There’s no denying that Ree Drummond is known for her comfort food. From the early days of her blog to the many years on her Food Network show, The Pioneer Woman has shared how she fed her growing family and a bunch of hungry cowboys. And given that she is “married to a straight-up-meat-and-potatoes rancher,” as she puts it, it’s stating the obvious that she knows a thing or two about ground beef recipes.
But with so many to choose from, you might be wondering which ones are her family favorites. Well, you’ve come to the right place! Here, you’ll find Ree Drummond’s top ground beef recipes of all time. From simple homemade burgers you’ll want to eat year-round to ground beef casseroles that’ll fill you up no matter how hungry you are, these hearty dinners are quick, easy, and so very satisfying.
You’ll certainly be reminded just how good the classics are, too. For example, “if you’re on the fence about meatloaf, or even if you’ve written it off entirely as something you’d never, ever try,” Ree implores you to give hers a shot. You’ll find her go-to lasagna, a sloppy Joe recipe that made her get over her childhood fears, and so much more. So grab a pound or two of the good stuff and get cookin’. Everything on this list is a Drummond family favorite.
1
Hamburger Soup
Hector Manuel Sanchez
Ree’s kids loved this soup so much that her daughter Alex now feeds it to her own growing family. Ree says it’s a "clean out the fridge soup" because it’s endlessly flexible to swap out ingredients for what you’ve got on hand.
Ree is convinced that this is the meal that made Ladd propose to her, so you know it’s good. Ground beef is mixed with hot breakfast sausage for an extra layer of flavor. It’s saucy, cheesy perfection!
True story: Ree was afraid of sloppy Joes as a kid. But she eventually got over her fear and developed a recipe that’s “savory, a little sweet, and just the right amount of messy.” It’ll be on the table in just 30 minutes, too.
Ree says to forget the word “loaf” if you’re not a fan. “Focus, instead, on the fact that the meat mixture is wrapped lovingly in a blanket of thin, flavorful bacon, and topped with a tangy-sweet sauce that pulls it all together in perfect harmony.”
“I derive a great deal of satisfaction from cooking spaghetti and meatballs,” says Ree. Her secret is letting the meatballs simmer in the sauce, so the flavor infuses throughout the dish.
“If you've been craving good, no-fuss comfort food, give this one a try!” Ree says. With ground beef, pasta, melty cheese, and crispy onions, it’s the kind of comfort food that cures what ails you.
Also called “walking tacos,” Frito pies are mixed and served right in the chip bags! You just have to make a hearty batch of chili, mix it in, and set out toppings for everyone to customize their own.
Ree took her mom’s old recipe and gave it an upgrade. Each pepper is packed with ground beef, zucchini, onion, tomatoes, rice, and pepper jack cheese. They’re simple, hearty, and oh-so satisfying.
Ree loved eating this growing up, and she made a few tweaks over the years to satisfy her own family. It features ground beef, a tangy tomato sauce, creamy and tangy sour cream and cottage cheese, plus egg noodles. Channel your Grandma and give it a try.
Ree has big opinions about burgers: She insists you use at least 80/20 ground beef and make sure to season it before forming it into patties. Then you can get creative wit the toppings and your preferred bun.