10 Floor Beef Meal Prep Concepts That Make Wholesome Consuming Simple

In search of simple floor beef meal prep concepts? Floor beef is one in every of my favourite proteins for busy weeks as a result of it’s versatile, budget-friendly, excessive in protein, and simple to prep forward for easy household meals.

As a result of life might be busy, I attempt to prep what I can forward of time. Even one thing so simple as cooking a batch of floor beef upfront makes weeknight dinners really feel a lot simpler. It’s a kind of little issues that saves time and sanity.

So should you’ve stocked up on floor beef throughout a sale and aren’t certain what to do with it—otherwise you simply need some simple make-ahead meal concepts—you’re in the fitting place. I’m sharing my favourite family-approved floor beef meal-prep concepts to make your week a complete lot smoother.

10 Floor Beef Meal Prep Concepts That Make Wholesome Consuming Simple

Floor beef simply makes meal planning a lot simpler. You’ll be able to construct so many wholesome, satisfying meals round it. Plus, I really like figuring out my household is getting an excellent dose of protein and vital vitamins in a single go. 

One of the best half about floor beef is how extremely versatile it’s. With the fitting seasoning or recipe, it by no means will get boring. 

When you’re looking at a pack of floor beef and considering, “What do I even make with this?” don’t fear. This publish is filled with simple, flavorful floor beef meal prep concepts your complete household will really wish to eat.

Is Floor Beef Good for Meal Prep?

Floor beef is such an ideal possibility in terms of meal prep, particularly should you’re attempting to maintain issues budget-friendly and excessive in protein. It’s filling, satisfying, and helps maintain everybody full for hours.

One factor I actually love about floor beef is that you may select the fats degree relying in your wants. At most grocery shops, you’ll see a spread of choices from tremendous lean to greater fats. Some days I’m going leaner after I’m attempting to maintain issues lighter. Different instances I’ll select a higher-fat possibility for further taste.

Right here’s a fast take a look at how 4 oz. of cooked floor beef compares:

Having choices like this makes it really easy to regulate your meals to your distinctive wants or preferences. You’ll be able to select one thing lighter and lean or a little bit richer and extra flavorful—completely as much as how you’re feeling! It’s such a easy strategy to maintain meals balanced whereas nonetheless having fun with probably the most versatile proteins on the market.

Easy methods to Meal Prep Floor Beef

Cook dinner 3 to five kilos at a time. 

After I’m meal prepping floor beef, I wish to maintain issues tremendous easy. I’ll cook dinner an enormous batch with just a bit salt and pepper—nothing fancy. Simply sufficient to get it browned and able to go. Conserving it impartial like this makes it really easy to make use of all through the week. I can flip it into tacos one night time, pasta the following, or toss it into a fast stir-fry with out ranging from scratch each time. 

Divide parts by taste bases. 

If I already know what we’re consuming for the week, I’ll take that large batch of floor beef and divide it up straight away. Then I season every portion based mostly on the meal. Taco seasoning for taco night time, garlic and soy sauce for Korean-inspired bowls, Italian seasoning for pasta… You get the thought.

I retailer all the pieces individually (and sure, I label it—future me is all the time grateful). That approach, when it’s time to cook dinner, all the pieces is mainly able to go, and dinner comes collectively a lot sooner.

Easy methods to Save Cash Meal Prepping with Floor Beef

Purchase in bulk.

You’ve in all probability observed that floor beef costs have undoubtedly gone up currently. However one in every of my favourite methods to save lots of is shopping for in bulk. We cut up cow shares with a pal, however Butcher Field (at the moment having a free floor beef for all times provide!) or wholesale golf equipment like like Costco are additionally nice choices. As an alternative of paying $6+ per pound, you possibly can typically convey that worth down by 30-40%, which makes an enormous distinction over time. And once you’re feeding a household, these financial savings actually matter. 

Examine prices per pound.

If you’re on the retailer, take a fast second to examine the unit worth on that bundle of floor beef. It’s such a small behavior, however it might probably prevent cash! Retailer manufacturers, specifically, are sometimes cheaper per pound. And that worth normally drops much more should you’re shopping for in bulk.

When you’re versatile together with your meals, it’s all the time value evaluating costs with different proteins too. Typically floor rooster or turkey is the higher deal—and so they’re simple to swap in most recipes.  

