Quick Easy Ground Beef Recipes for the Freezer
When I’m starting out our week or month and need to create an easy meal plan, first I go to my list of Budget Friendly Meals that I have been cooking and creating for years! I also use these Quick Easy Ground Beef Recipes for the Freezer.
Then create a basic meal plan foundation and go from there. I’ll share how I make my life easier with these hamburger meat recipes, so that you too can relax and not stress about what’s for dinner for weeks too if you like!
Quick Easy Ground Beef Recipes
All of these easy ground beef recipes a delicious and kid-friendly! Some you can freeze while others are better served on the same day and use the leftovers withing a couple of days. I’ve added in some of my favorite tips and tricks for the best outcomes on these recipes.
How do I make Lean Ground Beef?
I have a simple secret that I LOVE to share about making a more fatty ground beef into lean ground beef. All you do is fry it up good so that most of the fat is cooked out of the meat. Then rinse Beef in a strainer in super hot water to remove any excess grease off of the meat.
This removes nearly all of the fat and it’s ready to freeze or for your simple hamburger meat recipes!
How do you Defrost Ground Beef?
Simply put in the refrigerator over night. Or you can also defrost in the microwave. I don’t recommend that you defrost on the counter for the day. this has proven to breed germs and can make you sick! You CAN however run warm water over your ground beef to defrost…if you don’t want to use the microwave and it’s last minute.
The good news is that if you have already cooked your ground beef BEFORE you froze it…half the work is already done and as soon as you defrost you can simply add meat to whatever recipe you decide to make!
Other Names for Ground Beef:
Ground beef is known by different names depending on the region you live in. So if you see these names when shopping or when you look up a recipe, you’ll know they are all the same. Here is a short list of names:
- Mince Meat
- Hamburger Meat
- Ground Chuck
- Ground Sirloin
- Ground Round
Easy Recipes with Hamburger Meat:
I think you will love these easy ground beef recipes with few ingredients and simple ingredients!
This is a super easy recipe and the Stroganoff can be made ahead of time and frozen then you simply serve over noodles or rice!
Easy Ground Beef And Vegetable Casserole Recipe
This 5 ingredient Easy Ground Beef and Vegetable Casserole Recipe is so hearty and deeelish! Made with simple ingredients that can be tailored to YOUR family’s liking!
Easy Beef Stroganoff Skillet Dinner
If you need an easy quick and hearty dinner that will keep your family going through the evening during a busy season…this it! A delicious 20 minute meal from prep to table!
I LOVE to make recipes using Frozen Hamburger Patties! Super easy Ground Beef recipes with few ingredients. They’re made in a snap.
- Pizza Burgers
- Mashed Potato Burger Stacks
- Cheesy Sloppy Joe Casserole
- Cheesy Sauce Burgers in the oven!
- Salisbury Steak
- Crockpot Salisbury Steak
More meals to make with ground beef ~
Taco Meat that is made ahead and frozen:
When I am cooking up one of the batches of hamburger I add taco seasoning. I use this meat to serve with to make some of these recipes:
- Tacos ~ make soft or hard/crunchy
- Nachos ~ Jazz up plain old nachos with taco meat, peppers, tomatoes and onions…maybe even add some homemade guacamole and sour cream
- Beef Enchiladas/Chimichangas ~ I have a recipe for Chicken Enchiladas…simply use taco meat instead!
- Taco Salads ~ this recipe is chicken but you can use ground beef taco meat too
- Taco soup
Use Ground Beef in place of chicken and make Cheesy Beef Taco and Rice Skillet Meal! It’s super yummy and because your taco meat is made ahead it will only take minutes!!
When you’ve got ground beef already cooked and frozen, this is one of our favorite meals to make with ground beef! This Layered Beef Bake ready in a snap! Literally!
Use ground meat for Pizza topping!
My hubby loves meat on his Pizza. So when I make Pizza I have cooked Ground Beef all ready to roll.
