Like a loaded baked potato, cottage cheese meatballs, and kefta-inspired stuffed peppers. Perhaps you hear “healthy ground beef recipes” and get a little confused. And that’s okay! Ground beef is usually associated with dishes that aren’t the most nutrient-dense (looking at you, smash burgers and sloppy joes—still love you both). But there are actually tons of ways ground beef can fit into nutritious meals.
Turns out, the macros-tracking gym-goers enjoying their “kibble” of ground beef and rice may be onto something: Ground beef is a high-quality protein option (over 20 grams per 3.5-oz. serving!), and packed with iron, vitamin B₁₂, and zinc. It’s naturally low-carb and gluten-free, leaving you free to add your preferred carbohydrates to fit which recipe you’re making, from potatoes to pasta to brown rice.
When it comes to extra-healthy dinners, opting for lean ground beef or grass-fed beef can be great options, all equally delicious in any of the following recipes. And when you’re really ready to take it to the next level, this juicy bison burger is waiting for you. When it comes to healthy ground beef recipes, I must shout out the new edition of my column Good for You, which features a big baked potato with smoky spiced beef filling.
Yes, white potatoes are a nutrition powerhouse
Yes, white potatoes are a nutrition powerhouse! Want to get your protein, carbs, and fat in one bite? Give meatloaf a break and check out these tender cottage cheese meatballs. They’re just as good swimming in marinara as they are in with tahini sauce, pickles, and onions. These aren’t your grandmother’s stuffed peppers (no offense, Grammy!). If you don’t have a grill, bake them in a 400° oven.
This one-pot, noodle-free zucchini lasagna from Caroline Chambers’s new cookbook calls for ground turkey, but beef is a seamless alternative if you happen to have a pound in the fridge already. Double the protein, double this fun in this Greek yogurt bowl. While ground lamb can be quite rich and gamey, beef is a more mellow option. Japanese curry powder and a salty-sweet blend of condiments bring so much flavor you’ll find yourself making this simple dinner at least once a week.
(At least, I find myself doing it!)
Chili is a meal prep hero, and this autumnal variation is no exception. Don’t skip the roasted pepitas topping—the seeds add extra protein and magnesium to boot. So-called “boy kibble” gets full glam in this one-pot meatball and rice recipe, bejeweled with pistachios, golden raisins, and feta. This speedy weeknight dinner has help from frozen Korean rice cakes and store-bought curry paste.
It officially calls for ground pork but makes
It officially calls for ground pork but makes an excellent ground beef stir-fry. No Instant Pot or slow cooker needed to make this pho-inspired soup, which I regularly turn to when trying to ignore the siren call of the delivery app. A squiggle of sriracha on top brings some welcome heat to the spiced broth. Shout-out to a packet of taco seasoning for shortening the ingredient list here.
To up the fiber as well as protein in this bowl, throw in a can of black beans along with the beef. And if you can’t tolerate gluten, good news: It’s totally gluten-free. It’s probably obvious at this point that I love potatoes with beef. This one brings a nachos vibe. Sweet potatoes offer a more fiber-packed option than tortilla chips, and there’s gut-health-boosting kimchi instead of salsa.
In addition to the green onion topping, gild the lily with some thinly sliced avocado. For a big holiday dinner, look no further than this hefty casserole. Feel free to use lean beef since there’s plenty of richness (and protein!) from cottage cheese. These easier kebabs are essentially long, flat sausages. Don’t skip the yogurt sauce—its creamy tang cuts through the bite of the raw onion salad.
This recipe will teach you to make your
This recipe will teach you to make your own hand-torn noodles, but if you’re short on time you can easily find them frozen. A weeknight alternative to beef stew, I make this speedy soup on repeat as soon as the weather gets chilly. Cabbage rolls are a labor of love, but sometimes you need a healthy dinner that’s also easy-peasy. Enter this casserole version. When it comes to dinner, we love a one-bowler, and that’s why this hummus, squash, and mince combo is a dreamy option.
Even eggplant haters will give these boats a try. Don’t believe me? Sounds like it’s time to make them!
Source: www.bonappetit.com
