Ground beef is a go to food when you are looking to eat healthy and lose weight/build muscle.
Not to mention that ground beef is inexpensive, quick to cook up, easy to freeze and can be used in an endless amount of meals.
If you’re like me and like to cook with local ingredients and create healthy recipes, I would recommend you check out this beef casserole from Harvest Eating.
If you’re looking for some new, healthy ground beef recipes then you have come to the right place.
Benefits of Ground Beef for Bodybuilding
Ground beef is an invaluable nutritional powerhouse that can support muscle development.
Ground beef stands out among its peers for its abundance of protein. Essential for muscle repair and growth, protein can be found abundantly in ground beef – providing a powerful dose of this vital nutrient! Ground beef provides all the essential amino acids necessary for building and repairing muscle tissue, with these amino acids playing an integral role in stimulating protein synthesis and optimizing muscle recovery. Ground beef contains essential micronutrients that contribute to overall health and muscle development, including an abundance of iron which aids oxygen transportation during rigorous workouts and energy production during recovery periods. Furthermore, ground beef offers important vitamins like B12 and zinc which have been found to aid optimal muscle functioning and hormone production.
By including ground beef in your bodybuilding diet, you can reap its many advantages: its high protein content, essential amino acids and micronutrients can all promote muscle growth while helping you reach your fitness goals.
Ground Beef Recipes
Korean Ground Beef and Rice Bowls
These Korean Ground Beef and Rice Bowls are so incredibly easy to make and will become one of your go to ground beef meals!
It requires minimal ingredients and requires only a little effort to make.
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
600
Calories
30 g
Protein
77 g
Carbs
19 g
Fat
Ingredients
1 pound lean ground beef (90% lean)
3 garlic cloves, minced
¼ cup packed brown sugar
¼ cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
2 teaspoons sesame oil
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
¼ teaspoon pepper
2 cups hot cooked white or brown rice
sliced green onions and sesame seeds for garnish
Who doesn’t love noodles? And who doesn’t love a healthy meal that you can put together in 15 minutes!
These 15-Minute Lazy Noodles really do come together in just 15 minutes, all with ingredients you’ve probably got lying around your kitchen already. Check them out!
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
369
Calories
30 g
Protein
13 g
Carbs
17 g
Fat
Ingredients
12 oz. dried wheat noodles (almost any noodle will do––even spaghetti)
1-2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
1 pound ground beef, pork, chicken, or turkey
1 onion, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, sliced
2 large handfuls of baby spinach
salt and pepper
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1 teaspoon honey
2 teaspoons chili oil (optional)
A delicious wrap filled with romaine lettuce, spiced ground beef, cheese, guacamole, salsa and optionally add crushed tortilla chips for a little extra crunch. You can easily switch things up to your own tastes. Use any kind of lettuce and add cilantro or sour cream. Don’t forget the golden rule of wrap-making though…don’t overstuff it and keep it nice and tight when you roll the wrap together.
These healthy home made tacos can be made with very little planning involved. They make the perfect go-to meal after a long day of all work and no tacos. Feel free to mix and match the ingredients to your taste.
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
365
Calories
77 g
Protein
38 g
Carbs
20 g
Fat
Ingredients
1/2 lb . ground beef
6-8 corn tortillas
1/2 onion
1 garlic clove
1 chipotle in adobo
1 Tablespoon adobo sauce
1 Tablespoon chili powder (I used crushed New Mexican)
1/4 teaspoon salt
dash cumin (optional)
dash oregano (optional)
dash black pepper
2 tomatoes
fresh lettuce
Monterey Jack cheese (or Mozzarella)
guacamole (optional)
A simple recipe that you can make any night of the week. This cauliflower and ground beef hash is an easy low carb, high protein option if you’re in a rush or don’t want to make a complicated meal. And, boy, does it fill you up!
Feel free to add in some chilli, bacon or other seasonings to mix it up.