Favorite Freezer meal time saver with Ground Beef
I like to a make a huge batch of Meatballs and then serve them in different ways with different sauces:
Meatballs Recipe
- 3 pounds lean Ground Beef
- 1 1/2 cups soft bread crumbs
- 3 eggs
- 6 tbls. minced onion
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- Mix all ingredients together. Make into 1 inch balls. Put onto cookie sheets and cook in oven for about 10 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove meatballs to another cookie sheet and flash freeze. Divide into dinner portions and put into freezer bags.
Serve Meatballs with these 3 different sauces:
Sour Cream Stroganoff Sauce Recipe
- 1/4 C. butter
- 1 small onion
- 1/4 C. all-purpose flour
- 2 1/4 C beef broth
- 1/2 C – 1 pint sour cream ( I use 1 C)
- 1/2 teaspoon dill seed
- salt & pepper to taste
Heat butter, add onion. Cook on low, Stirring for about 5 min or until onion is clear but not browned. Blend in flour. Gradually stir in beef broth. Cook, stirring until thickened. Stir in sour cream, dill weed, salt & pepper. Add meatballs. Heat to serving temp or cool and reheat later. Serve over noodles. Serves 6 to 8. Or 20 appetizer servings.
Sweet and Sour Meatballs Recipe
- 1 20 oz can unsweetened pineapple chunks packed in natural juices
- 1/4 C packed brown sugar
- 1 10 3/4 oz can chicken broth
- 1/4 cider vinegar
- 1/2 Cup Water
- 1 tsp. soy sauce
- 1 T ketchup
- 2 Tbls. cornstarch
- 1 C sliced green onion
- 3 green bell peppers, seeded, cut into 1 inch squares
- 5 oz can sliced water chestnuts
- 1/2 C shredded carrots
Drain the pineapple chunks, reserving 3/4 cup of juice (if there is not enough, add water to make 3/4 C) Combine juice, additional 1/2 cup water, vinegar, soy sauce, brown sugar and cornstarch in a medium saucepan and stir until sugar and cornstarch dissolve. Cook over low heat until thick and bubbling, stirring constantly. Add green peppers, shredded carrots, meatballs, water chestnuts and 1 Cup of pineapple chunks. Heat until meatball are hot, stirring frequently. Serve with rice.
Swedish Meatballs Sauce Recipe
These Mini Cheesy Stuffed BBQ Meatloaves are so deelish and are made in the Crockpot! This is another one of those great ground beef dinner ideas that just popped into my head! You can make them ahead and freeze for later!
Quick Spaghetti
Thaw beef. Put into a pan with Store bought Spaghetti Sauce. (or homemade spaghetti sauce) Serve over noodles. Of course you can always use the meatballs from the recipe below to make spaghetti and meatballs.
You can be creative with your Spaghetti too like this French Bread Spaghetti!
I also make homemade hamburger patties and freeze them too! BIG money and time saver!
What is your favorite way to use ground beef?
Ground Beef Meatballs
Equipment
- Cookie Sheet with Sides
Ingredients
- 3 pounds lean Ground Beef
- 1 1/2 cups soft bread crumbs
- 3 eggs
- 6 tabls minced onion
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together.
- Make into 1 inch balls.
- Put onto cookie sheets
- Cook in oven for about 10 minutes at 350 degrees.
- Remove meatballs to another cookie sheet and flash freeze.
- Divide into dinner portions and put into freezer bags
Notes
More Quick Easy Ground Beef Recipes for the Freezer ~
Make these Pre Cooked Hamburger Patties and Freeze for Later! Great for a quick dinner or for kids to prep themselves, since you need only to pop into the microwave for a minute!
More Freezer Meals:
Thank you for sharing this amazing list at the Home Matters Party. I will be saving this to reference this Sunday for my weekly cooking!
These are great ideas. Pinning your post now.
Found you on growing handson ids link up.
Love this! I am always looking for ways to make meals easier, especially since my hubby and I often take turns cooking. Thanks for sharing! #MarriageMondays
Stop saying “unthaw”….it is an illogical, double negative and makes you sound silly!! What is NOT silly however is your list of wonderful recipes. I am making frozen meals for a VERY soon mother-to-be and her husband, and am going to use many of yours! Thanks.
