Ground beef is such a versatile protein and often times we see it served with a pasta of some sort. Perhaps you’ve used your last box of pasta, don’t feel like boiling water, or are in the mood for something different. Today I’m going to be sharing a lot of different ways you can enjoy ground beef without pasta. I’ll also be sharing some tips on feeding picky/selective eaters who may not enjoy ground beef yet.
Carbs That Pair Well with Ground Beef That Aren’t Pasta
Perhaps you already have the perfect ground beef recipe in mind and need a past alternative. Here are some carbohydrates that aren’t pasta that pair very well with ground beef (and ground meat in general).
- Bagels
- Chips (potato, tortilla, cassava, veggie, etc.)
- Tater Tots (potato, sweet potato, millet)
- French Fries (regular potato and sweet potato)
- Hash Browns
- Rice (brown, white, sushi, jasmine, etc.)
- Toast
- Tortillas
Related Article: Gluten Free Carbs
Low Carb Pairings for Ground Beef
For those who can’t have traditional carbs, here are some low carb options you can get creative with.
- Banana Flower
- Cauliflower Rice
- Spaghetti Squash “Noodles”
- Zucchini Noodles
Ground Beef Recipes & Ideas without Pasta
Some of these suggestions are pretty straight forward and some may leave you wanting a recipe. I’ll link to recipes here and there, but I’m guessing you already have a favorite recipe to pull from for many of these suggestions.
- Baked Potato + Seasoned Lean Ground Beef + Sour Cream + Cheddar Cheese (sprinkle with a little chili powder for an extra kick)
- BBQ Meatloaf + Peas & Carrots + Rice (my kids LOVE this comforting meal)
- Beef & Broccoli Served over Regular Rice
- Beef Stir Fry – Steamed Rice + Stir Fry Vegetables (you can get these in the freezer section) + Seasoned Ground Beef
- Beef Stroganoff Served atop Regular White Rice (you can use cauliflower rice as well)
- Ground Beef + Mushroom Sauce + Seasoned White/Brown Rice
- Ground Beef + Seasoned Tomato Sauce (think onion powder, garlic powder, etc.) + Diced Bell Peppers (can be cooked or raw) + Zucchini Noodles
- Ground Beef Nachos! Taco Seasoned Ground Meat + Tortilla Chips + Sour Cream (or cream cheese) + Cheese + Salsa (here’s a recipe for taco seasoning if you need one)
- Korean Beef Bowl – Seasoned Korean Ground Beef + Rice + Sautéed Vegetables
- Layered Beef & Bean Dip (Seasoned Ground Beef + Refried Beans + Guacamole + Salsa + Cheese)
- Meat Loaf + Mashed Potatoes + Steamed Carrots (classic comfort food for many)
- Parmesan Cheese + Chopped Onion + Italian Seasoning + Ground Beef + Sliced Tomatoes (a great weeknight meal)
- Sloppy Joes Served with Garlic Bread (instead of a burger bun)
- Spicy Ground Beef + Slaw + Naan (whilst beef isn’t in traditional Indian food, you can create awesome flavours at home)
- Tater Tots + Mixed Vegetables + Seasoned Ground Chuck + Cheese (a fun dinner for the whole family, think: a play on hamburger helper)
Easy Ground Beef Recipes
Here are some incredibly delicious and satisfying recipes that you can make at home with ground beef. Each recipe is also gluten free and allergy friendly. I’ll also say this: take these ideas and RUN with them. Don’t be afraid to try new things with your ground beef.
- Pepperoni Pizza Dip Recipe (great with garlic bread sticks, my kids call this the ultimate comfort food)
- Asian Inspired Creamy Rice & Meat with Vegetables
- Carrot & Parmesan Ragout (a great recipe for busy weeknights)
- Nutrient Dense Italian Ragu Recipe (one of my kids’ favorite ground beef recipes)
- Bacon Bomb Meatballs
- Meat & Sweet Potato Stuffed Peppers
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Beef Recipes You Can Have for Dinner Tonight
If you’ve got a pound of ground beef hanging around, here are some delicious recipes you can try to make tonight. If you don’t have the right ingredients on hand, make a basic beef taco or simple burger. You can never go wrong with those if you ask me.
