27 Kid-Friendly Recipes with Ground Beef (2024)

This list of weeknight winners includes kid-friendly beef casserole recipes, 5-ingredient main dishes, and more!

By: Rachel Bernstein, Editor, RecipeLion.com

27 Kid-Friendly Recipes with Ground Beef (1)

Hearty and delicious, there's nothing more satisfying for dinner than a ground beef meal. Whether you have kids or are just a kid at heart, these kid-friendly recipes with ground beef are sure to fill you up and keep you happy.

From ground beef casseroles to beefy skillet sensations and a whole lot more, the easy recipes with beef in this dinner recipe collection are just the kind of thing kids love.

They feature kid-approved ingredients like tater tots, Doritos, cheese, and more. And yet, you can feel good about serving these hearty main dishes (alongside some veggies!) for a wholesome dinner that the whole family will love.

These recipes are simple but full of flavor... just the way we like them!

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Table of Contents

  • Ground Beef Casserole Recipes
  • One Pot Kid-Friendly Ground Beef Recipes
  • 5-Ingredient Ground Beef Recipes
  • More Kid-Friendly Recipes with Ground Beef

Ground Beef Casserole Recipes

Mama's Pizza Casserole

Most kids we know are happy to eat any food with "pizza" in the title. So we think this delicious cheesy pizza casserole with ground beef is sure to be a hit with everyone at your house.

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Tater Tot Sloppy Joe Casserole

Tater tots and sloppy Joes top the list of kids' favorite foods, so why not combine them into one dinner that everyone will love? This delicious casserole makes a great comfort food and weeknight dinner.

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The Best Crescent Roll Casserole of the Year

This delicious casserole is totally kid-approved, and you only need 6 ingredients to make it. The flaky Crescent Roll dough and gooey mozzarella cheese make this a favorite of kids and adults alike.

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Easy Dorito Casserole

Dorito casserole? Yes, please! This kid-friendly beef casserole recipe is topped with crunchy, cheesy chips that will make everyone happy to feel like a kid again.

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"More Please!" Cheeseburger Casserole

The name says it all! This irresistible cheeseburger casserole will have everyone in your family asking for seconds.

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Cowboy Dinner

If your kids can't get enough of cowboy hats and horseback rides, then they're going to be excited to dig into this darn delicious cowboy dinner!

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Beefy Creamy Noodle Bake

This kid-friendly ground beef casserole is filled with everyone's favorite ingredients. Beef, sour cream, and plenty of cheese combine with comforting egg noodles for an all-star weeknight dinner.

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Taco Casserole

Try this fun twist on taco Tuesday! Combine all the best taco ingredients into a hearty casserole that the whole family will love.

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One Pot Kid-Friendly Ground Beef Recipes

One Pot Homemade Hamburger Helper

This delicious one pot hamburger recipe will please kids and adults alike! It's healthier than the storebought version and tastes terrific.

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One Pot American Goulash

This delicious American goulash recipe is brimming with rich tomato and ground beef flavor. It's ready in just about 30 minutes for the perfect weeknight meal!

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Instant Pot Sloppy Joes

Kids love sloppy Joes. And we'll tell you a secret... adults do, too! This delicious recipe will please everyone, especially because it's super easy to cook in an Instant Pot.

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One Pot BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger Rice

BBQ and bacon? Yes, please! This easy one pot ground beef recipe is going to be a hit with everyone in your house, no matter how old they are.

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Bacon Cheeseburger Walking Tacos

Does your family love walking tacos? Then make them at home in the slow cooker! This easy ground beef recipe is easy to customize for everyone's tastes, making it a great family meal.

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Cheesy One Pot Hamburger Casserole

This recipe is made with macaroni, which we all know is a kid-approved ingredient. This casserole is cheesy, delicious, and super easy to make!

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5-Ingredient Ground Beef Recipes

Hamburger Potato Casserole

You only need 4 ingredients to make this hamburger casserole, and it's sure to become a go-to weeknight meal! The secret ingredient is Alfredo sauce, which adds tons of flavor and a rich gooey texture.

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Aunt Bea's 5-Ingredient Cowboy Chili

Kids will come running to the table when you tell them that cowboy chili is for dinner! This easy recipe tastes amazing and only calls for 5 ingredients.

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Cheesy Taco Meatloaf

This cheesy taco meatloaf is one kid-friendly ground beef recipe that the whole family will love. It's topped with plenty of Cheddar cheese, so you know it's got to be good!

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3-Ingredient Hamburger "Pockets"

This easy dinner recipe is so fun to eat, and it tastes terrific! Melty cheese and ground beef is a combination that can't be beat in this kid-friendly dinner.

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More Kid-Friendly Recipes with Ground Beef

"Get Stuffed" Mexican Stuffed Shells

This delicous kid-friendly recipes calls for just 7 ingredients and takes just 30 minutes to cook. It's on the table in no time, and everyone will be happy when they sit down to dinner.

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Taco Pie Casserole

This family-favorite ground beef casserole is made with cavatappi pasta, for a meal that's a true crowd-pleaser. Even picky eaters will enjoy this gooey pasta dish, topped with plenty of crunchy Frito chips.

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Easy Skillet Baked Ziti

This cheesy baked ziti is easy to make and will please the whole family. The recipe uses ground beef instead of spicier ingredients like Italian sausage, so it's perfect for kids and others who aren't fans of spicy food.