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
313
Calories
34 g
Protein
5 g
Carbs
17 g
Fat
Ingredients
16 oz. bag frozen cauliflower, defrosted and drained
1 lb. lean ground beef
2 c. cheddar cheese
1 tsp. garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste
This 15-Minute Quinoa and Korean Beef Bowl is the perfect quick, easy and healthy dinner recipe that you can also make in bulk for a delicious meal prep. Use ground beef or ground turkey for this Korean beef recipe that’s full of flavour and protein.
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
406
Calories
29 g
Protein
38 g
Carbs
16 g
Fat
Ingredients
1 cup quinoa, dry but rinsed
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground ginger
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound lean ground beef
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, or more if you like it spicy
salt and pepper, to taste
2 green onions, thinly sliced
Are you starting to realise that I like Korean beef recipes?
These Sweet and Spicy Korean Meatballs will change your life. They’re made with lean beef, flavoured with garlic and Sriracha sauce, baked without the hassle of frying and glazed with a spicy apricot glaze. They make a great snack or party food or you can cook up some rice and have them as a meal. It’s up to you!
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories
15 g
Protein
140 g
Carbs
7 g
Fat
Ingredients
1 1/2 lb lean ground beef
4 green onions chopped
1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs
3 cloves garlic minced
1 egg
2 tbsp Sriracha sauce
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
For Spicy Apricot Glaze
1/2 cup apricot jam
1 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp Sriracha sauce
If you’re like me and didn’t know what the hell a porcupine meatball was, you better listen up because you are going to LOVE them. They are a combination of meat and rice and got their name because rice often pokes out of them and resembles porcupine quills! This recipe is a little high in fat so feel free to adjust some of the ingredients to fit your macros.
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
418
Calories
29 g
Protein
6 g
Carbs
29 g
Fat
Ingredients
For the porcupine meatballs
½ cup rice
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp butter
1 large onion, chopped
1 large carrot, grated
1 lbs ground beef, extra lean
1 lbs ground pork, extra lean
1 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
2 tsp salt
0.5 tsp pepper
For the creamy tomato sauce
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp butter
1 large onion, chopped
1 large carrot, grated
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
1X14 oz/400g canned plum tomatoes
1 cup/250 ml chicken stock
3 tbsp sour cream, full fat
salt
Every bite of this tender, juicy meatloaf is full of possibilities with feta cheese, garlicky spinach, roasted red peppers, onions and pine nuts. There’s a trio of herbs including thyme, parsley and oregano plus a big glug of Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, seasoned bread crumbs and eggs to hold it all together.
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
379
Calories
16 g
Protein
21 g
Carbs
28 g
Fat
Ingredients
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 cloves minced garlic
4 cups baby spinach
1 + ¼ pounds ground beef
½ cup crumbled feta cheese
⅓ cup diced roasted red peppers (from a jar)
¼ cup chopped yellow onion
⅓ cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 egg
½ teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon dried parsley
½ teaspoon dried thyme
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
¼ cup ketchup plus 2 tablespoons for brushing on top
¼ cup pine nuts
If you’re looking for a gluten free version of classic beef enchiladas, this is your recipe! A little over 30 minutes to make. They’re big on and low on calories at only 222 calories a serving!
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
222
Calories
11 g
Protein
21g
Carbs
10 g
Fat
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
½ cup diced red onion
1 lb. lean ground beef
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon ground cumin
salt to taste
3 large zucchinis, sliced in half lengthwise and scooped out to create a “boat”
1½ cups of old el paso red enchilada sauce
½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro Optional toppings:
diced tomatoes
diced green onions
diced avocado
This “bacon burger & fries” Paleo breakfast bake combines savoury, crispy bacon, grass-fed ground beef and crispy sweet potatoes with greens and baked eggs. This is great for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Try it out!