Stretch it additional with lentils or chopped mushrooms.

When you’re attempting to stretch your floor beef a little bit additional, there’s an excellent easy trick I really like. Combine in lentils or finely chopped mushrooms.

Lentils are wonderful as a result of they add further protein and fiber whereas build up the meal. And mushrooms? They mix proper in, add quantity, and present a lift of vitamins with out altering the flavour an excessive amount of. It’s such a straightforward strategy to make your meals go additional—and nonetheless maintain them filling and scrumptious. 

What to Meal Prep with Floor Beef

Taco Bowls

Who doesn’t love an excellent taco night time? These taco bowls are one in every of my go-to meals as a result of they’re simple to prep, tremendous satisfying, and filled with protein, wholesome fat, and colourful veggies.

I virtually all the time have a batch of taco meat available, which makes placing these bowls collectively through the week so fast and stress-free.

Components

• 1 lb lean floor beef
• 1 tbsp taco seasoning
• 2 cups cooked rice
• 1 cup black beans (rinsed)
• ½ cup corn
• 1 avocado, sliced
• ½ cup cherry tomatoes
• Lime wedges

Directions

Step 1: Warmth some olive oil in a big pan over medium warmth. Add the bottom beef and cook dinner till absolutely browned, breaking it up because it cooks so that you get even, crumbly items. 

This normally takes about 6-8 minutes. You’ll understand it’s prepared when there’s no pink left, and it smells wonderful.

Step 2: Sprinkle within the taco seasoning and add a small splash of water. Stir all the pieces collectively, then let it simmer for about 5 minutes. 

Step 3: Begin with a base of rice, then layer on the seasoned beef, black beans, corn, cherry tomatoes, and sliced avocado. That is the place you possibly can have enjoyable with it! Let everybody construct their very own bowl based mostly on what they like. 

Step 4: Squeeze recent lime juice excessive proper earlier than serving. It brightens all the pieces up and pulls all of the flavors collectively. 

Floor Beef Lettuce Wraps

These floor beef lettuce wraps are mainly little hand-held salads—and I really like them for that. They’re recent, flavorful, and really easy to throw collectively, particularly once you’ve already prepped your floor beef forward of time. 

All it’s a must to do is reheat the filling, scoop it into crisp lettuce leaves, and lunch is served. Easy, nutritious, and, truthfully, actually enjoyable to eat! 

Not a fan of lettuce wrap however nonetheless wish to prep nutritious salads? Take a look at my publish “Easy methods to Meal Prep Salads.” It has all the guidelines you must maintain your prepped salads crunchy and recent. 

Components

• 1 lb floor beef
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp ginger, grated
• 3 tbsp coconut aminos or soy sauce
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 cup shredded carrots
• Butter lettuce leaves

Directions

Step 1: Add the bottom beef to a skillet over medium warmth and cook dinner till it’s absolutely browned, breaking it up into small crumbles because it cooks. This could take about 6-8 minutes. As soon as it’s prepared, drain any extra grease so the filling doesn’t get too heavy.

Step 2: Stir within the minced garlic, grated ginger, coconut aminos (or soy sauce), and honey. Combine all the pieces properly, evenly distributing the flavors.

Let it cook dinner for one more 3-4 minutes. This offers the sauce time to thicken barely and actually coat the meat with that candy and savory taste.

Step 3: Add the shredded carrots to the skillet and stir all the pieces collectively. The carrots add a little bit crunch and pop of colour, which I really like. Cook dinner for one more 1-2 minutes, simply till the carrots soften barely however nonetheless have a little bit of texture.

Step 4: Spoon the nice and cozy beef combination into butter lettuce leaves to create little wraps. Strive to not overfill them in order that they’re simple to carry and eat. 

Pasta Beef Bolognese

Typically you simply want a comfortable bowl of pasta after a protracted day… and this beef bolognese completely delivers. It’s one in every of my favourite meal-prep choices as a result of you may make the sauce forward of time after which simply toss it with recent pasta. 

Components

• 1 lb floor beef (90/10 or 93/7 works finest)
• 8 ozdry pasta
• 2 cups marinara sauce
• 1 small onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• Salt and pepper, to style

Directions

Step 1: Warmth olive oil in a pot over medium warmth. Add the diced onion and cook dinner for about 3-4 minutes till it softens and turns into barely translucent. Then stir within the garlic and cook dinner for one more minute. You’ll begin to scent that basic, cozy “dinner is coming collectively” aroma. 

