12 Budget Ground Beef Recipes Under $3 Per Serving

# 12 Budget Ground Beef Recipes Under $3 Per Serving Ground beef might be the single most versatile ingredient you can buy at the grocery store. It browns quickly, absorbs almost any flavor you throw at it, and stretches further than just about any other protein when you pair it with grains, beans, or vegetables. When you buy it on sale and stock your freezer, ground beef becomes the foundation of dozens of affordable meals. We rounded up 12 of our favorite ground beef recipes, and every single one clocks in at under $3 per serving. Some are well under $2. Whether you are cooking for a family or meal prepping for the week, these recipes will keep your grocery bill low and your dinner table interesting. ## How to Buy Ground Beef on a Budget Before we get into the recipes, a few quick tips on buying ground beef smartly. First, 80/20 ground beef is the sweet spot for most cooking. It has enough fat to keep things juicy and flavorful, but not so much that you are draining off half the pan. Second, buy in bulk whenever you see a good sale. Ground beef freezes beautifully for up to four months. Portion it into one-pound packages before freezing so you can thaw exactly what you need. Third, check the reduced-price section of your grocery store's meat department. Packages nearing their sell-by date are often marked down 30 to 50 percent, and they are perfectly fine to cook that day or freeze immediately. ## 1. Budget Ground Beef Stroganoff Creamy, savory, and deeply comforting, this stroganoff uses ground beef instead of expensive steak strips. The sauce comes together with mushrooms, onions, beef broth, and a generous spoonful of sour cream stirred in at the end. Serve it over egg noodles for a classic presentation, or over rice to stretch it even further. This meal feeds four generously for about $8 total. [Budget Ground Beef Stroganoff](/recipes/budget-ground-beef-stroganoff) ## 2. Korean Beef Bowl This recipe is proof that budget cooking does not have to be boring. Ground beef gets simmered in a sweet and savory sauce made from soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, and a splash of sesame oil. Serve it over steamed rice with green onions, sesame seeds, and a fried egg on top. The whole bowl costs about $2 per serving and tastes like something you would pay $15 for at a restaurant. [Korean Beef Bowl](/recipes/korean-beef-bowl) ## 3. Classic Beef Chili A big pot of chili is one of the best investments you can make in your weekly meal plan. This recipe uses ground beef, kidney beans, diced tomatoes, and a homemade spice blend that blows any packet seasoning out of the water. It makes a huge batch that feeds six to eight people, freezes beautifully, and tastes even better the next day. At about $1.50 per serving, it is also one of the cheapest meals on this list. [Classic Beef Chili](/recipes/classic-beef-chili) ## 4. Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry Skip the takeout and make your own beef and broccoli at home. Ground beef works surprisingly well in this stir fry, cooking in just a few minutes and soaking up the savory-sweet sauce. Fresh broccoli florets, garlic, and ginger round out the dish. Serve over rice for a complete meal that costs about $2.50 per serving and takes less than 20 minutes from start to finish. [Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry](/recipes/beef-broccoli-stir-fry) ## 5. Homemade Sloppy Joes Forget the canned sauce. Homemade sloppy joes are incredibly easy and taste a hundred times better. Brown the beef with onion and green pepper, then simmer with ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and a little brown sugar. Pile it onto toasted buns and serve with chips or coleslaw. Kids and adults love this one equally, and it costs about $7 to feed a family of four. ## 6. Beef Taco Meat with Homemade Seasoning Store-bought taco seasoning packets are convenient, but making your own is cheaper and lets you control the salt and heat level. Mix chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and a pinch of cayenne. Brown a pound of ground beef, add the seasoning with a splash of water, and simmer until thick. Use it for tacos, burritos, nachos, or taco salads throughout the week. A pound of seasoned taco meat costs under $5 and stretches across multiple meals. ## 7. One-Pot Beefy Tomato Pasta This is the kind of meal you make on a Tuesday when you have nothing planned and the pantry is looking sparse. Brown ground beef in a large pot, add canned diced tomatoes, beef broth, dried pasta, and Italian seasoning. Cover and simmer until the pasta is tender and has absorbed most of the liquid. Stir in a handful of shredded mozzarella at the end. One pot, one dish to wash, and a total cost of about $6 for four servings. ## 8. Stuffed Bell Peppers Hollowed-out bell peppers stuffed with a mixture of ground beef, rice, tomato sauce, and cheese make a visually impressive dinner that is secretly very cheap to make. The peppers act as edible bowls, and the filling is hearty enough that one pepper per person is a full meal. When bell peppers are in season, you can make this for about $8 total. Use any color pepper you like, though green peppers are usually the cheapest. ## 9. Beef and Bean Burritos A can of refried beans mixed with seasoned ground beef makes an incredibly filling burrito filling. Add shredded cheese, salsa, and sour cream, then wrap everything in large flour tortillas. These freeze well, too. Make a big batch on Sunday and stash extras in the freezer wrapped in foil. Reheat in the oven for a quick lunch or dinner any day of the week. Total cost for eight burritos comes in around $10. ## 10. Hamburger Fried Rice Leftover rice is the starting point for this quick and satisfying meal. Brown ground beef with garlic and ginger, push it to the side of the pan, and scramble a couple of eggs. Add the cold rice, frozen peas and carrots, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Toss everything together over high heat until the rice gets slightly crispy. It tastes like takeout fried rice but costs a fraction of the price, roughly $2 per serving. ## 11. Cottage Pie This British classic layers seasoned ground beef and vegetables under a blanket of creamy mashed potatoes. Brown the beef with onion, carrots, and peas, then add beef gravy and pour it into a baking dish. Top with mashed potatoes, rough up the surface with a fork for crispy peaks, and bake until golden and bubbling. It is pure comfort food and feeds a family of four for about $9. ## 12. Beef and Cabbage Skillet Cabbage is one of the most underused budget vegetables, and it is fantastic with ground beef. Shred half a head of cabbage and cook it with ground beef, onion, garlic, and a splash of soy sauce. The cabbage softens and sweetens as it cooks, creating an almost egg-roll-like flavor that is surprisingly addictive. This entire skillet dinner costs under $6 and is naturally low-carb if that matters to you. ## Smart Ways to Stretch Ground Beef Further If you want to push your budget even lower, here are a few tricks for stretching ground beef without anyone noticing. **Add beans or lentils.** Mixing half a can of black beans or cooked lentils into a pound of ground beef extends it to feed two extra people. The texture blends right in, especially in tacos, chili, and pasta sauces. **Bulk up with grains.** Cooked rice, quinoa, or breadcrumbs mixed into ground beef make meatballs, meatloaf, and burger patties go further while keeping them moist. **Load up on vegetables.** Finely diced mushrooms, onions, and carrots virtually disappear into ground beef but add volume and nutrition. Mushrooms in particular have a meaty texture that blends seamlessly. **Cook once, eat twice.** Brown a large batch of ground beef at the start of the week, then portion it out for different meals. Monday gets tacos, Wednesday gets pasta sauce, and Friday gets fried rice. Same protein, totally different dinners. Ground beef is the budget cook's secret weapon, and these 12 recipes prove that affordable eating can be delicious, varied, and satisfying. Pick a few to try this week, stock up when you see a sale, and watch your grocery bill shrink while your dinner options expand.