What Is Ground beef and How Can I Use It?
Here's everything worth knowing about ground beef and how to pick it, what it is, how to store it, and what to use instead, plus 1,063 recipes to cook tonight.
Key Points
- Ground beef (also called beef mince) is finely chopped beef that cooks quickly and takes on flavor well.
- Choose 80/20 for juicy burgers and leaner blends (90/10) for dishes where you drain the fat.
- Brown it over medium-high heat, breaking it up so it cooks evenly, then drain excess fat if needed.
- Cook to 160°F (71°C). It is done when no longer pink.
- Store fresh ground beef in the refrigerator for 1-2 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
What is ground beef?
Ground beef is finely chopped beef, also called beef mince or hamburger meat. It is one of the most useful proteins in the kitchen because it cooks quickly and absorbs flavors well.
How to Choose It
Look for ground beef with a fat content that matches what you are making. 80/20 (80% lean, 20% fat) is excellent for burgers because the fat keeps them juicy. 90/10 or leaner works better for dishes like chili or tacos where you drain off excess fat anyway.
Fresh ground beef should be bright red and smell clean. If it is grayish or has an off odor, do not use it.
How to Cook It
Brown ground beef over medium-high heat. Break it up with a spoon as it cooks so it browns evenly instead of steaming. Once it is no longer pink, drain off most of the fat if the dish does not need it.
Ground beef is done when it reaches 160°F (71°C) internally. It continues to cook a little after you remove it from the heat, so pull it slightly early if you are adding it to a sauce or casserole.
Common Uses
Ground beef shines in burgers, meatloaf, tacos, chili, shepherd's pie, and spaghetti sauce. It also works well in stuffed peppers, cabbage rolls, and kofta.
Because it is already in small pieces, it takes on seasoning and sauce flavors faster than larger cuts.
Storage
Keep fresh ground beef in the coldest part of the refrigerator and use it within one to two days. For longer storage, wrap it tightly and freeze it for up to three months. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before cooking.
Substitutes
Ground turkey or ground chicken works as a leaner option, though the flavor is milder. Plant-based ground alternatives made from pea protein or soy can stand in for vegetarian dishes. Finely chopped mushrooms mixed with lentils give a similar texture in sauces and casseroles. Ground pork or lamb can substitute when you want a richer flavor.
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 serving ( 3 oz ) (85g)Where found
Ground beef is usually found in the meats section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.
Food group
Ground beef is a member of the Beef Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.
How much does ground beef weigh?
| Amount | Weight |
|---|---|
| 1 serving ( 3 oz ) | 85 grams |
| 1 patty ( yield from 1/4 lb raw meat ) | 83 grams |
Related
Beef Products
- In Chinese:
- 碎牛肉
- British (UK) term:
- beef mince
- en français:
- boeuf haché
- en español:
- carne molida
Recipes using ground beef
There are 1063 recipes that contain this ingredient.
Grilled Burgers
Grilled burgers with sour cream, dried thyme, and parsley mixed right into the patty for extra moisture and herby savor. The juicy weeknight cookout staple in 20 minutes.
Meatball Chili Stew
Tex-Mex meatball chili stew with crushed tortilla chip-bound meatballs simmered in picante sauce, tomatoes, and kidney beans. Topped with cilantro and more tortilla chips for crunch.
Beefy Chili
Beefy chili is a Texas-style chili made with fresh dried chili pod paste, ground beef, oregano, cumin, and red wine. No beans, no powder, just deep slow-simmered authentic flavor.
Basic Hamburgers
Classic American hamburger patties seasoned with Worcestershire, onion and pepper, then broiled or grilled to your preferred doneness. Mix-in variations included.
Cheese Mushroom Hearty Meatballs
Stuffed cheese mushroom meatballs filled with melted Swiss and sauteed mushrooms, simmered in a tomato cream-of-mushroom sauce. Hearty Midwestern comfort food served over pasta or mashed potatoes.