Step 2: Add the bottom beef to the pot and cook dinner till it’s absolutely browned, breaking it up into small crumbles because it cooks. 

Step 3: Stir within the marinara sauce and Italian seasoning, mixing all the pieces collectively properly. Let the sauce simmer for about 10-Quarter-hour. This helps all of the flavors come collectively and provides you that wealthy, hearty bolognese texture.

Step 4: Convey a pot of salted water to a boil and cook dinner your pasta in response to the bundle directions. You’re aiming for al dente, which suggests it must be barely agency once you chunk into it. This helps it maintain up higher when combined with the sauce. 

Step 5: Drain the pasta and add it to the sauce, tossing all the pieces collectively till properly coated. 

Stuffed Bell Peppers 

Stuffed bell peppers are a kind of meals that really feel cozy and satisfying, however are literally tremendous easy to make. And should you prep the bottom beef and rice or quinoa forward of time, it turns into even simpler. They’re hearty, flavorful, and one in every of my favourite “simply pop it within the oven” dinners.

These are such an ideal summer season staple meal, with peppers at their finest. For extra seasonal meal prep inspiration, take a look at my “Summer season Meal Prep Concepts” subsequent. 

Components

• 4 bell peppers, halved
• 1 lb floor beef
• 1 ½ cups cooked quinoa or rice
• ½ tbsp Italian seasoning
• 1 cup tomato sauce

Directions

Step 1: Begin by preheating your oven to 375F. This offers it time to totally warmth up when you put together (or warmth up) the filling. You can even evenly grease a baking dish or line it with parchment paper to make cleanup simpler afterward. 

Step 2: Cook dinner the bottom beef in a skillet over medium warmth till it’s absolutely browned, breaking it up into small crumbles because it cooks. As soon as cooked, combine it with the quinoa (or rice), tomato sauce, and Italian seasoning. Stir all the pieces collectively till it’s properly mixed and good and saucy. 

Step 3: Organize the halved bell peppers in your baking dish. Then spoon the meat combination into each, filling them generously. Don’t fear about making them excellent, simply pack them in so every pepper is full. 

Step 4: Place the dish within the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, till the peppers are gentle and the filling is heated by. 

Candy Potato Floor Beef Cottage Cheese Bowl

This candy potato floor beef cottage cheese bowl is a kind of meals that’s easy, filling, and filled with protein. It’s excellent for meal prep too! You’ll be able to prep the bottom beef forward of time and even batch the entire base for the week.

When you’re attempting to hit your each day protein targets with out overcomplicating issues, that is undoubtedly one to maintain on repeat.

Components

• 100 g baked candy potato
• 4 oz80/20 floor beef, cooked
• ½ cup cottage cheese
• Recent parsley
• Sizzling honey, to drizzle

Directions

Step 1: Bake or microwave your candy potato till it’s gentle and tender. As soon as it’s cooked, measure out about 100 grams on your bowl. You’ll be able to prep just a few candy potatoes without delay should you’re meal prepping. It makes this recipe come collectively even sooner afterward. 

Step 2: Add the bottom beef to a skillet over medium warmth with a little bit salt and pepper. Cook dinner till it’s absolutely browned, breaking it up into small crumbles because it cooks. As soon as it’s prepared, set it apart or portion it out should you’re prepping a number of servings. 

Step 3: Add the cooked candy potato to your bowl. You’ll be able to evenly mash it with a fork if you need it to unfold out and create a pleasant base. This makes each bit a little bit extra balanced and helps all the pieces combine collectively simply. 

Step 4: Prime the candy potato with the bottom beef and cottage cheese. Then drizzle with scorching honey and sprinkle the highest with recent parsley.

Korean-Impressed Beef Bowls

You don’t must order takeout to take pleasure in a scrumptious Korean-inspired dinner at house. These Korean beef bowls are really easy to prep forward of time, so you possibly can have a fast, flavorful meal everytime you want it. They’re savory, satisfying, filled with vitamins, and all the time a success with the entire household. 

