RecipesWhipped Up

From tacos to steak

Beef

Tacos, bowls, chili, and steak bites with straight-ahead technique.

Ground beef is for tacos, chili, and meatloaf. Steak is for a hot pan and a short cook. These recipes keep those lanes separate so you are not asked to baby a weeknight skillet.

Whole cuts are pulled at the doneness you want. Ground beef is cooked to 160°F. Seasoning is written in teaspoons, not in “a generous hand.”

Time

Difficulty

Meal

Cooking method

Dietary

High protein means the estimate is about 30g or more per serving. Vegetarian, dairy-free, gluten-free, and lower-carb are applied only when the recipe is written to meet them.

Budget

39 recipes

Browned meatballs in a pale brown gravy on a plate with a spoon of sauce

Swedish Meatballs

Beef and pork meatballs are browned in a skillet, then simmered in a peppery beef gravy finished with a little cream. They taste savory and lightly spiced with nutmeg, and the sauce is smooth.

55 min · Medium

Sloppy joe meat piled on a soft bun with a little sauce dripping onto the plate

Classic Sloppy Joes

Ground beef simmers with onion, ketchup, and mustard until it is thick enough to spoon onto soft buns. The filling tastes tangy, slightly sweet, and savory.

35 min · Easy

Sliced roast beef on a toasted roll beside a small bowl of dark au jus

French Dip Sandwiches

Chuck roast braises in beef broth with onion until it is fork-tender, then the slices go onto toasted rolls with the cooking juices. The sandwich tastes beefy and salty, and the jus is made for dipping.

3 hr 20 min · Medium

Tender beef tips in brown gravy with onions in a shallow bowl

Beef Tips and Gravy

Stew beef is browned, then simmered with onion in a flour-thickened beef gravy until the tips turn tender. The dish tastes deeply savory, with peppery gravy that clings to the meat.

1 hr 45 min · Easy

Sliced grilled skirt steak in corn tortillas with onion, cilantro, and lime

Carne Asada Tacos

Skirt steak is grilled to medium-rare, rested, and sliced against the grain for corn tortillas. The tacos taste charred, citrusy, and beefy, with onion and cilantro on top.

32 min · Medium

Shredded dark beef barbacoa in a bowl with lime wedges and chopped onion

Beef Barbacoa

Chuck roast cooks low and slow with chipotle, cumin, garlic, and vinegar until it shreds. It tastes smoky, spicy, and beefy, with a little brightness from the vinegar.

8 hr 20 min · Easy

A grilled rye patty melt cut in half with melted Swiss and onions

Patty Melts

Thin beef patties cook with softened onions and Swiss between slices of rye that toast in butter. The sandwich tastes savory and a little sweet from the onions, with a crisp bread crust.

40 min · Easy

Hot dogs in buns topped with beef chili, chopped onion, and shredded cheddar

Chili Dogs

A quick ground-beef chili is spooned over hot dogs that have been heated through, all tucked into soft buns with onion and cheddar. The dogs taste smoky and savory, with a mild chili heat.

40 min · Easy

Sliced sirloin with red and green bell peppers and onion in a brown sauce

Pepper Steak

Sirloin strips are seared to medium, then tossed with softened bell peppers and onion in a soy and beef gravy. It tastes savory and peppery, with the vegetables still a little firm.

40 min · Easy

Beef lo mein noodles with steak strips, cabbage, and carrots in a dark sauce

Beef Lo Mein

Steak strips and vegetables are stir-fried with boiled lo mein noodles in a soy and oyster sauce. The noodles taste savory and slightly sweet, with a light ginger bite.

38 min · Easy

Shredded flank steak stewed with red and green peppers, onion, and tomato

Ropa Vieja

Flank steak simmers with peppers, onion, and tomato until it shreds into long strands. The stew tastes savory and slightly sweet from the peppers, with cumin and oregano in the sauce.

2 hr 50 min · Medium

Italian beef on a crusty roll with pepperoncini and a cup of jus

Italian Beef Sandwiches

Chuck roast slow-cooks with Italian seasoning, garlic, and pepperoncini, then the slices pile onto rolls with the jus. The sandwich tastes garlicky, beefy, and tangy from the peppers.

8 hr 20 min · Easy

Two cube steaks covered in peppery brown gravy on a plate

Cube Steak and Gravy

Cube steaks are seasoned, dredged in flour, and cooked to medium, then served with a peppery pan gravy from the drippings. The meat tastes savory, and the gravy tastes rich and beefy.

40 min · Easy

Sliced medium-rare ribeye with garlic butter and thyme on a dark plate

Garlic Butter Ribeye

Ribeye steaks sear in a hot cast-iron skillet and baste with garlic butter until they are medium-rare. The crust tastes browned and salty, and the center stays warm and juicy with thyme.

25 min · Medium

An open bag of corn chips topped with seasoned beef, lettuce, tomato, and cheddar

Walking Tacos

Seasoned ground beef is spooned straight into individual bags of corn chips with lettuce, tomato, and cheese. Each bag tastes crunchy, savory, and lightly spiced from the taco seasoning.

30 min · Easy

Golden baked beef empanadas on a sheet pan with one broken open to show the filling

Beef Empanadas

A cumin beef filling with onion and olives is sealed in pastry rounds and baked until the crust is golden. The filling tastes savory and a little briny, and the dough tastes flaky.

1 hr 5 min · Medium

A burger topped with dark caramelized onions and melted Gruyere on a toasted bun

French Onion Burgers

Beef patties are cooked through and topped with deeply browned onions and melted Gruyere on toasted buns. The burger tastes savory and sweet from the onions, with a beefy, fully cooked center.