- Easy Meat Sauce Recipe (a special onion and garlic free recipe I created for those who can’t have alliums)
- Bacon Smash Burgers
- Bacon Chili
- Pepper Meatballs (use ground beed instead of ground chicken)
 |
 |
 |
 |
More Ground Beef Dinner Ideas Without Pasta
Wouldn’t you know, after this article had been live for a while, I thought of more dinner ideas that don’t need pasta. So, let’s take another look 🙂
Beef Lettuce Wraps
You can make these with a wide range of ground beef flavor profiles. You could make sweet and salty meat (a little maple sugar or brown sugar goes a long way), make meat with Asian spices, or a creamy meat using something like cashew cream as a topping. Around here, romaine lettuce is a family favorite for lettuce wraps, and my kids also really like the baby gem as well. The latter is a great size if you’re feeding little kids.
Mexican Inspired Beef Omelette
If you’re not allergic to eggs, an omelet for dinner could be perfect after a long day at work. For a Mexican inspired omelet, start with diced onion, diced bell pepper, and some spicy peppers as well. Cook these down, then add your ground beef. Season with chili power and other Mexican leaning spices (ancho, paprika, etc.). Don’t forget salt and black pepper.
You can make a straight egg omelette and place this mixture on the inside before folding it over, or, you could make this more like a frittata and add whisked eggs over your cooking beef mixture.
Easy Beef Burritos
My kids adore Spanish rice, so anytime there are leftovers, they get easy easy beef burritos for lunch the next day. I start with the Spanish rice, add some black beans that I cook with diced onion and maple syrup, then top with taco seasoned ground beef. I also use avocado slices or guacamole as well, depending on what I have on hand. Roll that up and boom, you’ve got a super easy beef burrito. When I pack these for their lunches, I add a little container of salsa as well (and chopped cilantro for my one kid that doesn’t think it tastes like soap).
Beef Cabbage Rolls
Cabbage rolls can be easy, or if you have more time you can make a much more complex flavor combination. Since I get to taxi my kids to a lot of fun events, I usually make a simple filling when I make cabbage rolls for dinner, and honestly, my kids don’t complain. I season ground beef with Asian leaning spices and create what my kids like to call “Pot Sticker Filling”. They’re legit convinced this mix tastes like pot stickers from their fave Asian restaurant.
Blanch large pieces of green cabbage to soften the leaves, then add your filling. Roll them up and you’ve got easy cabbage rolls. For more flavor, add a dipping sauce. I usually make a simple yogurt dip when serving this, and adjust the spice level for my kids who can’t eat super spicy foods (one does, so their sauce is seriously amped up).
Ground Beef Sandwiches
Don’t underestimate the power of a delicious sandwich, including a grilled cheese sandwich with a side of tomato soup. My child with a dairy allergy LOVES dairy free smoked gouda, so I make them a ground meat sandwich with loads of shredded cheese, then add the bread and we’ve got grilled cheese, or something that resembles grilled cheese. Don’t forget to add a good amount of butter (or dairy free butter in my case) to your skillet before frying the bread. It will give your bread the perfect crunchy texture and rich buttery flavor.
You can pair this with a range of creamy soups including leek soup, butternut squash soup, and creamed corn soup. If you’re not a sandwich fan, make beef quesadillas instead, which is like grilled cheese, right?
Beef Stir-Fry Wraps
For a super quick weeknight dinner, you can stir-fry veggies alongside sliced beef steak. Alternatively, if it’s available in your area, buy the stir-fry cut of beef (sometimes it’s in the pre-marinaded section of the meat counter). What’s even better is that some grocery stores sell stir-fry veggies in the freezer section, so there’s even less prep involved on your end.
