Easy & Delicious Healthy Ground Beef Recipes for 2020 - Onnit Academy (2024)

You usually don’t read about healthy ground beef recipes, because ground beef gets a pretty bad rap. Sure, it makes hamburgers and other delicious not-so-weight-loss friendly food, but the truth is it can easily be part of a healthy diet. Ground beef is also relatively inexpensive, freezes well, and mixes with pretty much anything to make a complete meal.

If you started a healthy nutrition plan for 2020, and aren’t sure how ground beef fits, then you’re in the right place. Read on to learn the healthiest types, how to make good burgers, and even get inspired with a few easy ground beef recipes!

What’s The Healthiest Type of Ground Beef?

There are generally four types of ground beef, each of which has a different fat content.

1. Regular Ground Beef

This type of beef isground shank and brisket and is generally the least expensive. Regular groundbeef also has the most amount of fat—somewhere around 30%. Don’t knock the fat,however. The fat in the meat makes it the most flavorful. If you’re on theKetogenic diet and need some fat in your meals, getting it from ground beefisn’t a bad idea.

2. Ground Chuck

Ground chuck is oftenlabeled as “lean” ground beef because it has less fat content than regularground beef. Ground chuck contains about 20% fat, but is still flavorful.

3. Ground Round

Ground round is less-fatty option. It contains around 12% fat and is great to mix with veggies our sauces. Sometimes, the ground round is labeled as “extra lean.” Ground round is a good choice if you’re looking to lower cholesterol levels or just want a little less fat in your diet.

4. Ground Sirloin

Ground sirloin may bethe leanest cut, but it’s usually the most expensive. Because there’s onlyabout 10% fat content, it will cook a bit drier than other beef options. But ifyou’re really watching your calories, ground sirloin is generally the bestchoice.

When you’re out shopping for ground beef, it’s best to spend a little extra money on grass-fed, free-range options. Cows that were allowed to move around and eat grass usually produce better-tasting meat. Healthy ground beef is also generally free of antibiotics and other chemicals.

What Can I Eat with Lean Ground Beef?

Lean ground beef isgreat to eat with almost anything. You can stir it into vegetables, add it tosauces, or throw it in a baked potato. See the recipes below for more options!

Really, what you eat with your ground beef depends on how much you like the flavor of the meat. In general, meats with more fat tend to be juicier and taste better. Less-fatty meat tends to cook drier and have a mild, less “beefy” flavor.

How to Make a Healthy Hamburger with Ground Beef

Ultra-lean beef can bedifficult to make hamburgers with. The fat is what binds the beef together, sothere are a few things you can do to make your burgers juicy and flavorful,even with lean beef.

The best way to add somemoisture and improve the binding is to add a little something to the beef. Atablespoon or two of water, or an egg will often do the trick, but if you wantto be a little more adventurous, you can try moistened breadcrumbs, ketchup,barbeque sauce, salsa, hot sauce, or even soy sauce.

Combine the meat with your hands, but don’t handle too much. If you crumble the meat too much, it won’t stick together.

Quick and Easy Ground Beef Recipes

Eating healthy doesn’thave to be hard. The following recipes are quick, easy, healthy, and are greatif you like to meal prep.

For each of therecipes below, we used lean beef, but let your taste buds be your guide!

Ground Beef and Vegetable Stir Fry

This recipe isreally easy to transfer into Tupperware containers and take for lunch. It cooksplenty, so you can feed a lot of people with this recipe.

Ingredients

• 1cup brown rice
• 1/4cup soy sauce
• 2tbsp brown sugar, packed
• 3cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbspgrated ginger
• 2tsp rice wine vinegar
• 1tsp sesame oil
• 1tsp Sriracha
• 1tbsp olive oil
• 1pound ground beef
• 12oz broccoli florets, chopped
• 2green onions, sliced
• 1/2cup shredded carrots
• 1/2cup red bell peppers
• 1/2cup sliced mushrooms
• 1tsp sesame seeds

Directions

1. In a large saucepan, cook rice according to package instructions. Set rice aside.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, vinegar, sesame oil, and Sriracha
3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned. Drain excess fat.
4. Stir in broccoli, green onions, carrots, peppers, mushrooms, rice, and soy sauce mixture until combined. Allow simmering until broccoli is tender.