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Sloppy Joe Grilled Cheese

Yes, we've found another recipe that combines two all-time favorite kid foods! But we think that kids won't be the only ones running to the table for this delicious cheesy dinner.

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Porcupine Meatballs

Kids will get a kick out of a dinner called "porcupine meatballs," and they'll be equally pleased once they take a bite. This tasty recipe is a variation on meatballs and rice, which is an all-time family favorite.

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BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger Nachos

This won't be an every week recipe, but it's super fun for a special treat! Ground beef makes this dish hearty enough for dinner, and kids will be thrilled with a meal with so many chips and so much cheese.

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Ground Beef Teriyaki Ramen

Add some extra flavor and protein to ramen noodles and you've got a new favorite kid-friendly dinner! This tasty meal is ready in just 20 minutes.

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Mini Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf

One great way to make a meal more kid-friendly is to make the servings kid-sized! These cute mini meatloaves are fun to eat and they taste delicious.

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Ground Beef Stroganoff

If you're getting a little tired of ground beef and tomato sauce, this is a great alternative. With a creamy mushroom sauce and plenty of noodles, this is fabulous comfort food for kids and adults alike.

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33 Quick Ground Beef Recipes

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27 Kid-Friendly Recipes with Ground Beef (2024)

FAQs

What do you use 73 27 ground beef for? ›

Ground Beef that is not less than 70% lean (usually a 73/27 or 75/25 lean-to-fat ratio) is used for burgers and in recipes calling for browning (crumbles) and pouring off drippings, such as chili, tacos and spaghetti sauce. When properly cooked, it is moist and juicy.

What can a 9 year old cook for lunch? ›

Kids' cooking recipes
  • Pizza with homemade sauce. A star rating of 4.5 out of 5. ...
  • Lemon & yogurt chicken flatbreads. A star rating of 4.5 out of 5. ...
  • Rice paper rolls. ...
  • Family breakfast station. ...
  • Salmon & spaghetti supper in a parcel. ...
  • Sloppy joes with brussels sprout slaw. ...
  • Salted caramel crispy Rudolphs. ...
  • Easy kids' omelette.

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

One pound of ground beef can go a long way if you're cooking for one. In fact, we can get at least four single serving meals out of just one pound.

What's for dinner kid friendly? ›

Top kids' dinner ideas
  • 1) Chicken nuggets.
  • 2) Easy salmon curry.
  • 3) Swedish meatball burgers.
  • 4) Healthy beef stew with veggie mash.
  • 5) Chicken pasta bake.
  • 6) Homemade fish fingers.
  • 7) Air-fryer jacket potatoes.
  • 8) Creamy chicken stew.
Mar 19, 2024

What to use 70 30 ground beef for? ›

Ground Beef (70/30)

You can find ground beef blends with a range of lean points, but 70/30 is very common. The high fat content makes this ground beef the ideal product for juicy burgers that require a lot of napkins. Just be aware that the meat will shrink considerably as the fat melts.

Is 80 20 better than 73 27? ›

While 80/20 may be 'superior' in a sense, because it is widely viewed as the standard for the optimal lean-to-fat content of a burger, you shouldn't sleep on 73/27 just because of the 7% higher fat content.

Can a 12 year old cook? ›

12-Year-Old and Up Cooks

Older children can start to improvise and prepare more complex recipes, often unsupervised. Kids who exhibit good kitchen safety skills, as described in the next section, can even use equipment like blenders and food processors.

Can 10 year olds cook? ›

With an adult supervising, a 10-year old should be able to scramble eggs, stir fry vegetables or flip a pancake on an electric stovetop (you may want to wait longer if you have a gas range). Safety tip: Be sure to teach them to tie back long hair and never wear loose clothing around the stove. Prepare a sandwich.

How many pounds of ground beef to feed 25 people? ›

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.

How many people does 2 lbs of ground beef feed? ›

6 people – 36 oz. (2 lbs.) 12 people – 68 oz. (4 lbs.)

How much will 5 pounds of ground beef feed? ›

That means you'll want at least 2 1/2 pounds of meat if you're planning to have 10 people over to dinner, and 5 or more pounds of meat if you're cooking for 20 guests.

What is a kiddie meal? ›

The kids' meal or children's meal is a fast food combination meal tailored to and marketed to children. Most kids' meals come in colorful bags or cardboard boxes with depictions of activities/games on the bag or box and a toy inside.

Is 73 lean ground beef good for meatloaf? ›

Regular ground beef (70% to 77% lean)

Ideal for meatloaf and meatballs, ground chuck holds its shape during cooking. The cooked meat should be moist, juicy and slightly firm.

Is 73 ground beef good for meatloaf? ›

Like meatballs, many meatloaf recipes include a blend of meat, which will determine whether you need fattier or leaner beef. If it's an all-beef recipe, avoid 90/10, and go for 80/20 or 85/15. Most recipes call for 70/30 or 80/20 ground beef, which makes a rich and juicy burger patty with a good exterior crust.

Is 70 30 ground beef good for burgers? ›

To make the juiciest, most flavorful burgers, choose ground beef that is 70 percent lean and 30 percent fat. To make more healthful burgers—but ones that are still pretty juicy and tasty—choose ground beef that is 80 percent lean and 20 percent fat.

What is the perfect ground beef ratio? ›

And on this, experts concur — the most popular and flavorful ratio of lean to fat comes in at 80/20. Paul Vaccari, owner of New York City's Piccinini Brothers, which sells to restaurants as well as individuals, says his most popular mixture for hamburgers is an 80/20 ground chuck.

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