When I make these for my kids, I warm their wraps first (which also makes the wrapping easier). Interestingly, my kids love beef stir-fry wraps with salad dressing. One likes it with ranch, another thousand island, and another eats these with guacamole instead of salad dressing. It just goes to show that you can make one awesome main dish and let everyone add their own spin, and just enjoy the meal at the table together.
Beef Curry Shepherd’s Pie
Rather than make a traditional shepherd’s pie, jazz it up with different spices. When you cook your ground beef, add diced onion and a good amount of curry powder. You can also add some yogurt to make the base a bit more saucy. Use lightly roasted chickpeas as one of the layers in your shepherd’s pie and top with the classic mashed potatoes. It will be a great fusion meal that will have you coming back for thirds.
Take inspiration from all over the world!
Don’t be afraid to take ideas from other places in the world and put your own spin on it. For example, if you love hummus, use browned ground beef as a very non traditional topping, but lean into Middle Eastern spices when you cook the ground beef. Serve with pita chips and call it day.
20 years ago, I had the most amazing Afghani pumpkin and yogurt meal with ground lamb at a restaurant, and I still think about it to this day. It’s given me inspiration for several different ground meat recipes I’ve made for my kids over the years, and I hope you find some international inspiration as well.
Casserole Recipes for Your Ground Beef
Grab a casserole dish and get ready to make a tasty recipe. These particular recipes are all naturally gluten free and allergy friendly.
- Amazing Diary Free Enchiladas
- Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie Recipe
- Potato Lasagna
- Tater Tot Casserole (swap the shredded chicken for ground beef, this recipe uses a custom dairy free cream of mushroom soup recipe)
 |
 |
 |
 |
Another great option is to make a taco casserole. You’ll start with black beans, corn kernels, and diced onion. Season with taco seasoning and mix together. Place that in the bottom of a glass baking dish. Next season your ground beef with taco seasoning, add sliced or chopped green chilies, and mix together. Add the beef all over the top of your bean layer. Pour a little beef broth into your dish to make sure it doesn’t dry out as it cooks. When your beef is almost cooked, add shredded Mexican cheese so it melts as your beef finishes cooking. You can serve this with corn chips or a tortilla chip you love.
The cool thing about making a ground beef casserole is that you can put a personal touch on it. You can lean into flavors you love and make creations like a Greek ground beef tacos casserole, Asian ground beef casserole (think: soy sauce gravy, shredded slaw or Kimchi, spicy ground beef, etc.), or cheeseburger casserole. Plus! These don’t need to be difficult Michelin Star recipes, making them perfect weeknight meals.
Adding a Modern Twist
Some classic beef recipes such as salisbury steak or Swedish meatballs which have been around longer than most of have been alive could feel exciting if you give it a modern twist. I don’t know about you, but whilst I can appreciate a classic, sometimes I really want to serve something with pizzazz.
For example, if you were to take a classic spaghetti recipe, you could give it an Asian spin by creating a soy sauce driven cream sauce, and adding a spicy Korean beef meatball on top alongside sliced green onion.
As another example, you could take inspiration from a classic gumbo. Use what’s called the Holy Trinity in the South (green bell pepper + celery + onion) and sauté to soften the vegetables. Brown ground beef and season it with smoked salt and Cajun seasoning, then serve alongside roasted potatoes or dirty rice for a gumbo inspired dinner. If you have time, you can even make a quick roux to make a delicious southern inspired cream sauce (that reads like a gravy) to top your meal with.
Picky Eater Tips
Before we get to the tips, please know that many little kids struggle to eat meat. For most it’s a texture issue. For some kids, it’s a lack of predictability (more on that later). Many parents are concerned about a lack of protein in their child’s diet. I can tell you this: unless your child is on a high protein diet for medical reasons, there’s a very good chance they’re meeting their daily needs by consuming a well rounded diet.
If picky eating is a growing concern in your home, my friend Jennifer over at Kids Eat in Color has a great picky eating quiz you can take to help gauge if this is a normal phase, or something else. I’d also suggest the courses from Feeding Littles. Megan and Judy are two amazing professionals who have fantastic feeding advice.
Now, on to the tips!
