Quick and Family-Friendly Beef Dinners

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Are you a busy mom seeking simple meal ideas? Or perhaps you’re a stay-at-home parent juggling multiple tasks and need quick dinner solutions? Regardless of your schedule, having easy recipes on hand is essential. Here are some delicious, kid-friendly meals featuring ground beef. (Check out our other post on chicken meal ideas too!) Since most of these recipes use browned beef, you can prepare a larger batch in one go and save some for later. This way, you only have to clean one pan while making several meals!

Meal Idea #1: Easy Beefy Mac and Cheese

Adapted from Michael Ruhlman
Servings: 4-6 (easily adjustable)
Tip: This dish is super easy to make ahead of time on the weekend and simply pop it in the oven when it’s time to eat. If you bake it directly from the fridge, increase the baking time since it won’t be at room temperature. Check the original source for freezing instructions—it’s very freezer-friendly!

Ingredients:

• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• Salt to taste
• Optional seasonings: black pepper, oregano, cumin, coriander, garlic, smoked paprika, chili powder (use what you love!)
• 28 ounces canned tomatoes (diced or crushed)
• 2 pounds lean ground beef
• 1 box macaroni
• 1 cup each of grated cheddar and mozzarella cheeses

Directions:

1. Sauté the onions in oil with a sprinkle of salt.
2. Add the ground beef, breaking it up as it cooks. Stir in your chosen seasonings.
3. Mix in the tomatoes, bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat and cook for an hour.
4. Cook the macaroni in boiling water until almost done, then drain and stir it into the meat sauce.
5. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed, then cover and let it rest.
6. Transfer to a 9×13 baking dish and cover it with foil. Bake at 400°F until hot (around 45 minutes if cold from the fridge). Near the end, remove the foil, sprinkle cheese on top, and broil until golden.

Meal Idea #2: Creamy Baked Spaghetti

Source: Plain Chicken

Ingredients:

• 12 oz spaghetti
• 1 (28 oz) jar prepared spaghetti sauce
• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 clove garlic, minced (or 1/2 tsp garlic powder)
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Brown the ground beef in a skillet until fully cooked; drain excess fat and stir in spaghetti sauce.
3. Cook spaghetti according to package instructions. Drain and place in a bowl.
4. Incorporate cream cheese, Italian seasoning, and garlic into the spaghetti until well mixed.
5. Lightly grease a 9×13 pan, spread a bit of meat sauce on the bottom, then layer spaghetti, followed by the remaining sauce, and sprinkle with parmesan.
6. Bake for 30 minutes until bubbly.

Meal Idea #3: French Bread Pizza

Source: The Frugal Girl
This is a great way to enjoy pizza night with minimal effort. Cut a loaf of French bread in half, spread pizza sauce on each half, top with cooked ground beef, cheese, and any of your favorite toppings. Bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly!

These meals are perfect for busy weeknights, ensuring you can enjoy family dinners without spending hours in the kitchen. For more fun ideas, check out this post on our blog.

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In summary, these beef-based meals are convenient, delicious, and perfect for busy families. With a little prep and creativity, you can whip up satisfying dinners that everyone will love!