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  7. 26 High-Protein Dinners with Ground Beef

26 High-Protein Dinners with Ground Beef

A portrait of Alex Loh
Alex Loh Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD February 20, 2021
Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD
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cauliflower rice peppers

Try one of these satisfying and healthy dinner recipes using ground beef. Ground beef cooks quickly and is a budget-friendly protein that can be used with a variety of spices and flavors. Recipes like Cauliflower-Rice Stuffed Peppers and Chipotle Beef Tacos with Tomato-Avocado Pico de Gallo are filling and delicious with at least 15 grams of protein per serving.

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Cauliflower Rice-Stuffed Peppers

<p>Slash the calories and carbs of traditional stuffed peppers by swapping white rice for cauliflower "rice." The riced cauliflower is hearty and won't turn to mush during baking. Use an assortment of red, yellow, orange and green peppers to make an appealing presentation.</p>
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Slash the calories and carbs of traditional stuffed peppers by swapping white rice for cauliflower "rice." The riced cauliflower is hearty and won't turn to mush during baking. Use an assortment of red, yellow, orange and green peppers to make an appealing presentation.

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Taco-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Taco-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
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Take taco night to a new level with sweet potato taco "shells." Tender sweet potatoes pair perfectly with spicy taco meat, creamy cheese and crisp lettuce. Let everyone customize their taco potato with their favorite toppings.

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Pressure-Cooker Chili

Pressure-Cooker Chili
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Chili cooks in just 15 minutes when it's made in a multicooker. The beef gets infused with the flavors of chili powder and cumin. Shredded cheese, scallion and sour cream round out the meal, but feel free to garnish with whatever toppings you choose.

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Philly Cheese Steak Sloppy Joes

<p>Two of our favorite comfort-food sandwiches join forces in these family-friendly dinner sandwiches. We found that softer buns make this easier to eat, and it's all the better when wrapped takeout-style in a sheet of foil.</p>
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Two of our favorite comfort-food sandwiches join forces in these family-friendly dinner sandwiches. We found that softer buns make this easier to eat, and it's all the better when wrapped takeout-style in a sheet of foil.

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Firehouse Enchiladas

<p>Our take on this popular Mexican dish certainly does not disappoint. Packed with protein and easy to make, this recipe is the perfect dinner solution.</p>
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Our take on this popular Mexican dish certainly does not disappoint. Packed with protein and easy to make, this recipe is the perfect dinner solution.

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Bacon & Mango Tango Sliders

<p>With a touch of sweet from the mango, savory from the bacon, plus a creamy avocado spread, this healthy slider recipe with takes burgers to a whole new level. Double the avocado mayo and use it for your next BLT.</p>
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With a touch of sweet from the mango, savory from the bacon, plus a creamy avocado spread, this healthy slider recipe with takes burgers to a whole new level. Double the avocado mayo and use it for your next BLT.

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Easy Cauliflower Shepherd's Pie

Easy Cauliflower Shepherd’s Pie
Credit: Brie Passano
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With lots of veggie shortcuts and a cauliflower-mash topping instead of spuds, you can have this comfort-food staple in a fraction of the usual time—and save carbs too! Cook the veggies from frozen; no need to thaw. Swap ground turkey for the beef if you prefer.

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EatingWell Meat Pie

<p>Traditionally meat pie recipes are made with mostly ground pork. This recipe for French-Canadian meat pie, or tourtiere, is lightened up by using lean ground beef with a little ground pork for flavor and bulked up with plenty of shredded vegetables. You can make it even easier by using a store-bought crust.</p>
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Traditionally meat pie recipes are made with mostly ground pork. This recipe for French-Canadian meat pie, or tourtiere, is lightened up by using lean ground beef with a little ground pork for flavor and bulked up with plenty of shredded vegetables. You can make it even easier by using a store-bought crust.

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Chipotle Beef Tacos with Tomato-Avocado Pico de Gallo

<p>These spicy chipotle tacos are the perfect choice for your next taco night. You can substitute ground turkey for the beef if you'd like, but either way, you'll want to make sure each bite includes a bit of the homemade pico de gallo.</p>
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These spicy chipotle tacos are the perfect choice for your next taco night. You can substitute ground turkey for the beef if you'd like, but either way, you'll want to make sure each bite includes a bit of the homemade pico de gallo.

