for a living, many people in my life assume that everything I make must be complex—a multi-component, many-ingredient dish that's swooped and sauced up like a Michelin-starred restaurant. I don't know how they get these ideas, but if I had a dollar for every time I've nearly choked with laughter at an assumption like this, well, I'd have some extra cash on hand.

That's because, when I'm not developing a specific recipe (most of which are geared towards home cooks, not restaurant chefs), I eat relatively simply. In fact, I love a one-pan, -pot, -skillet dinner as much as anyone, and rely on them often during busy or just plain lazy weeks. And many of my favorite one-pan dinners start with one of the quickest cooking, most reliable proteins: ground beef.

So when I tell you that the recipes below are all made in under 45 minutes with a base of ground beef and a single skillet (or pan), you can rest assured that this list isn't just useful for you, but for me as well! Save your favorites for a rainy weekday, you'll be glad you did.

  • Cheesy Hamburger Pasta Skillet

    A top view of a skillet with the Cheesy Hamburger Skillet Recipe

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "Lean ground beef, such as ground sirloin, works really well here because of its beefy flavor. Plus the cheese and cream bring enough richness to this skillet. You can use ground turkey or chicken; I’ve even subbed bulk Italian sausage in a pinch."—Meghan Splawn, Recipe Developer

  • Ratatouille Ground Beef Skillet

    A skillet containing a cooked dish of diced vegetables and ground beef, garnished with fresh basil

    Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

    "I go with 90% lean ground beef for this dish—there’s no need to drain off any excess grease, and you can still add plenty of olive oil, too."—Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

  • Cheesy Baked Taco Skillet

    Cheesy Baked Taco Skillet with toppings on the side

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas

    "This dinner is the main dish and sides put together, so why not go big? If you have cooked leftover vegetables or even a bag of frozen vegetables, stir them in when you add the rice. If you’re using frozen veggies, cook them for a few minutes longer to thaw and cook off some of the liquid."—Sara Haas, Recipe Developer

  • Unstuffed Peppers

    spoonful of unstuffed pepper lifted from skillet with more

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

    "This recipe has all the flavors of classic stuffed peppers—ground beef, rice, tomato, and cheese—without the need to hollow out and pre-cook the whole peppers, stuff each cavity, and bake. In fact, these unstuffed peppers are ready in just 30 minutes flat."—Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

    Continue to 5 of 15 below

  • Sloppy Joe Skillet Dinner

    overhead view of Sloppy Joe Skillet Dinner

    Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

    "My family enjoys this skillet dinner topped with the same things we like on our sloppy Joe sandwiches: sliced pickles for the kiddos, plus sliced onions and pickled jalapeños for the grownups. You can also add a little fresh chopped parsley if you have it on hand. For crunch, try sprinkling on some fried onions."—Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

  • Easy Taco Casserole

    easy taco casserol in a pot at a table setting with bowls of toppings, chips on a platter, and a bottle of beer

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

    "For this recipe, it's important to use sturdy, thick-style tortilla chips and not restaurant-style chips. I like the GreenWise brand."—Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • One-Pan Beef and Chickpeas

    overhead view of 20-Minute One-Pan Beef and Chickpeas in a skillet with a side of greek yogurt and rice

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

    "This dish is heavily inspired by keema chole, which originates in the Indian subcontinent and is particularly popular in Pakistan, North India, and Bangladesh. Keema chole is a mix of ground meat and chickpeas, often with onion, tomato, garlic, ginger, and spices."—Devan Grimsrud, Recipe Developer

  • Easy Beef Krapow

    Beef Krapow in two bowls

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

    "This recipe calls for Thai basil, which has a minty floral aroma that is very distinctively delicious and iconic to this dish. If you cannot find it at your local Asian supermarket, feel free to use sweet basil since it is more readily available."—Frank Tiu, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 9 of 15 below

  • Homemade Hamburger Helper

    homemade hamburger helper in a skillet at a table setting with two glasses of soda and a side salad

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

    "If you want to add some vegetables to up the nutritional value, try diced bell peppers or tomatoes along with the onion, or toss in handfuls of fresh spinach or frozen peas at the end."—Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • Dolma and Ground Beef Skillet

    A skillet with dolmas cooked in tomato sauce and ground beef, served with pita bread and yogurt

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "This dinner tastes like it took hours to make thanks to the rich flavor of the ground beef combined with the tang of the dolmas, but from start to finish you’ll need less than 30 minutes to get this hearty main on the table."—Megan Scott, Former Senior Editor

  • Ground Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry

    Ground beef and broccoli stir fry over rice in a bowl at a table setting with a glass of water, a bowl of sliced scallions, and a bowl of sesame seeds

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

    "For an extra fast meal, buy packaged broccoli florets from the bagged produce section of the grocery store."—Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

    Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

    Nick Evans / Simply Recipes

    "Brown lean ground beef, chopped onions, bell peppers with a quick sauce of ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and beef stock. Fold in pieces of provolone into the warm sauce creating a gooey, cheesy, meaty concoction to stuff into toasted brioche buns, and you’ve got a quick tasty dinner made in one skillet."—Nick Evans, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 13 of 15 below

  • 4-Ingredient Enchilada Skillet

    Beef enchilada skillet topped with melted cheese, chopped tomatoes, and jalapenos

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Julia Gartland / Food Styling by Samantha Seneviratne

    "Be sure to drain the grease after cooking the ground beef. If there’s excess grease in the pan, then the enchilada sauce won’t mix in properly."—Jessica Furniss, Recipe Developer

  • Salisbury Ground Beef

    salisbury ground beef with a side of green beans on a plate

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

    "Serve this Salisbury ground beef over freshly cooked tagliatelle, pappardelle, or egg noodles for a weeknight dinner you’ll want to make again and again."—Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • Egg Roll in a Bowl

    Overhead view of a bowl of egg roll in a bowl next to two forks and bowl of sliced green onions

    Simply Recipes / Jessica Furniss

    "Add half a teaspoon of toasted sesame oil and half a teaspoon of rice wine vinegar with the soy sauce to enhance the egg roll flavors."—Jessica Furniss, Recipe Developer

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