19 Low Calorie Ground Beef Recipes (2024)

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ByPaige Merritt

Stay on your diet with the best recipes to use your ground beef, that are still low in calories.

In the health world, beef tends to get a bad rap. Beef does tend to be higher in calories and fat, but that doesn’t mean it should be avoided.

Just like everything. Eating beef in moderation definitely has its benefits. So going out for that steak or incorporating beef into a weekly meal plan isn’t such a bad idea.

19 Low Calorie Ground Beef Recipes (1)

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The health benefits of beef

Beef is a great source of carnitine, zinc, selenium, iron and B Vitamin. Carnitine helps the body turn fat into energy and is important for heart and brain function as well as muscle movement.

Selenium can help reduce the risk of some cancers, protects the heart and boost your immune system.

The B Vitamins are important for maintaining overall good health and well-being. They also have a direct impact on energy, brain function and cell metabolism.

Beef definitely has its health benefits. I encourage people to not avoid beef because of those benefits. It’s good to get your protein from a variety of protein sources for optimal health (check out my list of favorite protein sources here). I also tell people to try and eat the ground beef that is more lean to help stay away from some of the fats.

If you have a recipe that calls for beef, but you are looking for something lower calorie and with less fat, don’t forget that you can always substitute for ground turkey or chicken. Listed below are some of my favorite Ground Beef recipes that the whole family can enjoy!

Favorite Ground Beef Recipes

  1. Homemade Big Mac: Calorie: 381kcal, Carbohydrates:35g, Protein:29g,Fat:11g ( 10WW Points). Another couple of options to make this Big Mac have less Carbohydrates and Fat is by making it into a salad or using a lettuce wrap. Also, removing some cheese will help decrease the fat.
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  1. Ground Beef Taco’s: Calories:304kcal,Carbohydrates:19g,Protein:26g,Fat:13g One of the best things about Taco’s is that they are so versatile! You can add whatever you like, to make them your own.
  2. Homemade Chili: Calories:216kcal,Carbohydrates:17g,Protein:22g, Fat:7g. Chili is always better with toppings. Those toppings tend to add a bit more fat and calories to your chili. Be sure to watch your proportion sizes and calculating that into what you are consuming!
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  1. Swedish Meatballs: Calories:220kcal,Carbohydrates:8g,Protein:20g,Fat:11g. Sweedish meatballs are a delicious way to jazz up ground beef. One thing I enjoy doing with my Swedish Meatballs is adding a pinch of red pepper flakes to give it a little kick.
  2. Meat Sauce: Calories:248kcal,Carbohydrates:3g,Protein:13g,Fat:20g This is a great quick family recipe that everyone will enjoy. It is a great sauce to pair with a variety of spaghetti squashi, zucchini and spaghetti noodles.
19 Low Calorie Ground Beef Recipes (4)
  1. Goulash: Calories:313kcal,Carbohydrates:28g,Protein:31g,Fat:9g. Goulash is a delicious meal to eat anytime of the day. it has a great amount of protein and carbohydrates and is low in fat. A great meal to keep you full for hours!
  2. Ground Beef Fajita: Calories:192, Fat:4g, Carbohydrates:5g, Protein:10g. Not going to lie, fajitas of all kinds are an absolute favorite at my house. You can pair so many great things with fajitas and add as many vegetables as you’d like. Fajitas are high in protein and low in carbohydrates and fats.
  3. Stuffed Bell Peppers: Calories:299kcal,Carbohydrates:30g,Protein:19g, Fat:11g, Saturated Fat:4g There is a variety of ways to cook stuffed bell peppers. One of the most frequent questions I get asked with stuffed bell peppers is how to make them tender. The best advice I have is to precook them so they are just about tender about 20-30 minutes. One suggestion is to substitute rice for quinoa.
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  1. Shepherds Pie: Calories: 358, Carbohydrates: 26g, Protein: 28g, Fat: 15g Shepherds pie is a traditional British dish, using diced up lamb. Cottage pie is generally made with ground beef but in the states most people just call it shepherds pie.
  2. Taco Salad: Calories:360,Carbohydrates:20g,Protein:19g,Fat:23g Taco salad has a lot variation to it. Once again you can make it yours by alternating it to suite your needs. To decrease some of the fats, eliminate some of the cheese and sour cream.
  3. Italian Meatballs: Calories:47kcal,Carbohydrates:1g,Protein:3g,Fat:4gThese Italian meatballs are great to throw in the freezer. They taste good on any rice or Italian dish! Remember the lower fat percentage on the meat the more lean they will be.
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  1. Burrito Bowl: Calories: 207 Fat: 5g, Protein 22g:, Carbohydrates: 24g. This burrito bowl is a bit unique due to the fact that is uses riced cauliflower. However, it is delicious with so much flavor and easy to make!
  2. Meatloaf: Calories:219kcal, Carbohydrates:7g,Protein:20g,Fat:11g. Meatloaf is a great dinner to pair with a delicious side salad and roasted vegetables or mashed potatoes. Keep it light by easing the amount of sauce that covers the top.
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  1. Quesadillas: Calories: 523kcal, Carbohydrates: 46g, Protein: 31g, Fat: 25g These quesadillas are so simple and can be used anytime of the day. The calories can drastically change with what kind of cheese and tortilla that is used. remember to pay attention to each item you use when creating something on your own.
  2. Beef Stroganoff: Calories: 257, Carbohydrates: 6g, Protein: 16g, Fat:19g This stroganoff is packed with savory, rich textures with a delicious smooth. creamy texture making you want more and more.
  3. Ground Beef and Broccoli: Calories: 252, Carbohydrates: 20g, Protein: 11g, Fat: 13g Beef and Broccoli is a delicious Asian dish. It is quick and full of great nutrients. The sauce is made from garlic, broth and soy sauce as the base and a hint of lime and siracha.
  4. Beef Enchiladas: Calories:374kcal,Carbohydrates:22g,Protein:20g,Fat:22gDo you ever need a meal that is tasty even when you have no time? These beef enchiladas are great to freeze and heat up right before dinner. The key to doing this is, rolling the enchiladas and waiting to put the sauce on until right before you cook them. Then they won’t go soggy.
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  1. Chimichurri: Calories: 340,Fat: 9g,Protein: 18g,Carbohydrates: 47g This chimichurri is very much like jambalaya and can be adjusted to your liking. This is the perfect one pot dinner. It also can pair well with garlic bread or a toast.
  2. Quinoa and Beef: Calories:375 Fat:10g, Carbohydrates:38g, Protein:29g If you like dinner with a little bit of a kick this is the perfect week night recipe. The recipe calls for Gochujang, which is a fancy way of saying garlic chili sauce. This sauce is pretty kicky so make sure you monitor how much you put on if you don’t love a ton of spice!