Components

• 1 lb floor beef
• 3 tbsp coconut aminos or soy sauce
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 2 tsp garlic
• 2 cups cooked rice
• Steamed broccoli

Directions

Step 1: Add the bottom beef to a skillet over medium warmth and cook dinner till it’s absolutely browned, breaking it up into small crumbles because it cooks. As soon as it’s cooked by, drain any extra grease if wanted.

Step 2: Stir within the coconut aminos (or soy sauce), sesame oil, and garlic. Combine all the pieces collectively to evenly coat the meat. Let it cook dinner for one more minute or two. You’ll begin to scent that wealthy, savory taste come collectively. 

Step 3: Cut back the warmth barely and let the combination simmer for about 3-5 minutes. This helps the sauce soak into the meat and deepen the flavour. 

Step 4: Scoop rice right into a bowl, then prime with the Korean beef and a facet of steamed broccoli. You can even add extras like inexperienced onions or sesame seeds if you wish to take it up a notch. 

Hearty Floor Beef Chili

There’s simply one thing a couple of cozy bowl of chili on a crisp day, isn’t there? It’s heat, filling, and a kind of meals that looks like a hug in a bowl. However let’s be trustworthy, typically we want a speedy model.

This model is straightforward, hearty, and excellent for meal prep. Make a batch as soon as, stash just a few parts within the freezer, and “future you” will probably be extraordinarily grateful when dinner is mainly already carried out. 

For extra cozy meal concepts, take a look at my publish “Fall Meal Prep Concepts for Simple Seasonal Consuming” subsequent!

Components

• 1 lb floor beef
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 28 ozcan diced tomatoes
• 1 tbsp chili powder
• 2 tsp cumin

Directions

Step 1: Begin by heating a big pot over medium warmth, then add the bottom beef and onion. Break it up with a spoon because it cooks, letting it brown evenly till no pink stays. As soon as absolutely cooked, fastidiously drain any extra grease so your chili doesn’t find yourself too heavy.

Step 2: Pour within the kidney beans and diced tomatoes proper into the pot with the meat. Sprinkle within the chili powder and cumin, then give all the pieces a extremely good stir so the flavors begin to come collectively. 

Step 3: Convey the combination to a delicate simmer, then scale back the warmth to low and let it cook dinner for about 20-Half-hour. This offers the flavors time to deepen and mix collectively while not having a lot hands-on effort. 

Step 4: As soon as your chili has cooled barely, divide it into particular person containers for straightforward grab-and-go meals. Pop them within the fridge for the week or freeze them for later. That is a kind of meals that reheats fantastically and tastes nice. 

Mediterranean Bowls

When you’re craving one thing recent but filling, these Mediterranean-inspired bowls are a good way to combine issues up. They’ve acquired all these vivid, flavorful components that make you’re feeling such as you’re on a little bit Greek getaway. 

Components

• 1 lb floor beef
• 2 cups cooked rice or quinoa
• 1 tsp oregano
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 cup cucumber, chopped
• ½ cup tomatoes
• ½ cup hummus
• 1 lemon, juiced

Directions

Step 1: In a skillet over medium warmth, add the bottom beef and start breaking it up because it cooks. Sprinkle within the oregano and garlic powder, stirring properly to evenly distribute the seasoning all through the meal. 

Step 2: When you haven’t already, cook dinner your rice or quinoa in response to the bundle instructions and let it cool barely. Having this prepared forward of time makes assembling these bowls a lot faster. Scoop your grain into particular person containers or bowls to create a hearty base for all of the toppings.

Step 3: Prime your bowl with the cooked floor beef, then add the chopped cucumber and tomatoes. I wish to maintain all the pieces in sections. It makes it really feel a little bit extra aesthetic and lets everybody combine issues collectively as they like. 

Step 4: Add a beneficiant scoop of hummus to every bowl to convey all the pieces along with a creamy texture. When you have a lemon available, a fast squeeze excessive brightens all the pieces up.

Egg Roll in a Bowl

If there’s one factor I all the time stay up for with Chinese language takeout, it’s the egg rolls. Crispy, flavorful, a little bit messy… simply so good. However after I’m attempting to maintain issues a bit lighter (or simply not spend cash on takeout once more), this egg roll in a bowl has turn out to be such a go-to. 

