Make-ahead Ground Beef Meals: Easy and Convenient Freezer Recipes

Dump recipes have been a game-changer when it comes to preparing meals in advance. These recipes may sound unappealing at first, but trust me, they are incredibly fast and convenient to make. Most of these dump recipes can be prepared in a crockpot, which saves even more time.

After receiving overwhelming responses from busy individuals who loved my Chicken Dump Recipes, I decided to create a collection of Beef Dump Recipes for all of you. This book features six meal plans, each containing five delicious recipes. You’ll also find shopping lists for each plan and printable labels for each recipe.

These beef dump recipes are not only easy to prepare but also perfect for freezing. They also make fantastic gifts for friends going through difficult times or celebrating a new addition to their family. How amazing is it that by doubling these recipes, you can assemble ten meals in just one hour? (Please note that this time doesn’t include browning the beef).

To ensure smooth preparation of your beef dump meals, make sure to gather all your ingredients before you start assembling. This will save you a significant amount of time and prevent any last-minute trips to the store.

Steps to Making Beef Dump Meals:

1. Brown the beef. You can do this the day before and keep it in the fridge until you’re ready to use it. For extra flavor, add a pinch of salt and pepper while browning.

2. Get out all your ingredients.

3. Label resealable freezer bags with the name and cooking instructions. You can use a permanent marker or printed labels.

4. Prop the bottom of the bags flat and fold the top over to keep them open.

5. Add the browned ground beef into each bag.

6. Once the meat is in all the bags, dump the remaining ingredients for the recipe into each bag.

7. After adding all the ingredients, remove any excess air from the bags, seal them, lay them flat, and freeze.

Sample Meal Plan: Ground Beef Extravaganza

Here’s a sample meal plan that exclusively features ground beef recipes. Don’t forget to brown the beef before starting the assembly process. For more meal plans and recipes using different cuts of beef, check out the Beef Dump Recipes book.

Beef Hash

• 1 1/2 lbs. browned ground beef
• 500 grams frozen hash browns*
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 3 Tbsp. dry onion soup mix**
• 1 cup beef broth
• dash of pepper

*Note: If you’re making two of these recipes simultaneously, purchase one large bag of hash browns and split it between the two meals. **Make sure to use an MSG-free, gluten-free dry onion soup mix.

Cooking Instructions: Thaw. Bake at 350° for one hour, topping with grated cheese the last 10 minutes if desired. Alternatively, cook in the crockpot on low for 2-4 hours, also topping with cheese during the last 20 minutes if desired.

Taco Soup

• 1 1/2 lb. browned ground beef
• 1 onion, diced
• 2x 14 oz. cans chili-style beans
• 1x 12 oz. can kernel corn, drained
• 1x 14 oz. can tomato sauce
• 14 oz. salsa
• 3/4 cup water
• 2 tsp. homemade taco seasoning*

*Note: Store-bought taco seasoning may contain gluten, so it’s better to prepare your own.

Cooking Instructions: Thaw. Heat in a large pot on the stovetop over medium heat until the desired temperature is reached. Alternatively, cook in the crockpot on low for 3-4 hours.

Sloppy Joes

• 1 1/2 lb. browned ground beef
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 cup chili sauce
• 14 oz. can tomato sauce
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 Tbsp. brown sugar
• 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce*
• 2 tsp. lemon juice
• 2 tsp. chili powder
• 1 tsp. dry mustard
• dash of pepper

*Note: If you want a gluten-free option, make sure to use gluten-free Worcestershire sauce.

Cooking Instructions: Thaw. Heat in a pot on the stovetop over medium heat until the desired heat is achieved. Alternatively, cook in a slow cooker on low for 2-3 hours. Serve on bun halves.

Spaghetti Sauce

• 1 1/2 lbs. browned ground beef
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1/2 green pepper, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2x 14 oz. cans tomato sauce
• 1x 5 1/2 oz. can tomato paste
• 14 oz. can diced tomatoes
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 Tbsp. parsley
• 1 tsp. melted honey or sugar
• 1/2 tsp. oregano
• 1/2 tsp. basil
• 1/2 tsp. thyme
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• dash of pepper

Cooking Instructions: Thaw. Heat in a pot on the stovetop over medium heat until the desired heat is achieved. Alternatively, cook in a crockpot on low for 2-4 hours. Serve over pasta or gluten-free noodles.

Chili

• 1 1/2 lbs. browned ground beef
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 19 oz. can kidney beans with liquid
• 14 oz. can chili-style beans with liquid
• 28 oz. can diced tomatoes
• 5 1/2 oz. can tomato paste
• 1 Tbsp. chili powder
• 2 tsp. cumin
• 1/2 tsp. paprika
• dash of pepper
• 1 Tbsp. maple syrup (secret ingredient!)

Cooking Instructions: Thaw. Heat in a large pot over medium heat until the desired temperature is reached. Alternatively, cook in a crockpot on low for 3-5 hours.

Additional Notes:

• Planning your meals based on common ingredients will help you save money.
• All recipes can be made gluten-free if you follow the indicated notes.
• Consider using slow cooker liners to cut down on cleanup time.
• Don’t forget to check out the Chicken Dump Recipes for even more delicious options!

To access the recipes featured here, along with free printable labels and a shopping list, sign up for our emails. For even more variety and savings, be sure to check out my Beef Dump Recipes book. It contains 30 mouthwatering recipes divided into 5 plans and one bonus recipe. Each plan comes with printable grocery lists and labels. You can also purchase both the Beef Dump Recipes and Chicken Dump Recipes together for even more meal options and savings.

Now you can effortlessly prepare a variety of scrumptious ground beef meals in advance. Enjoy the convenience of having delicious homemade meals ready to go whenever you need them. Happy cooking!