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
344
Calories
30 g
Protein
7.5 g
Carbs
19 g
Fat
Ingredients
1 large sweet potato
2 tsp olive oil (for roasting) + sea salt and pepper
6 slices bacon, nitrate free & sugar free for Whole30, cut into bite size pieces
½ lb grass-fed ground beef, 85% lean
1 small onion, chopped
½ cup chopped mushrooms
2 large handfuls fresh spinach, chopped
4 large eggs
generous pinch sea salt and pepper
sliced scallions or chives for garnish (optional)
A tasty warm beef salad that’s sure to mix things up. There’s a lot going on in this recipe but it tastes amazing.
If you’re looking for something a bit different check this one out.
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
758
Calories
20 g
Protein
18 g
Carbs
23 g
Fat
Ingredients
For the beef
2 tablespoons coconut oil
½ brown onion, finely diced
½ long red chill, finely diced
350-400 g (0.8 lb.) grass-fed beef mince
3 cloves garlic, finely diced
1 teaspoon tomato paste
¾ teaspoon ground coriander seeds
¾ teaspoon ground cumin
½ tea
spoon paprika
Pinch of black pepper
Pinch of ground cinnamon
Pinch of ground cloves (or use mortar & pestle to grind 1 clove or use some Allspice)
¾ teaspoon sea salt
For the cucumber salad
2 cups diced cucumber (3-4 medium Lebanese cucumbers)
2 tablespoons diced fresh coriander (cilantro)
Pinch of pepper
Pinch of sea salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoons lemon juice
10 fresh mint leaves
Few whole raw cashews
For the cashew raita dressing
¾ cup raw cashews, soaked in warm water for 1 hour
½ clove of garlic, diced
Juice of 1 lemon
¾ teaspoon tahini paste
2 tablespoons water
Pinch of sea salt
This sloppy joe recipe is a great dish to have at hand. Add it with rice or in a bun. You can even package it up and meal prep it for an easy on the go meal.
Oh and I forgot to say, it tastes great too! What more could you want from a meal?
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
220
Calories
22.5 g
Protein
14.5 g
Carbs
8 g
Fat
Ingredients
1.5 pounds ground beef or turkey (93/7)
8 oz tomato paste
¼ cup + 2 Tablespoons tomato sauce
0.5 Tablespoons garlic powder
0.25 teaspoon salt
0.5 Tablespoons chili powder
0.25 teaspoons garlic salt
2.5 Tablespoons honey or maple syrup
Beef Jerky is a great high protein, low carb, easy, on-the-go snack. Homemade ground beef jerky is not only cost effective but it also allows you to add different spices and flavours to your liking. The other added benefit it you get to control the amount of sodium added as some store-bought products are loaded with it.
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
82
Calories
7 g
Protein
2 g
Carbs
5 g
Fat
Ingredients
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 teaspoon liquid smoke
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder or 1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 pound lean ground beef or venison
I love simple recipes and it doesn’t get much simpler than 5 ingredients!
So if you’re looking to knock up an awesome chili in a snap, you have to check out this tasty five-ingredient easy chili recipe!
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
1298
Calories
122.8 g
Protein
95.9 g
Carbs
41.2 g
Fat
Ingredients
1 lb. ground beef or turkey*
1 small white onion, diced
3 (15 oz.) cans diced tomatoes with green chiles
2 (15 oz.) cans beans, drained (black beans, kidney beans, a combo, or whatever you like)
2 Tbsp. chili powder
This is a great make ahead meal. You can prep the bell peppers in the morning or even a day or 2 before and just pop it in the oven 40 minutes before you’re ready to eat them! Also it happens to be one of the tastiest things I have ever put in my mouth!
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
444
Calories
25 g
Protein
30 g
Carbs
15 g
Fat
Ingredients
4 Bell Peppers
1 lb ground beef
1 small onion, finely diced
1 tsp minced garlic
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 tsp Tony Chachere’s creole seasoning
1 egg
1/3 cup quick cooking oats
1 TBSP Worcestershire
15 oz can tomato sauce (divided)
shredded cheese of your choice