Components

• 1 lb floor beef
• 4 cups shredded cabbage
• 2 carrots, shredded
• 3 tbsp soy sauce 
• 1 tsp sesame seeds

Directions

Step 1: Begin by heating a big pan over medium warmth, then add the bottom beef. Break it up with a spoon because it cooks, letting it brown evenly till it’s absolutely cooked by. 

Step 2: Add the shredded cabbage and carrots proper into the pan with the meat. It’d appear to be lots at first, however they cook dinner down rapidly. Stir all the pieces collectively and let it cook dinner for a couple of minutes till the cabbage softens and begins to wilt.

Step 3: Pour within the soy sauce and drizzle with sesame oil. Give all the pieces a extremely good stir so all of the flavors coat the meat and veggies evenly. Let it cook dinner for one more couple of minutes so all the pieces melds collectively. 

Step 4: As soon as all the pieces is prepared, give one closing stir and let it cool barely earlier than portioning. Divide into containers for straightforward lunches or dinners all through the week. 

Teriyaki Noodle with Floor Beef

When you’re on the lookout for a meal that feels a little bit extra enjoyable than your regular meal prep, this beef teriyaki noodle bowl is such an excellent one. It’s hearty, filled with taste, and has simply sufficient selection to maintain issues fascinating all through the week. 

Components

• 1 lb floor beef (90/10 or 93/7)
• 8 oznoodles (spaghetti, rice noodles, or udon)
• 2 cups broccoli florets
• 1 cup shredded carrots
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp honey or maple syrup
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp ginger (recent or floor)
• Non-obligatory: inexperienced onions and sesame seeds

Directions

Step 1: Convey a big pot of water to a boil, add your noodles, and cook dinner in response to the bundle instructions. Purpose for simply al dente—you need them to nonetheless have a little bit firmness. Drain and put aside. 

Step 2: Warmth a big pan over medium warmth, then add the bottom beef and start breaking it up because it cooks. Let it brown absolutely till no pink stays. 

Step 3: Add the minced garlic and ginger proper into the pan with the meat. Stir and let it cook dinner for a minute or two till aromatic. Pour within the soy sauce, honey, and sesame oil, then stir properly to coat the meat. Let it simmer for a few minutes so the sauce thickens barely, and all the pieces comes collectively. 

Step 4: Toss within the broccoli and shredded carrots, stirring them into the meat combination. Allow them to cook dinner for a couple of minutes till they’re simply tender however nonetheless have a little bit of crunch. Add the cooked noodles and gently combine all the pieces collectively. Let it cook dinner for one more couple of minutes. 

Step 5: As soon as all the pieces is mixed, take away from warmth and let it cool barely. Divide evenly into containers for straightforward grab-and-go meals all through the week. Prime with inexperienced onions and sesame seeds should you’d like, then retailer within the fridge for as much as 4 days. 

How Lengthy Can You Meal Prep Floor Beef For?

Storing your meal prep the fitting approach makes such a distinction—not only for freshness, however for conserving all the pieces protected when it comes time to eat it. For the fridge, I like to make use of glass containers. They maintain all the pieces recent and arranged, and your cooked floor beef will normally final about 3-4 days. 

If I’m freezing it, I’ll change to Ziploc luggage and press them flat earlier than storing. This protects a ton of area (which all of us want within the freezer!) and helps the meat defrost extra evenly. It’s a easy system, but it surely makes meal prep really feel a lot extra manageable.

Make household meals simple, scrumptious, and budget-friendly with these floor beef meal prep concepts.

Feeding a household isn’t all the time so simple as it sounds, proper? You’re looking for meals which are wholesome, filling, and one thing everybody will really eat… all whereas keeping track of the grocery funds. Plus, it’s a must to determine once you’re going to have time to make all of it occur.

It’s lots. However having just a few go-to meals in your again pocket could make such a distinction.

I hope this handful of high-protein floor beef recipes which are simple to prep forward and family-friendly sufficient to maintain on repeat are useful. It’s simple to get caught up in scouring the web for essentially the most scrumptious trying recipe, however typically they find yourself being so intricate and time consuming. The meals on this publish are the form of easy meals that take a little bit strain off, making dinnertime really feel a bit extra manageable- and nonetheless yummy!

Did you take pleasure in this publish? I’d like to have you ever be a part of my publication subsequent! I share easy, wholesome meal concepts (the type that work in actual life!) straight to your inbox.