Helpful Related Articles & Resources for Picky/Selective Eating
 |
 |
 |
 |
Serve Picky/Selective Eaters a Little Bit to Prevent Food Waste
One of the biggest complaints parents have when managing picky eating is the amount of food waste. The key is to give your child a small portion (think Tablespoon) of each item available to them. From there, they can take as much more as they’d like. With this method, if they don’t like something, you’ve lost a very small amount of food rather than a large amount.
Taking this approach can also help kids with food in general. Some kids get overwhelmed when their plate/bowl is fully loaded. By seeing smaller amounts, some kids are more likely to give it a try.
Make Sure They Can See the Food
Serving meals family style is a big hit with many picky eaters. It allows them to eat the portions of the meal they’re comfortable with. When your child is old enough, they can also serve themselves which gives many kids a feeling of independence.
It’s important that you make sure your child can see what’s on offer. It’s easy to put food in a large bowl on the table, but if it’s a wooden or plastic bowl, chances are, your child can’t see what’s inside. When most kids are seated at the table, they’re not high enough to see in the bowls. The solution is simple: use clear serving bowls. Now your child can see the food and it totally counts as another exposure.
Have Your Child Help With Each Stage
Many people underestimate what their kiddo is capable of. Truth is, as long as we’re patient with them, kids can do a LOT when it comes to helping make meals. You’ll have to create an age appropriate way to include them in each step, and those steps include:
- Meal Planning
- Grocery Shopping
- Meal Prep (produce etc.)
- Cooking
- Serving
- Cleaning Up After the Meal
Kids can help meal plan by looking at photos of food with you. They can help grocer shop by putting produce into the bag, loading food onto the conveyer belt when checking out, and offering their opinion here and there. Some kids LOVE holding the list and checking things off said list. These actions may seem small, but they all add up to something big.
Your child can help you prep food with a set of child safe knives. Teach them kitchen safety, and help them wash, peel, and cut produce. Many kids will sample what they’re cutting as well. Invest in a sturdy kitchen stool or kitchen tower for your little one so they can help cook as well. I had my kids at the stove pretty young and it paid off big time.
Finally, make sure your child knows how to set the table, call everyone to the meal, and how to clean up when they’re done. Even toddlers can help clean up with something simple like “can you put this in the trash can?”. Make sure you model good manners as well with please and thank you.
Novelty Can go a Long Way
There are a lot of easy ways you can make serving and eating food a fun event for your child. For some kids, this is the subtle push they need to try something new. You can start by purchasing novelty spoons and tongs for serving. If your child has the dexterity, have them help serve and/or serve themselves.
Have a fun night where you all eat with serving spoons or cooking spoons. Your child may find this hilarious and enjoy being silly with you.
Skip eating at the table and have a picnic on the floor. Have your child help you set up said picnic, and invite a few stuffed animals to join.
There are companies like Constructive Eating that sell fun plates and utensils for kids. Check them out and see if special cutlery could help your child try new foods. Remember, you know your child best, and these are only suggestions. If your child is immune to novelty items, move on and don’t stress over it.
Understand Predictability
I want you to think about a box of crackers. Every. Cracker. Tastes. The. Same.
Now, I’d like you to think about a pint of blueberries. They generally look the same, but some are sweet and others are tart. Some are firm whilst some are super squishy. Blueberries in their fresh form are not predictable. In fact, most fresh produce isn’t predictable. Frozen gets a pass because it’s usually used in a smoothie and the differences average out when blended together.
Now, think about how your child perceives these foods. One is engineered to be the same every time, and to be incredibly delicious. The other items, not so much. With some kids, this is so important.
If your child is struggling with predictability in foods there are a couple of things that can help. First, serve foods with their favourite dip. Many parents think dips are “bad” but they can mask the differences in unpredictable foods. If your child wants to dip fresh blueberries in ketchup, that’s actually a win.
The second thing to do, depending on your child’s language skills, is to describe the food to them. Take a strawberry and cut it in half. Eat half, then describe it in great detail to your child. Use words like firm, juicy, sweet, and so on. Then, offer them the other half. You’ve made that strawberry predictable for them and they may be more willing to give it a go.