Hamburgers on the Halfshell
Hamburgers on the halfshell, open-faced raw beef burgers broiled on a bun with tomato sauce, onions, pepper, and melted cheese. A pantry-clearing weeknight version of the classic burger.
Double Decker Hamburger
Big Mac copycat double decker hamburger with two thin smashed patties, special sauce, shredded lettuce, and American cheese. Includes the homemade hamburger sauce that nails the fast-food flavor at home.
Chili Con Carne Winchester
Chili con carne Winchester loads ground beef, kidney beans, and stewed tomatoes with a sneaky can of Veg-All for one-pot nutrition. Easy weeknight chili in under an hour.
Hamburgers Au Poivre
Hamburgers au poivre transforms ground beef patties into bistro fare with a cracked pepper crust, cognac flambé, and red wine pan sauce. Steak au poivre on a weeknight budget.
Family Favorite Burgers
Juicy homemade burgers with horseradish, Worcestershire, and breadcrumb binder. Bold, classic, and bursting with old-fashioned cookout flavor.
Hamburgers in the Freezer
Freezer-prep hamburgers: portion, bundle, and freeze quarter-pound patties with their buns for grab-and-grill weeknight dinners. Cook straight from frozen on the grill or in a skillet. No thawing required.
Beaumont Bbq Burgers
Beaumont BBQ burgers, browned beef patties simmered in a quick stovetop barbecue sauce of tomato juice, lemon, mustard, and steak sauce. Sloppy-style Texas burger on a sesame bun, ready in 30 minutes.
Easy Parmesan Meatballs
Italian parmesan meatballs simmered directly in tomato sauce, made with ground beef, milk-soaked bread, garlic, and grated parmesan. Tender, classic, ready in 40 minutes.
Herb Chili Burgers
Mediterranean herb chili burgers blend ground beef with chopped tomato, black olives, garlic, dill, lemon zest, and chili powder. A grilled patty with serious global flavor.
Ranch Burgers
Grilled ranch burgers with creamy ranch dressing mixed right into the ground beef patty plus more ranch on top. Quick weeknight or backyard burger ready in 20 minutes.
Hamburger with Variations
Cheese-stuffed hamburger patties with four global variations: French with brie, Mexican with Monterey Jack, Italian with mozzarella, and Greek with feta. Grilled over charcoal.
Double Decker Burgers
Double-decker cheeseburgers stack two thin beef patties with a tangy cheddar-mayo-mustard-relish spread between them. The homemade Big Mac alternative made with real ingredients.
Yummy Lion's Head Meatballs
Lion's head meatballs are large Chinese pork and beef meatballs wrapped in bok choy leaves and steamed in the microwave, glazed with stir-fry sauce. Easy weeknight Chinese dinner.
Kohl's Meatballs & Gravy
Tender beef meatballs seasoned with Parmesan and bread crumbs, browned and simmered until they're coated in a thick, savory gravy. Classic comfort food, spooned over buttered noodles or rice.
Basic Swedish Meatballs
Classic Swedish meatballs with grated onion, nutmeg and ginger, broiled then simmered in a sherry-laced beef gravy. The smorgasbord original behind the IKEA snack bar version.
Caraway Burgers
Caraway burgers marinate seasoned beef patties in beer for 3 hours before grilling. A German-leaning burger with the licorice-pepper note of caraway and a malty tenderized bite.
Chili, Chuck Morford
A hearty beef and two-bean chili loaded with jalapenos, kidney and black beans, and a deep spice blend, slow-simmered with an optional splash of beer. Big-batch, crowd-pleasing, and seriously warming.
Calico Burgers
Calico burgers are ground beef patties stretched with cooked rice and flecked with onion, green pepper and parsley. The rice keeps the patties juicy while stretching the meat for budget-friendly grilling.
Kohl's Basic Spaghetti & Meatballs
Classic Italian meatballs made with ground beef, Parmesan, breadcrumbs, eggs, garlic, and parsley. A simple six-ingredient meatball recipe that fries up golden and tender for spaghetti night.