50 min · Medium

A beef burger cut open to show a molten cheese center on a toasted bun

Juicy Lucy Burgers

American cheese is sealed inside two thin beef patties, then the burger cooks until the center reaches 160°F and the cheese melts. It tastes beefy and salty, with a hot cheese middle.

35 min · Medium

Cheeseburger on a toasted bun with lettuce, tomato, and melted cheddar

Classic Cheeseburgers

Hand-formed beef patties seared in a hot skillet and finished with cheddar. Cook ground beef to 160°F in the center.

20 min · Easy

Bowl of red beef goulash with potatoes and paprika oil on top

Hungarian Beef Goulash

Chunks of beef simmer with paprika, onion, and potatoes until the broth turns thick and red. Serve in bowls with a spoon of sour cream if you like.

21 min · Medium

Glazed Mongolian beef strips with scallions in a skillet

Mongolian Beef Skillet

Thin sliced flank steak cooks fast in a sticky soy-ginger sauce with scallions. Pair with rice for a simple weeknight plate.

30 min · Easy

Skillet of shaved beef with peppers onions and melted provolone

Philly Cheesesteak Skillet

Shaved beef cooks with peppers and onions, then gets covered in melted provolone. Scoop it into rolls or eat it straight from the pan.

35 min · Easy

Pappardelle noodles topped with thick beef ragu and grated cheese

Beef Ragu with Pappardelle

Ground beef and crushed tomatoes simmer into a thick sauce for wide noodles. A little milk softens the tomato acidity.

1 hr · Easy

Sliced grilled flank steak topped with green chimichurri

Grill Chimichurri Flank Steak

Flank steak gets a simple salt rub, grills hot, and is sliced thin under a bright parsley-garlic chimichurri. The sauce goes on after cooking so the herbs stay fresh.

32 min · Easy

Skillet of beef picadillo with olives tomatoes and rice on the side

Beef Picadillo Skillet

Ground beef simmers with tomatoes, olives, cumin, and a few raisins for a savory-sweet filling. Use it over rice or stuffed into baked potatoes.

40 min · Easy

Salisbury steak patties in brown onion mushroom gravy

Skillet Salisbury Steak

Seasoned beef patties brown in a pan, then finish in onion mushroom gravy. Mashed potatoes or buttered noodles soak up the sauce.

40 min · Easy

Bowl of sesame ginger beef strips with snap peas and sauce over rice

Sesame Ginger Beef

Thin strips of flank steak cook quickly in a savory sesame-ginger sauce with crisp snap peas. Serve over rice for a simple weeknight plate.

27 min · Easy

Bulgogi in a skillet with scallions and rice

Korean Beef Bulgogi

Thinly sliced beef marinates in soy, pear, and sesame, then sears in a hot pan.

30 min · Easy

Crisped birria tacos with a cup of consommé

Birria Beef Tacos

Chuck roast braises in a dried-chile sauce, then the meat is tucked into tortillas dipped in the consommé and crisped in a skillet.

3 hr 25 min · Medium

Egg noodles with beef strips and a mushroom paprika cream sauce, finished with dill.

Beef Stroganoff

Strips of beef and mushrooms in a sour cream sauce over egg noodles. The sauce should be tangy and loose, not a thick gravy.

40 min · Advanced

Sliced glazed meatloaf on a platter with a spoon of mashed potatoes.

Weeknight Meatloaf

A simple beef meatloaf with a ketchup glaze, baked in a loaf pan so it slices cleanly. Mashed potatoes are a good next move, not a requirement.

1 hr 5 min · Easy

A bowl of beef chili with beans, shredded cheddar, and green onion.

Classic Beef Chili

Ground beef, beans, and tomatoes simmered with chili powder and cumin. The stovetop pot is about 55 minutes. The slow cooker is 6 hours on low or 3 hours on high.

55 min · or 6 hr on low / 3 hr on high · Easy

Three beef tacos with lettuce, cheddar, tomato, and lime on a plate.

Easy Beef Tacos

Seasoned ground beef in warm tortillas with lettuce, cheese, and tomato. The seasoning is a short spice list, not a mystery packet.

25 min · Easy

Rice topped with savory ground beef, cucumber, sesame seeds, and green onion.

Korean Beef Bowls

Ground beef simmered with soy, ginger, garlic, and a little brown sugar, served over rice with cucumber. Fast, salty, and sweet in a controlled way.

25 min · Easy

Cubed seared steak with garlic butter and rosemary in a hot skillet.

Garlic Butter Steak Bites

Cubes of steak seared in a very hot pan, then finished with garlic butter and rosemary. A weeknight steak that does not require a whole roast.

20 min · Medium

A bowl of rice, seasoned ground beef, black beans, salsa, cheese, and lime.

Beef Burrito Bowls

Rice, seasoned beef, black beans, salsa, and cheese in a bowl. Same idea as a burrito, easier to eat on a weeknight, and easier to pack.

35 min · Easy

Sliced steak with peppers and onions, warm tortillas, and lime.

Steak Fajitas

Skirt or flank steak sliced and seared with peppers and onions. Cook it in a skillet, or on a grill if you already have it hot.

30 min · Medium

Sliced beef and broccoli in a brown sauce over rice.

Beef and Broccoli

Thin slices of flank steak and broccoli in a salty-sweet brown sauce. A weeknight version that still gets a sear on the beef.

30 min · Medium

Two small smash burgers with cheddar and pickles on soft buns.

Smash Burger Sliders

Small beef patties smashed thin on a hot skillet, topped with cheddar and pickles. The crust is the point, so the pan has to be hot and the patties thin.

20 min · Medium

Related categories

Comfort Food Quick Meals Budget Bites One-Pot Meals