Ground Beef Recipes For One (2024)

Home Cooking For One Recipes Beef Ground Beef Recipes For One

By Joanie Zisk

on Apr 06, 2020, Updated Dec 11, 2023

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Easy ground beef recipes all in single serving portions! From hearty meatloaf to classic lasagna, here are our most popular simple ground beef recipes for one.

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Ground beef is such a versatile ingredient and is so easy to cook with. Ground beef is inexpensive, it cooks quickly, and it can be used in endless delicious ways. This protein elevates simple soups and sauces and can transform a casserole into something truly special.

Ground beef freezes well and it’s a great idea to keep a package or two in your freezer for easy meal planning and prep.

If you need inspiration for what to make with ground beef, look no further. We’ve got over 20 creative dinner ideas listed below. Craving Italian? Try our giant meatball recipe, baked ziti or a perfect mini lasagna. If you love Tex-Mex, you’ll definitely love our taco salad and taco casserole. In addition, we’ve got Salisbury steak, a mini meatloaf, goulash, and many other single serving comfort food recipes!

Most ground beef is sold by the pound and a pound of ground beef will make roughly 3-4 servings. If you’ve got a pound of ground beef and are looking for recipe ideas, you’ve come to the right place. Consider dividing up your package of meat and meal plan with a few of these wonderful recipes made with ground beef.

These easy ground beef recipes are all made with pantry staples. Within each of the recipes, you will notice that we list creative ways and additional recipes that call for using up leftover ingredients so there’s no waste.

The Best Ground Beef Recipes

Ground Beef Recipes For One (3)

Spaghetti Sauce For One

5 from 11 votes

Easy spaghetti sauce recipe that can be used in everyday recipes. This made-from-scratch meat sauce cooks in just 30 minutes! Perfect for lasagna, spaghetti squash, or with your favorite pasta. Cooks in 30 minutes!

Spaghetti Sauce For One Recipe

Ground Beef Recipes For One (4)

Taco Soup For One

5 from 8 votes

This big and bold taco soup makes the perfect meal. Filled with ground beef, vegetables and topped with cheese, this single serving soup can be ready in less than 30 minutes!

Taco Soup For One Recipe

Ground Beef Recipes For One (5)

Salisbury Steak For One

4.77 from 30 votes

This Salisbury Steak Recipe For One is single serving comfort food at it's finest. Low in carbs and topped with a mushroom, onion gravy. Made with with pantry staples, this comforting meal can be ready in minutes.

Salisbury Steak For One

Ground Beef Recipes For One (6)

Beef Enchiladas For One

4.85 from 19 votes

Two flour tortillas filled with seasoned ground beef, onions, and cheese smothered in enchilada sauce and baked for just 20 minutes! A quick and easy single serving meal.

Beef Enchiladas For One

Ground Beef Recipes For One (7)

Mini Lasagna

4.91 from 42 votes

Indulge in a delicious Mini Lasagna, perfect for serving one or two. This small lasagna recipe features classic flavors and bakes in just 30 minutes!

Mini Lasagna Recipe

Ground Beef Recipes For One (8)

Hamburger Casserole For One

4.91 from 10 votes

This mini hamburger casserole is baked with seasoned ground beef, pasta, and cheese. It's comfort food at its finest, easy to make and full of flavor.

Hamburger Casserole For One

Ground Beef Recipes For One (9)

Spaghetti and Meatballs For One

5 from 7 votes

Spaghetti and meatballs is a comfort food classic and this wonderful recipe is a reminder that good food doesn't have to be complicated or require a long list of fancy ingredients. In fact, simple is often best, and in just 30 minutes you can have a lovely meal ready to enjoy.

Spaghetti and Meatballs For One

Ground Beef Recipes For One (10)

Beef and Cheese Pita Pizza

5 from 3 votes

Small Beef and Cheese Pita Pizza that is perfect for one person. Whole wheat pita bread topped with smoked gouda and flavorful ground beef, chopped bell peppers, onions and garlic.

Beef and Cheese Pita Pizza

Ground Beef Recipes For One (11)

Goulash For One

5 from 15 votes

This American Goulash is an easy, one-pot meal made with ground beef, onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, and macaroni. It's a simple skillet dish that cooks in 30 minutes.

Goulash For One Recipe

Ground Beef Recipes For One (12)

Taco Salad For One

5 from 4 votes

Easy Taco Salad Recipe ready in 10 minutes! All the ingredients you love in tacos can be found in this healthy and hearty taco salad. Filled with seasoned ground beef and all your favorite taco toppings.

