15 Skillet Ground Beef Recipes That Save My Weeknights15 Ground Beef Skillet Recipes That Save My Weeknights

As a person who cooks and develops recipes for a living, many people in my life assume that everything I make must be complex—a multi-component, many-ingredient dish that’s swooped and sauced up like a Michelin-starred restaurant. I don’t know how they get these ideas, but if I had a dollar for every time I’ve nearly choked with laughter at an assumption like this, well, I’d have some extra cash on hand.

That’s because, when I’m not developing a specific recipe (most of which are geared towards home cooks, not restaurant chefs), I eat relatively simply. In fact, I love a one-pan, -pot, -skillet dinner as much as anyone, and rely on them often during busy or just plain lazy weeks. And many of my favorite one-pan dinners start with one of the quickest cooking, most reliable proteins: ground beef.

So when I tell you that the recipes below are all made in under 45 minutes with a base of ground beef and a single skillet (or pan), you can rest assured that this list isn’t just useful for you, but for me as well! Save your favorites for a rainy weekday, you’ll be glad you did.