50 ground meat recipes

Vidalia beef patty bakes a ground beef burger with sliced potato and sweet Vidalia onion in a buttered foil packet. A hands-off, one-serving campfire-style dinner.

A traditional mincemeat recipe that actually has meat in it!

Ground beef and sliced cauliflower stir-fried in a wok with onion and soy sauce, then simmered and thickened with cornstarch into a savory, saucy 30-minute weeknight dinner. Swap in pork or chicken if you like.

Party pleaser meatballs: coconut-studded baked meatballs glazed in a sweet-savory sauce of grape jelly, chutney, red wine, and mustard. The retro cocktail-party appetizer that still disappears first from the buffet.

Harvest-time meatballs simmered with zucchini, mushrooms, and tomato wedges under a blanket of Parmesan. A one-skillet take on end-of-summer garden produce and pantry meatballs.

Italian baked calzones stuffed with seasoned ground beef, sun-dried tomatoes, wilted spinach, mozzarella, and Parmesan. Hand-sealed pizza dough pockets that bake up golden and crisp.

A traditional German stuffed pork belly filled with breadcrumbs, smoked ham, ground meat, and marjoram. Scored, seasoned, and roasted until the rind turns shattering crisp. Served with roasted turnip.

Pork stir-fry with green beans and mushrooms cooks quick in a wok with soy sauce and a cornstarch gravy. Tender shredded pork, snapping green beans, meaty mushrooms. A 30-minute Chinese-American weeknight dinner from one pan.

Easy Coney sauce: a smooth, no-bean meat sauce simmered with tomato, mustard, and a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg. The classic Coney dog topping that turns a plain hot dog Detroit-style.

Indiana farm sausage is a homemade country breakfast sausage seasoned with sage, marjoram, thyme, and a kick of chili. Shape into logs or marble-sized balls for easy freezing.

Lentejas en Adobo: Mexican lentils with pork, ancho chilies, sweet plantain, and pineapple. A traditional sweet-savory Oaxacan adobo stew with deep fruit and spice.

Hearty vegetarian chili with meatless crumbles, dried apricots, and warm spices, simmered in beer and tomato sauce for a sweet-savory twist on classic chili.

A hearty vegan chili made with ground seitan, kidney beans, and tomatoes seasoned with cumin, chili powder, and a touch of cloves. Ready in 35 minutes. Serve with cornbread or warm tortillas.

Broiled crab melts on Melba toast rounds with lime, green onion, and hot mustard, topped with bubbling Swiss cheese. A two-bite appetizer for parties, ready in 20 minutes.

Alligator stew simmers tender cubes of gator tail in a spiced broth of green chiles, tomato, garlic and cumin. A soak in salted water and milk first keeps the meat mild and tender. A true Cajun wild-game stew.

Tater tot casserole with seasoned ground meat, golden mushroom soup, onions, and red bell pepper baked under a crispy layer of tater tots. Easy weeknight comfort food.