Taco Salad For One

Ground Beef Recipes For One (13)

A Perfect Hamburger For One

5 from 2 votes

This easy recipe shows how to make the best stovetop burger. No need for fancy ingredients, this simple hamburger recipe is all you need!

Hamburger For One Recipe

Ground Beef Recipes For One (14)

Taco Casserole For One

5 from 18 votes

Layers of seasoned ground beef and cheese between crispy tostadas and baked in the oven. Easy single servings recipe is absolutely delicious!

Taco Casserole For One Recipe

Ground Beef Recipes For One (15)

Juicy Lucy For One

4.88 from 8 votes

This is the best Juicy Lucy Burger recipe! A burger stuffed with cheese and "baked" in the oven. While the burger bakes, the cheese melts making the patty very juicy. This easy to make recipe is inspired by the famous Juicy Lucy burger, originating in Minneapolis.

Juicy Lucy For One Recipe

Ground Beef Recipes For One (16)

Baked Ziti For One

5 from 22 votes

Indulge in comforting baked ziti scaled down to one perfect serving. Rich, cheesy, and satisfying, this dish is a quick yet decadent dinner solution.

Baked Ziti For One Recipe

Ground Beef Recipes For One (17)

Italian Meatball For One

5 from 6 votes

Easy to make giant Italian meatball topped with tomato sauce and Parmesan cheese. This homemade, oven baked meatball is juicy & filled with flavor!

Italian Meatball For One Recipe

Ground Beef Recipes For One (18)

Nachos For One

5 from 3 votes

These classic nachos are a great snack, perfect for game-day, or even a casual dinner. They're loaded with sautéed onions, garlic, ground beef, and cheese. Easy to customize and ready in minutes!

Nachos For One Recipe

Ground Beef Recipes For One (19)

Slow Cooker Meatloaf For One

4.94 from 16 votes

This Mini Slow Cooker Meatloaf is tender and juicy and so easy to make! Made with onions, garlic, spices and topped with a sweet and tangy sauce. This simple recipe makes the perfect amount to serve one or two people. Included in the recipe are instructions for converting a Crockpot or Crockpot-style slow cooker into a single serving slow cooker.

Slow Cooker Meatloaf For One

Ground Beef Recipes For One (20)

Mini Zucchini Lasagna

4.85 from 13 votes

Healthy, low carb, cheesy zucchini lasagna made with all of the wonderful ingredients found in a traditional lasagna but without the noodles.

Mini Zucchini Lasagna Recipe

Ground Beef Recipes For One (21)

Mini Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf

4.67 from 24 votes

Savor a Mini Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf, blending classic burger flavors in a homestyle meal for 1-2. Juicy beef, smoky bacon, and gooey cheese in every bite.

Mini Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf

Ground Beef Recipes For One (22)

Ground Beef Tacos For One

5 from 3 votes

Easy beef taco recipe made with ground beef and ready in minutes. This quick taco recipe makes a couple of tacos, perfect for those cooking for one.

Ground Beef Tacos For One

Ground Beef Recipes For One (23)

Chili For One

5 from 12 votes

Discover our easy single serve Chili recipe, perfect for a hearty meal. Enjoy this flavorful beef chili, ready in 30 minutes, for a satisfying meal.

Chili For One Recipe

How To Store Ground Beef In The Refrigerator

Refrigerate ground beef as soon as possible after purchase. Store ground beef either in its original packaging, in a zip-topped bag or in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Use within 1 to 2 days.

How To Freeze Ground Beef

If you have a kitchen scale, weigh out portions of ground beef and move them to freezer zip-top bags or wrap the ground beef in heavy-duty plastic wrap, aluminum foil or freezer paper.

Ground beef is best if used within 4 months. Be sure to mark your package of ground beef with the date it was placed in the freezer.

How To Thaw Frozen Ground Beef

The best way to safely thaw ground beef is in the refrigerator. Place the sealed package of ground beef on a plate and place in the refrigerator. The meat will thaw within 1 day. Cook the ground beef within 2 days.

Can Ground Turkey Be Used Instead Of Ground Beef?

Using ground turkey instead of ground beef is a simple way to lower fat and calories and with each of the recipes listed, ground turkey can be a good substitute.

Ground turkey is drier and less flavorful than ground beef. You might need to boost its flavor by adding a little bit more seasoning than called for in the recipe.

Because of its low fat content, ground turkey can easily get overcooked. When ground turkey is overcooked it gets dry and crumbly and loses its flavor.