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Zucchini Lasagna

<p>Roasted zucchini slices stand in beautifully for wheat pasta in this no-noodle lasagna. The simple swap reduces calories and eliminates gluten. It's also a great way to use up extra zucchini if your plants are prolific.</p>
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Roasted zucchini slices stand in beautifully for wheat pasta in this no-noodle lasagna. The simple swap reduces calories and eliminates gluten. It's also a great way to use up extra zucchini if your plants are prolific.

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Taco-Stuffed Zucchini

Taco-Stuffed Zucchini
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These stuffed zucchini boats are filled with all your favorite taco ingredients like seasoned meat, cheese and avocado. They're perfect for a a low-carb alternative on taco night or a great kid-friendly way to sneak in more vegetables.

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Spicy Meatloaf with Collards

<p>Plenty of dark leafy greens deliver the moisture needed to balance lean ground pork and beef in this spicy meatloaf recipe. Serve any leftovers with extra ketchup as meatloaf sandwiches.</p>
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Plenty of dark leafy greens deliver the moisture needed to balance lean ground pork and beef in this spicy meatloaf recipe. Serve any leftovers with extra ketchup as meatloaf sandwiches.

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Italian Meatball Soup

<p>Vegetables and lean meatballs streamline a traditional Italian meatball soup to make it lighter while keeping all the great flavor. Save some of the meatball soup to make a delicious casserole for later.</p>
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Vegetables and lean meatballs streamline a traditional Italian meatball soup to make it lighter while keeping all the great flavor. Save some of the meatball soup to make a delicious casserole for later.

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Pita Chip Nachos

Pita Chip Nachos
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Swap tortilla chips for pita chips in this healthy Mediterranean nacho recipe. For a party, create one large platter--just be sure to serve with plates!

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Stuffed Delicata Squash

<p>In this Tex-Mex-seasoned stuffed delicata squash recipe we swap out half of the ground beef you'd normally use for bulgur to reduce saturated fat without skimping on the amount of stuffing. Serve with a mixed green salad with cilantro vinaigrette.</p>
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In this Tex-Mex-seasoned stuffed delicata squash recipe we swap out half of the ground beef you'd normally use for bulgur to reduce saturated fat without skimping on the amount of stuffing. Serve with a mixed green salad with cilantro vinaigrette.

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Beef Kofta with Bulgur & Kale Salad

<p>Whole grains take too long to cook, you say? Well, say hello to bulgur, which can be ready in less than 15 minutes. Try this Middle Eastern-inspired healthy dinner recipe topped with plain yogurt or store-bought tzatziki for an extra hit of creamy flavor.</p>
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Whole grains take too long to cook, you say? Well, say hello to bulgur, which can be ready in less than 15 minutes. Try this Middle Eastern-inspired healthy dinner recipe topped with plain yogurt or store-bought tzatziki for an extra hit of creamy flavor.

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Cheddar-Stuffed Mini Meatloaves with Chipotle Glaze

<p>Individual meatloaves not only take the guesswork out of portion size, they cook quicker than a large loaf. Look for ground chipotle in the spice section of the market--it gives the glaze a hit of smoke and spice. Serve with roasted broccoli and brown rice tossed with cilantro.</p>
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Individual meatloaves not only take the guesswork out of portion size, they cook quicker than a large loaf. Look for ground chipotle in the spice section of the market--it gives the glaze a hit of smoke and spice. Serve with roasted broccoli and brown rice tossed with cilantro.

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Mexican Skillet Lasagna

<p>This easy Mexican-inspired lasagna recipe replaces the noodles with tortilla strips that become like tender ribbons in the cayenne- and cumin-spiked tomato sauce. Topped with Cheddar and cream cheese, the lasagna is just as soulful as its Italian cousin and can be made on a busy weeknight in about 30 minutes using a single skillet. Excerpted from The Dinner Plan by Kathy Brennan and Caroline Campion, published by ABRAMS © 2017.</p>
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This easy Mexican-inspired lasagna recipe replaces the noodles with tortilla strips that become like tender ribbons in the cayenne- and cumin-spiked tomato sauce. Topped with Cheddar and cream cheese, the lasagna is just as soulful as its Italian cousin and can be made on a busy weeknight in about 30 minutes using a single skillet. Excerpted from The Dinner Plan by Kathy Brennan and Caroline Campion, published by ABRAMS © 2017.