These are some of the best week night easy ground beef dinner recipes. Now it is your turn. Share with me some of your favorite low calorie ground beef meals! Send me some of your favorite meals that are high calorie and I will help you lower the calories in some simple tasty steps!

19 Low Calorie Ground Beef Recipes (9)

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19 Low Calorie Ground Beef Recipes (13)

Paige Merritt

Paige Merritt is a Health Care and Wellness Professional with a Bachelors of Science in Human Nutrition with an Emphasis in Allied Health from Southern Utah University. She is a firm believer in Lifestyle changes and not just quick fixes or fad diets. She specializes in Gluten Free and Allergy Diets. Paige is a Mother, Wife, World Traveler and a Celiac.

19 Low Calorie Ground Beef Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Is ground beef healthy to lose weight? ›

Losing Weight

To be fair, though, there is some saturated fat and monounsaturated fat in even lean ground beef, whether you're cooking with 80/20, 85/15, or even a lean 90/10. Nevertheless, the high amount of protein that ground beef offers still makes it ideal for your meal plan, even if your goal is to lose weight.

How do you make ground beef healthier? ›

There's a simple and, in my opinion, quite profound way to reduce the fat content in ground beef by 50 percent! Just rinse the fat off. The other awesome thing — rinsing and draining ground beef washes away the fat without decreasing the vitamins and minerals or messing up the flavor.

What to do with 90 10 ground beef? ›

90/10 Ground Sirloin

Because it is so lean, it's not a good choice for hamburgers, but it is great for casseroles, sauces, chili, and stuffed peppers.

