3 Ground Beef Meals for Under $15
About this recipe
If you're looking for quick, budget-friendly meals that don't skimp on flavor, this recipe for three ground beef meals is just what you need. Each dish is designed to be simple and satisfying, perfect for busy weeknights.
In this video, Mr. Make It Happen shows how to whip up a Korean beef bowl, a cheesy taco pasta, and classic Salisbury steak, all for under $15 total. These meals are not only affordable but also deliver on taste, making them ideal for families.
Ingredient notes
- For the Korean beef bowl, use 2-3 tablespoons of brown sugar and 1/4 cup of low sodium soy sauce.
- The taco pasta uses 1 pound of ground beef and 1 cup of cavatappi pasta, but you can substitute elbow macaroni if that's what you have on hand.
- For the Salisbury steak, you'll need 1 pound of 80/20 ground beef, 1 egg, and 1 cup of bread crumbs.
Tips from Mr. Make It Happen’s video
- When making the Korean beef bowl, sear the ground beef until fully cooked and no longer pink, then drain excess fat for a cleaner flavor.
- For the taco pasta, mash the ground beef down in the skillet to achieve good surface contact, which helps develop a flavorful crust.
- Let the Salisbury steak patties chill in the fridge for about 30 minutes before cooking to help them hold their shape.
Good to know
- How many servings do these recipes yield?
- The recipes yield a total of 12 generous servings.
- How long does it take to prepare these meals?
- The total time for preparing all three meals is about 45 minutes.
No life story here — the video and the recipe are the whole point. All credit to Mr. Make It Happen: watch the original on YouTube.
The recipe
Ingredients
Steps
- 1
Prepare the sauce for the Korean beef bowl by mixing brown sugar, low sodium soy sauce, garlic paste, ginger paste, sesame oil, and a splash of vinegar in a bowl.
- 2
Sear the ground beef in a skillet until fully cooked and no longer pink, then drain excess fat.
- 3
Add diced green onions and white onions to the skillet and cook until softened.
- 4
Pour the prepared sauce over the beef and onions, mix well, and serve over rice or veggies.
- 5
For the taco hamburger helper, brown 1 pound of ground beef in a skillet, mashing it down for good surface contact.
- 6
Season the beef with taco seasoning, garlic, and onions, and sweat them down until fragrant.
- 7
Add tomato sauce and cavatappi pasta to the skillet, mixing well.
- 8
Fold in cheese and serve hot, optionally with sour cream.
- 9
For the Salisbury steak, mix 1 pound of ground beef with an egg, garlic paste, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and bread crumbs until well combined.
- 10
Form the mixture into patties and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.
- 11
Heat oil in a skillet and cook the patties until browned on both sides, then remove from the skillet.
- 12
In the same skillet, make onion gravy by cooking diced onions in butter, adding flour, and then beef stock until thickened.
- 13
Return the patties to the gravy to finish cooking and serve over rice.
Heads up — we had to guess a little:
- Inferred a small amount of sesame oil for flavor.
- Inferred a small amount of vinegar for acidity.
Credit where it’s due: this recipe was transcribed from Mr. Make It Happen’s original video on YouTube. Follow them there — it’s their dish.
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