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Beef & Bean Sloppy Joes

<p>This healthy copycat recipe of the comfort food classic trades beans for some of the meat to bump up fiber by 7 grams. We also cut back on the sugar and ketchup in this Sloppy Joe recipe makeover to save you 12 grams of added sugar.</p>
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This healthy copycat recipe of the comfort food classic trades beans for some of the meat to bump up fiber by 7 grams. We also cut back on the sugar and ketchup in this Sloppy Joe recipe makeover to save you 12 grams of added sugar.

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Zucchini Parmesan

Zucchini Parmesan
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Nothing goes to waste in this twist on eggplant Parmesan, as the scooped-out zucchini flesh gets mixed into the meat sauce. Use long, straight zucchini for this dish, which are easier to hollow out for stuffing.

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Quick Pasta Bolognese

<p>Who doesn't love pasta with a quick meat sauce? This crowd-pleasing healthy spaghetti Bolognese recipe is a boon for busy cooks--it's ready and on the table in just 40 minutes.</p>
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Who doesn't love pasta with a quick meat sauce? This crowd-pleasing healthy spaghetti Bolognese recipe is a boon for busy cooks--it's ready and on the table in just 40 minutes.

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Mexican Beef and Corn Skillet Peppers

<p>Sweet bell peppers are simmered to tenderness with ground beef, corn, and Mexican-style seasonings, stuffed, then topped with goat cheese for a hearty dinner that doesn't need an oven.</p>
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Sweet bell peppers are simmered to tenderness with ground beef, corn, and Mexican-style seasonings, stuffed, then topped with goat cheese for a hearty dinner that doesn't need an oven.

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Spaghetti Squash and Meatballs

<p>Looking for a pasta that's lower in carbohydrates? Look no further than spaghetti squash. Mix it with homemade meatballs and lower-sodium pasta sauce, and you will quickly love this healthy swap.</p>
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Looking for a pasta that's lower in carbohydrates? Look no further than spaghetti squash. Mix it with homemade meatballs and lower-sodium pasta sauce, and you will quickly love this healthy swap.

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Beef and Vegetable Sandwiches

Beef and Vegetable Sandwiches
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Similar to sloppy joes but with more vegetables, these delicious sandwiches are made in the slow cooker.

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Meatball-Barley Soup

<p>Homemade meatballs flavored with garlic and rosemary take center stage in this simple 1-hour soup recipe. Great Northern beans and barley add a healthy dose of protein and fiber to this hearty and filling dish.</p>
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Homemade meatballs flavored with garlic and rosemary take center stage in this simple 1-hour soup recipe. Great Northern beans and barley add a healthy dose of protein and fiber to this hearty and filling dish.

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Beefy Stuffed Shells

<p>Jumbo pasta shells stuffed with a hearty beef and mushroom filling are baked with tomato sauce and cheese for an Italian-style dinner that's ready in less than an hour.</p>
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Jumbo pasta shells stuffed with a hearty beef and mushroom filling are baked with tomato sauce and cheese for an Italian-style dinner that's ready in less than an hour.

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    1 of 26 Cauliflower Rice-Stuffed Peppers
    2 of 26 Taco-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
    3 of 26 Pressure-Cooker Chili
    4 of 26 Philly Cheese Steak Sloppy Joes
    5 of 26 Firehouse Enchiladas
    6 of 26 Bacon & Mango Tango Sliders
    7 of 26 Easy Cauliflower Shepherd's Pie
    8 of 26 EatingWell Meat Pie
    9 of 26 Chipotle Beef Tacos with Tomato-Avocado Pico de Gallo
    10 of 26 Zucchini Lasagna
    11 of 26 Taco-Stuffed Zucchini
    12 of 26 Spicy Meatloaf with Collards
    13 of 26 Italian Meatball Soup
    14 of 26 Pita Chip Nachos
    15 of 26 Stuffed Delicata Squash
    16 of 26 Beef Kofta with Bulgur & Kale Salad
    17 of 26 Cheddar-Stuffed Mini Meatloaves with Chipotle Glaze
    18 of 26 Mexican Skillet Lasagna
    19 of 26 Beef & Bean Sloppy Joes
    20 of 26 Zucchini Parmesan
    21 of 26 Quick Pasta Bolognese
    22 of 26 Mexican Beef and Corn Skillet Peppers
    23 of 26 Spaghetti Squash and Meatballs
    24 of 26 Beef and Vegetable Sandwiches
    25 of 26 Meatball-Barley Soup
    26 of 26 Beefy Stuffed Shells

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    26 High-Protein Dinners with Ground Beef
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