HA! Thank you Vee! You are right totally illogical…I’ll change it for sure. I appreciate you bringing that to my attention. Thank you for stopping by! Blessings!
I love having all these recipes come from freezing ground beef.
Love your list. Sometimes I get stuck in a rut with ground beef. The recipes are great. Thanks! I do the plain meat and taco meat already. I also have sometimes made meatloaf and frozen it, uncooked.
Awesome Cathy! I’m glad there were a few recipes you could try..I need to add some more “exciting” recipes to that menu list! Thank you for stopping by and have a blessed week!
I love buying ground beef in bulk! You have so many great tips that I can use!
What a great variety of recipes with one main ingredient! I love it! I’m featuring you on Makeovers & Motherhood’s Welcome Party Wednesday Link-Up this week!
I’m pinning these for later, Shari, since I’ll be going back to work soon. (SOB!)
I want to be able to pull out things in the morning for my kids to have dinner in the evening — trying to make it as easy on my husband as I can.
Love your great ideas!
I love that you have all of these great recipes and ideas in one place! I freeze a lot of things so this is a great resource for me. Thank you!
love the recipes will be adding to my list of recipes to try thanks for sharing have a great day
These recipes look delicious Sheri! What a thrifty way to use ground beef! Pinning this since it has great ideas for dinner!
I do the exact some thing but you’ve given me a few new ideas as to what to make with my freezer beef!
yay! thanks for stopping by Esther 🙂
The sweet and sour meatballs sound so good! I am going to have to try them, I bet the kids will love them. Besides burgers on the grill, you mostly covered my favorite ways of having ground beef. Tho I do like to make a Shepherds Pie. I am not sure if I make it right, I kind of wing it but it is similar and tastes good. I am bad at following recipes, I experiment way too much 🙂
Hi Dawn! Yes the sweet and sour meatballs are great..Mmmm Shepherds Pie is deeelish..so easy to make. I’m sure yours is great. I love to experiment too! I’ve come up with some of my family’s favorites that way 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by!
Blessings!
I love making stroganaff for my family! It is super easy and my little sister can even come into the kitchen and help! My blog is full of tons of kid friendly recipes!
Mmmm Stroganaff is so good isn’t it Thomas! I’ll have to hop on over and visit your blog..it sounds fun AND deelish! Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings!
Thanks for these recipes. I’ve never tried Swedish meatballs, but I love ground beef with gravy. And that is my favorite. Ground beef with cornstarch gravy over warm noodles.
Hey there DM..had fun chattin today 🙂 Yes I love it with gravy too! The last little recipe is like the one you suggest only with flour instead of cornstarch..but both are deelish 🙂 Thanks for stopping!
Blessings
thanks for the recipes and ideas!!! I have chill in the crockpot now!!
Your welcome! Mmmm chili sounds deelish! Thanks for stopping by! Blessings!
Meat pies of course. I love finding new recipes, thanks for sharing with us. Found.. Following your blog via facebook and i hope to see you around. Have a great week..
Thanks MayMay! Meat Pies..love that idea..I’ve made a couple of different kinds before and love them! See you around 🙂 Blessings!
Wonderful ideals and several items I did not know how to make and so this is going to help me out a lot Thanks for posting it.
I’m so glad this was helpful Glenda! and thanks for stopping by! Blessings!
We freeze lots of meat here. I love these tips!
I’m so glad you like them Kristen! Blessings and thanks for stopping by!
These recipes are great. I love the sweet and sour meatballs. I have a big pack of ground beef, so I am going to try these today for my husband – he will love them. Thanks for sharing the recipes.
Carrie
Hi Carrie! I’m so glad you like them and that they are something your family will use..it’s always nice to have a few things in the freezer for those busy days 🙂 thanks for stopping by! Blessings!
I like to make hamburgers or tator tot hotdish, of course tacos are also a favorites. It’s just fun to mix it up!
Hi Rachael! That’s funny you mention Hamburgers..of course I forgot to add that in..I like to make up patties ahead of time. Tator Tot Hot dish is great too..my fam loves that one. I’ve never froze though..have you? Thanks for stopping by! Blessings to you!