Ground beef is our hero, and these recipes prove why.

Do you ever look at that ground beef and wish you had something different to do with it?

Your wish has been granted.

close-up: homemade hamburger helper in a skillet

Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

Here are 15 recipes that use a pound (or two) of ground beef.

Best of all, each recipe is ready in just about 30 minutes!

Easy Taco Casserole

Hamburger Stroganoff

Swapping ground beef for steak makes this classic weeknight friendlyandaffordable!

salisbury ground beef with a side of green beans on a plate

Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

Homemade Hamburger Helper

Never buy the box mix again!

You wouldn’t do it every night, but once in a while, it’s a real treat.

This recipe pleases the grown-ups and the kid contingent alike!

Ground beef and broccoli stir fry over rice in a bowl at a table setting with a glass of water, a bowl of sliced scallions, and a bowl of sesame seeds

Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

Unstuffed Peppers

Skip the hassle of stuffing individual peppers and make this crowd-friendly “unstuffed” version.

Whatever it’s called, it’s comforting and so simple!

Ground Beef Hummus Bowl and pita chips

Simply Recipes / Stephanie Ganz

plate of 20-Minute One-Pan Beef and Chickpeas with rice and greek yogurt

Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

Two Bowls of One-Pot Taco Pasta Topped With Sour Cream, Sliced Scallions and a Lime Wedge, and in the Surroundings, a Bowl With Lime Wedges, a Bowl With Sliced Green Onions, a Bowl With Sour Cream, Glasses With a Drink, and a Mustard Colored Table Napkin With a Pair of Silverware

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

Beef Krapow in two bowls

Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

Baked tacos on a platte surrounded by bowls of toppings (bowl of shredded iceberg lettuce, bowl of diced onions, bowl of tomatoes, bowl of salsa, and a bowl of sour cream)

Simply Recipes / Sara Haas, RD

easy taco casserol in a pot at a table setting with bowls of toppings, chips on a platter, and a bottle of beer

Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

A plate of noodles topped with creamy hamburger stroganoff

Elise Bauer

creamed tacos in bowl with chips, lettuce and tomatoes

Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

Ground Beef with Rice

Simply Recipes / Myo Quinn

Bowl of Burger Salad Topped With a Hefty Drizzle of Dressing, Sitting on a Table Napkin

Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

spoonful of unstuffed pepper lifted from skillet with more

Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

Hamburger and Macaroni

Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer