10 Delicious Ground Beef Kid Friendly Recipes Your Family Will Love
Learn how to make delicious ground beef kid friendly recipes. Easy recipe with step-by-step instructions.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: International
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground beef (80/20 for flavor, or leaner if preferred)
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup finely grated carrots (a sneaky veggie addition Mama Lu would approve)
- 1/2 cup finely chopped bell peppers (red or green, or a mix)
- 1 cup canned diced tomatoes, drained
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or bacon grease (a tip from Mama Lu: fat adds flavor!)
- 1/2 cup beef broth or water
- 1 cup cooked rice or small pasta shapes (optional, for added heartiness)
- Fresh parsley or green onions, chopped, for garnish
Substitution suggestions: If you want to swap ground beef, ground turkey or chicken work well here too. You can also use fresh tomatoes instead of canned, especially in summer when they’re ripe and sweet. For a vegetarian twist, try lentils in place of meat, seasoned in the same way.
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil or bacon grease in a large skillet over medium heat. I always start with a cast iron pan—Mama Lu swore by hers for even cooking and a little extra flavor in every bite.
- Add the chopped onion and cook until translucent, about 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally. The smell of onions softening always takes me back to those early mornings in the farmhouse kitchen.
- Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant, careful not to let it burn.
- Add the ground beef, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Cook until browned all over, about 7-8 minutes. If you notice excess fat, you can drain it off, but leaving some will give you more flavor.
- Mix in the grated carrots and chopped bell peppers, letting them soften with the meat for about 4 minutes. This is where the magic happens—veggies sneak in without any fuss.
- Stir in the diced tomatoes and tomato paste, followed by smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Give everything a good stir to combine.
- Pour in the beef broth or water, reduce heat to low, and let the mixture simmer gently for about 10 minutes. This slow melding of flavors is what Mama Lu always said made a dish “sing.”
- If you want to add rice or pasta for extra substance, stir it in now and let it warm through for a couple of minutes.
- Before serving, taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Sprinkle chopped parsley or green onions on top for a fresh finish.
Find it online: https://claracooking.com/ground-beef-kid-friendly-recipes/