Food Play for the WIN
The best part about food play if you ask me is that you get to spend quality time with your child and relax around food. It’s a no-pressure way to introduce ingredients and see food as fun. When using food play, make sure you’re playing with new foods you’re introducing.
An example is Tic Tac Toe. Have long vegetables such as carrots be the game board, and small produce such as blueberries and raspberries be the pieces. You and your child will sit together, chat, and touch these foods. It’s an amazing food exposure that also builds great memories.
A Personal Word of Advice
I want to finish these picky eater tips off with a story. When my kids were little, I decided to make ground beef for the first time (we were a chicken kind of house). One child took a bite, then spat it out, then started scratching at his tongue. I thought, wow, that must taste horrible because he’s trying to get the flavour off of his tongue. I never forced my kids to have a bite, so we moved on.
Knowing you should introduce foods to a child many times before calling it quits, I made it again. And guess what? Same results. It was seasoned differently as well. Knowing that this child clearly hated ground beef, I went back to chicken and turkey and everything was fine.
A year later, due to other health issues, I found out that child was, wait for it, allergic to beef. In fact, allergic to all bovine material (I already knew they were allergic to milk). I share this story to say this: you never know why your child won’t eat something, so don’t force it. This child was having an allergic reaction, couldn’t communicate it, and showed no other obvious signs such as vomiting, hives, etc. Just scratching food off of their tongue.
So, keep exposing, but also keep an eye out for what could be symptoms of a food allergy or food intolerance, as the diagnosis rate is on the rise.
Answering Your Ground Beef Questions
Do you know of an easy ground beef meal for a picky toddler?
Honestly, I’d serve something deconstructed. For example, lightly seasoned ground beef + spaghetti sauce + small pieces of bread would be a great way to serve your kiddo. If they’re a big fan of ketchup or barbecue sauce, you can use that in place of the spaghetti sauce. Many people think dipping sauces is “bad” for toddlers, but it can encourage them to try new foods.
You can purchase divided plate so each component stays separate, or you can serve everything one regular plate, but divided. Sometimes, kids are intimidated by mixed foods, and that could be part of what you’re up against at the moment.
If a recipe calls for ground turkey, can I use ground beef in its place?
Yes, you can, but let’s talk fat content. Most recipes that call for ground turkey are using a lean ground turkey with less than 10% fat content. That means you’ll need to replace it with a lean ground meat. However, ground turkey thigh (with a higher fat content) is a thing, so make sure you know what the recipe developer used so you can choose the best alternative.
If you’re a fan of meats with a higher fat content, you can still replace them 1:1 for other ground meats. In that case, if the recipe uses a lot of cooking oil/fat, you can probably reduce that since the meat will create plenty of cooking juices.
In some cases, you’ll need to cook a high fat content ground meat in its own pan, strain of the excess fat, then mix it into the rest of the recipe. Bottom line though: yes, you can replace ground turkey with ground beef. Just be sure to watch the fat 🙂
Do you know of any good Instant Pot ground beef recipes?
Not personally, but, my friend Megan over at Allergy Awesomeness wrote a whole cookbook around fast and easy meals. Many of the recipes use an Instant Pot, and I know she uses ground beef often.
What would be a good ground beef appetizer to please a mixed-age crowd?
Here are a few appetizer ideas to serve at your party:
- Ground Beef Stuffed Grape Leaves (these are generally not super spicy, and could be food for the younger taste buds at your party).
- Cheeseburger Sliders (these are always a crowd pleaser around here).
- Ground Beef Pizza Cups (line a muffin pan with liners, add pizza dough, then jarred pizza sauce, Italian seasoned ground beef, and shredded cheese. bake until the pizza dough is done). These can also be made in a variety of flavors by changing up the sauce type and the seasonings you use when cooking the beef.
- Ground Beef Meatballs (these are fun because you can serve them on sticks, and have a variety of dipping sauces for people to choose from).