What To Serve With Recipes Made With Ground Beef

You might like to consider making any of these single serving or small batch side dishes to go with any of the ground beef recipes:

  • Garlic Smashed Potatoes
  • Cornbread
  • Smashed Brussels Sprouts
  • Roasted Butternut Squash
  • Macaroni and Cheese
  • Twice Baked Potato
  • Baked French Fries
  • Instant Pot Sweet Potato
  • Scalloped Potatoes
  • Rice Pilaf
  • Mashed Potatoes

If you would like additional information on the dishes I use in our “recipes for one”, please visit ourFAQ page.

For examples of the dishes we use, please visit ourStore page.

If you’ve tried any of these ground beef recipes or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.

Also, if you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see!

Ground Beef Recipes For One (24)

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Welcome!

I’m Joanie and I’m incredibly happy you’re here! Our aim is to inspire individuals with access to single serving recipes, education, and a supportive community that will enable them to enjoy the preparation of a meal that will nourish both body and soul.

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  1. Have just found this site and love it! No more boring meals for me.

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Ground Beef Recipes For One (2024)

FAQs

How much ground beef for one person? ›

Try serving 3/4 of a pound per person to factor in the extra weight. If you're dishing up some ground beef for taco night, ¼ of a pound per person should be sufficient. You might want to consider ¾ of a pound for those with heartier appetites. A half a pound might not be enough.

What is 1 serving of ground beef? ›

A typical serving size for beef and other meat is 3 ounces, which is about the size of a deck of cards. A 3-ounce serving of lean ground beef has about 180 calories, 10 grams of fat and 15 percent of the daily recommendation for iron.

How many meals can 1 pound of ground beef make? ›

One pound of ground beef can typically make 4 to 6 servings, depending on how much you use per serving. Here are some popular ground beef dishes and how many servings they typically yield: Skillet meals: These one-pan meals are great for busy weeknights.

How many cups is 1 serving of ground beef? ›

1 serving of ground beef (1/2 cup) (Regular Ground Beef) contains 300 Calories. The macronutrient breakdown is 0% carbs, 81% fat, and 19% protein. This is a good source of proteins (25% of your Daily Value).

How many tacos will 1lb of meat make? ›

How much ground beef per taco? Each taco shell or small soft taco-size tortilla fits about 2 ounces or 1/4 cup of meat. If you add diced onions, you could stretch a pound of ground beef to make about a dozen tacos. With just the meat and spices, you can make about 8 tacos from a pound of meat.

Is ground beef healthy to lose weight? ›

Losing Weight

To be fair, though, there is some saturated fat and monounsaturated fat in even lean ground beef, whether you're cooking with 80/20, 85/15, or even a lean 90/10. Nevertheless, the high amount of protein that ground beef offers still makes it ideal for your meal plan, even if your goal is to lose weight.

What is the healthiest ground beef? ›

The meat from the loin primal is very lean, so it produces ground beef with the healthiest lean point. You will often hear ground sirloin called extra-lean ground beef. If you want to create a healthy menu and limit the saturated fat in your dishes, then ground sirloin is the best choice.

Should ground beef be rinsed after cooking? ›

Bottom Line

Rinsing raw ground beef could pose a health risk by splashing bacteria-filled juices all over your kitchen's surfaces. After the beef has been cooked, you're just rinsing away good flavor. If you want to get rid of some of the grease, drain the beef, but don't rinse it. It's just not necessary.

Should you let ground beef sit out before cooking? ›

While throwing a frozen patty on a grill or pan may seem like a timesaver, you'll see better results if you let the meat reach room temperature before it's cooked.

Should ground beef be seasoned before or after cooking? ›

This helps infuse flavors deep into the meat, ensuring every bite is flavorful. However, when the goal is crumbly, perfectly browned ground beef, like in this seasoned ground beef recipe, it should always be added after the fat renders from the meat.

Is 1lb of ground beef enough for 2 people? ›

A question we often get is “How much meat do I need?” The starting rule of thumb is: Boneless Meat: 1/2 lb. per person for adults and 1/4 lb. per person for children.

How much does 1lb of ground beef feed? ›

In general, we call for 1 pound of ground beef to make 6 sandwiches in our sloppy joes recipes. That works out to 3 ounces of ground beef per sandwich. Depending on the size of your bun and how meaty you like your sandwich, you can increase or decrease that amount an ounce or two either way.

How many servings is 4 oz of ground beef? ›

Beef, ground, 75% lean meat / 25% fat, raw, 1 serving ( 4 oz ) - Health Encyclopedia - University of Rochester Medical Center.

How much beef do I need for 2 adults? ›

Calculate roughly 400g per person. If cooking beef off the bone, 1kg will serve four and 1.5kg will serve about six, so 200-300g per person.

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