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.
19 Low Calorie Ground Beef Recipes (2)
  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!
19 Low Calorie Ground Beef Recipes (3)
  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.
19 Low Calorie Ground Beef Recipes (7)
  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.
19 Low Calorie Ground Beef Recipes (8)
  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

How do you make ground beef less calories? ›

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.

Is ground beef healthy for weight loss? ›

Aids in weight management: Consuming lean ground beef as a source of protein can help you feel fuller for longer, potentially aiding in weight management. Supports bone health: Ground beef contains phosphorus, which works alongside calcium to maintain strong bones and teeth.

What ground beef is best for calorie deficit? ›

90/10 Ground Sirloin

Ground sirloin is 90 to 92 percent lean (8 to 10 percent fat). This is the leanest type of ground beef, often referred to as “extra-lean” and a great option if you are looking for a healthier choice.

What is the healthiest ground beef option? ›

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.

Do you lose calories when you cook ground beef? ›

Depends on how you cooked it. If you just heated it in a container and you kept all the juices then the calorific value will be the same because all that the beef would have lost would be water. If you cooked it in a way that let the fats flow away, like on a grill, then yes, it will have less calories.

Does cooking ground beef reduce calories? ›

However, there are some factors you need to be conscious of as well. “Cooking and draining ground beef significantly reduces fat and calorie content,” Dr.

What meat to eat to 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 most unhealthy meat to eat? ›

try to limit processed meat products such as sausages, salami, pâté and beefburgers, because these are generally high in fat – they are often high in salt, too. try to limit meat products in pastry, such as pies and sausage rolls, because they are often high in fat and salt.

What meats should I avoid when losing weight? ›

Processed meat

Deli meat, hotdogs, and canned meat such as Spam are high in sodium and trans fat, which you should avoid if you are trying to lose weight. Like red meat, overconsumption of processed meats is linked to an increased risk of obesity and diabetes.

Is white rice good for weight loss? ›

Like many foods, rice doesn't have a magical weight loss or weight gain property, but it can be a part of a healthy diet. Too much of anything, even healthy foods, can lead to weight gain. If you follow a low-carbohydrate diet, rice isn't usually included because it's a high-carb food.

How to eat ground beef to lose weight? ›

We recommend going for 90% lean, which yields fewer calories and fat than regular ground beef. When possible, it's best to go for grass-fed. It contains more heart-healthy omega-3s, less saturated fat, and as much as four times the vitamin E.

Is pasta good for weight loss? ›

A good bowl of spaghetti or risotto can be part of a weight-loss plan. In fact, as long as you don't overdo the portions, pasta may help you eat a higher-quality diet, according to results published in a 2020 meta-analysis in Frontiers in Nutrition.

Is 93% lean ground beef healthy? ›

All in all, whether buying ground beef or ground turkey, the important thing is to buy at least 93/7 lean-to-fat ratio. Lowering saturated fat is the goal, as eating too much saturated fat can raise LDL cholesterol, increasing the risk for heart disease and stroke.

Is there a healthy ground beef? ›

Purchasing lean or extra lean ground beef is a fantastic way to add protein to your meals while skipping unnecessary fat. Whether you use it as a stuffing for tacos, peppers or baked potatoes, lean ground beef is an easy ingredient to keep in your freezer and pull out when needed.

Is ground beef or chicken better for weight loss? ›

Chicken is high in protein and lower in fat compared to other animal sources like beef. When we think chicken, we often refer to white meat. The white meat, primarily chicken breast, is a wonderful addition for people who want a low-fat, high-protein diet.

Is ground beef less calories if you drain the fat? ›

Save money by using ground beef with a higher fat content for tacos, pasta, and more. After browning the meat, drain off the fat using this method to reduce fat and calories.

How much does draining ground beef reduce calories? ›

By reducing the total fat content through cooking, draining and rinsing, you also reduce the number of calories. Each gram of fat contains 9 calories. That means by cooking and draining ground beef, you remove about 45 to 54 fat calories, reducing total calories to 162 to 171.

Why is ground beef so high in calories? ›

Beef contains varying amounts of fat — also called beef tallow. Apart from adding flavor, fat increases the calorie content of meat considerably. The amount of fat in beef depends on the level of trimming and the animal's age, breed, gender, and feed.

Does removing grease from ground beef reduce calories? ›

Ground beef is made up of protein and fat. Fat has 9 calories per gram. Draining as much fat as you can, may significantly reduce the total calories.. If you are cooking the ground beef by “frying”, use a Teflon coated pan, DO NOT ADD OIL, and drain as much fat off as possible.

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