What is the best ground meat for a diet? ›

If you're looking to reduce calories for weight loss, either lean ground turkey or lean ground beef are healthy choices. Keeping tabs on saturated fat for heart health? Lean ground turkey is the better pick by a slim margin.

Is it OK to eat lean ground beef everyday? ›

Everything in moderation

Even if you choose lean or extra-lean cuts of beef, don't eat too much. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that adults eat no more than a total of 26 ounces of meat, poultry and eggs per week. One portion of cooked meat is three ounces.

Is beef good for losing belly fat? ›

As you can probably tell by now, lean protein is a crucial addition to any belly fat-burning eating plan. While foods like lean beef and chicken are good choices, eggs can be another helpful option and can be eaten at any meal of the day.

What does adding milk to ground beef do? ›

The calcium-rich properties of milk react with enzymes in the meat to gently soften the proteins. Whole milk (not reduced fat), buttermilk, and yogurt all get the job done – with a special nod to buttermilk and yogurt for their optimal tenderizing acidity levels.

How do you cook ground beef to get rid of fat? ›

What to Do
  1. Brown ground beef in skillet over medium heat until fully cooked.
  2. Using a slotted spoon, remove beef crumbles to a plate lined with 3 paper towels. Let sit 1 minute; blot top of beef with more paper towels.
  3. Place beef in colander over a large bowl. Pour very hot water (not boiling) over beef to rinse fat.

Does boiling ground beef make it healthier? ›

Boiling ground beef is the best way to cook it so that it comes out in small, fine crumbles. Trust me, this is the secret to all those amazing tacos and pasta sauces at your favorite restaurant! It's also a healthier option, because the boiling process helps separate the fat from the meat, and it comes out quite lean.

What is Gordon Ramsay's best burger meat blend? ›

Gordon Ramsay hamburger recipe blend of brisket, chuck sirloin, and short rib ground beef with our exclusive chef's secret recipe, featuring a perfect meat blend and expert grill techniques.

What is the healthiest ground beef to buy? ›

The meat from the loin primal is very lean, so it produces ground beef with the healthiest lean point. You will often hear ground sirloin called extra-lean ground beef. If you want to create a healthy menu and limit the saturated fat in your dishes, then ground sirloin is the best choice.

How long does 1lb of ground beef last? ›

How Long Does Cooked Ground Beef Last in the Fridge? Say you've cooked up a pound of ground beef for taco night, how long will that last you in the fridge? Like all leftovers, cooked meats will last in the refrigerator for three to four days, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.

What meat helps lose belly fat? ›

Lean meats include skinless chicken breast, the white meat part of the turkey, and lean cuts of beef. Leafy greens, green tea, and bright vegetables can help reduce swelling and turn off fat-storage genes. Bright, colorful vegetables also add color and crunch to the meal plan.

What is the number 1 healthiest meat? ›

Healthiest options: turkey and chicken

When it comes to the healthiest meats that pack the biggest nutritional punch, turkey and chicken should be at the top of your (grocery) list, says Schiff. Both are about equal in terms of nutrition, with turkey tending to be leaner than chicken.

Is Rice good for you to lose weight? ›

Supports Weight Loss

Packed with both soluble and insoluble fibre adding red rice as part of the diet plan helps to keep you satiated, reduce overall calorie intake and control hunger pangs. Totally devoid of fat red rice is recommended by doctors to lower cholesterol levels and promote weight loss.

Can I eat beef and still lose weight? ›

You might think that red beef is off-limits when it comes to weight loss, but lean beef can be incorporated in healthy amounts. Lean beef is another source of protein and a great source of iron, which contributes to healthy blood. Grass-fed beef is the ultimate choice because it's the leanest.

Is beef better than chicken for weight loss? ›

For those on a restricted calorie intake, chicken is the way to go. A serving of chicken provides less calories, as well as less cholesterol and saturated fat than beef. With chicken's lower calorie content, beef packs a hefty punch due to its higher fat content! Chicken is the most versatile and adaptable meat.

Is 80 20 ground beef healthy to lose weight? ›

If you're looking for a leaner option, 90/10 or ground sirloin may be better. While 80/20 may not be the healthiest option, it provides a good amount of fat for flavor and moisture. By being mindful of portion size and cooking methods, you can still enjoy the taste of 80/20 while maintaining a balanced diet.

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