Meatballs

These meatballsare easy and super delicious. The most difficult part is deciding what to eatwith them!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cupPanko bread crumbs
• 2 oz.Parmesan cheese
• 1 cupparsley leaves, chopped
• 1 cup milk
• 1large egg
• 3cloves garlic
• 2 lb. lean ground beef
• 1/2 lb.Italian sausage
• Canola oil
• 1medium sweet onion, finely diced

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
2. Combine panko, Parmesan, parsley, milk, egg, and garlic cloves in a bowl; let stand 10 minutes.
3. Add beef, sausage, and onion to bowl. Gently combine using your hands. Shape into 36 (1- to 1 1/2-inch) balls.
4. Line a baking sheet with foil and lightly grease with canola oil. Place meatballs on a baking sheet and bake until browned, 15 minutes. Drain well.
5. Mix with your favorite spaghetti sauce and serve over noodles, or eat with veggies.

Stuffed Peppers

Stuffed peppersseem fancy and advanced, but this recipe makes it really easy to impressanyone—even your kids.

Ingredients

• 1can crushed tomatoes
• 3cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup scallions, sliced
• 1 tbsp.tomato paste
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper (if desired)
• 1 tbsp.granulated sugar
• 4large red, yellow, or orange bell peppers
• 3/4 lb.lean ground beef, browned
• 3/4 c.instant brown rice, cooked
• 2 tbsp.crumbled feta cheese

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350degrees F.
2. Cook rice according topackage directions.
3. In a bowl, stir togethertomatoes, garlic, tomato paste, oregano, sugar, 1/4 cup of the scallions, and1/2 teaspoon pepper.
4. Slice tops off thepeppers, just below the stems. Roughly chop the tops and add them to the bowl alongwith the beef, rice, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Mix well.
5. Remove ribs and seedsfrom peppers.
6. Season inside of pepperswith salt and pepper, and then stuff with beef mixture.
7. Pour a small amount ofwater in the bottom of baking dish and set peppers in it. (If they don’t stand,slice a thin piece from the base of each pepper.) Drizzle them with olive oil,and cover with tin foil.
8. Bake for 30 minutes,then uncover peppers and bake until they’re soft.
9. Transfer the peppers toplates. Sprinkle with feta and remaining scallions.

Taco Salad

Low-carb,healthy, and freaking delicious, this taco salad recipe checks all the boxes!

Ingredients

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• Romaine lettuce, or another salad mix
• 1-2 medium tomatoes, chopped
• 1/2 cup green onions, chopped
• 1 can kidney beans
• 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
• 1 avocado, chopped
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Directions

1. Brown beef and drain any excess fat.
2. Add taco seasoning and follow directions on packet.
3. If lettuce is not already chopped, chop lettuce or other greens mix. Drain kidney beans.
4. Toss all ingredients together in a large bowl. Top with tortilla strips, chips, or any other crunch you like!

Easy Beef Chili

Ingredients

• 2 lbs ground beef
• 1 onion, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 stalks celery, finely chopped
• 1 carrot, shredded
• 4 cans stewed tomatoes
• 1 can tomato sauce
• 2-4 tbsp chili powder (you choose the spice level)
• 2 tsp Italian seasoning
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 can red kidney beans with liquid
• 1 can black beans, drained
• 1 can white kidney beans, drained
• 1 avocado, chopped
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 cup sour cream

Directions

1. Combine ground beef, onions, and garlic in a large pot. Cook until beef is browned and drain any excess.
2. Add celery and carrot, cook until tender.
3. Stir in stewed tomatoes, tomato sauce, chili powder, Italian seasoning, and salt.
4. Bring liquid to a boil, reduce heat, and stir occasionally for about an hour.
5. Stir in beans and simmer for another 20 minutes.
6. Top with chopped avocado, shredded cheddar cheese, and sour cream.