By Becky Hardin
Published Feb 18, 2019
Wondering how to cook ground beef ? Frying is a popular option, but boiling ground beef is easy, quick, and it creates leaner, finer meat! Cooking ground beef with this method creates the perfect crumbled ground meat for tacos, chili, spaghetti sauce, and more.
This recipe will show you how to cook ground beef or chuck to use in other ground beef recipes . Boiling ground beef is the best way to cook it so that it comes out in small, fine crumbles. Trust me, this is the secret to all those amazing tacos and pasta sauces at your favorite restaurant! It’s also a healthier option, because the boiling process helps separate the fat from the meat, and it comes out quite lean.
What You’ll Need to Boil Ground Beef
Grab a pound of hamburger meat and a pot, and you’ll be on your way to cooking the perfect beef crumbles for any recipe you like.
- Ground Beef: I like to use lean beef for most recipes, but you can use 90/10, 80/20, or any other type. This recipe is made for 1 lb of ground meat, though it works for any amount.
- Water: You’ll need enough to fully submerge the beef in the pan. Place the ground meat in the pot first, then pour cold/tap water over it until it’s covered.
- Seasonings: Use any type of seasonings or spices you like. Check below for some ideas!
Pro Tip: You can cook ground chicken or ground turkey with this stovetop recipe as well!
How to Season Ground Beef
The wonderful thing about ground beef is that it’s easy to season any way you like. What works best really depends on what you’re making! Try a range of spices , herbs , and seasoning blends .
- If you’re cooking ground beef for taco meat, then a simple taco seasoning works beautifully.
- To make spaghetti, meat sauce, or another pasta recipe, add Italian seasoning .
- Use burger seasoning if you want to make some burger-inspired casseroles, dips, or others dishes.
- Salt and pepper is a great way to add simple flavor no matter what you’re using it for.
- Onion, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, and thyme are some of my other favorites for a range of dishes.
If you’re cooking the beef to mix into sauces, stews, casseroles, or other recipes, you won’t have to worry too much about seasoning it on its own. I actually recommend boiling ground beef without seasoning (especially if you’re cooking it for meal prep ), and mixing it in after draining, or as you cook it with other recipes.
Once the water has come to a boil, cover the pot with a lid and let it simmer. It should only take about 15 minutes for the beef to fully cook through. The meat will turn brown when it’s done, so keep an eye on it.
According to the USDA , ground beef, taco meat, hamburger meat, and other ground meats should be cooked to 160°F to be considered safe to eat. Use a meat thermometer to check internal meat temperatures, and check this Meat Temperature Chart for more information about the best temperatures for all types of meat.
A lot of people fry ground beef and brown it in a pan before using it in other recipes. While pan-frying works great, cooking anything in oil or butter is going to add more fat and calories. I like boiling ground beef because it comes out much leaner, and the boiling process is super easy. Cooking ground beef with this method also gives you the perfect ground meat crumbles, which is great for tacos and pasta sauces.
After you’ve finished boiling the ground beef, you’ll need to drain it. To avoid letting any fat or grease fall down the drain of your sink, set up a strainer inside of a large bowl. Pour the pot of boiled beef through the strainer, and the bowl will catch the grease. Then you can gently rinse the beef after draining if needed to help remove extra fat. Pour the grease into a sealed container and refrigerate until ready to dispose (or use it to cook with).
How long does cooked ground beef last?
If you’re cooking ground beef ahead of time, or you just have leftovers, you can store it in the refrigerator or the freezer. Let it cool to room temperature, then store it in an airtight container. Boiled ground beef will last in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. It will last in the freezer for 2-3 months. Thaw it before using.
What can I make with this ground beef?
Once you learn how to cook ground beef, you’re going to want to start using it in everything. Use it to make ground beef tacos , stuffed peppers , tacos in a bag , spaghetti with meat sauce, beef nachos , Cincinnati chili , chili mac , beef bolognese , cheeseburger dip , and beef taquitos . For healthier meals, make these Mexican zucchini boats or this egg roll in a bowl (just sub beef for turkey).
So if you find you have some hamburger meat sitting in the refrigerator or freezer, grab it, boil it, and save it! This is such an easy meal prep idea . Keep it in your fridge for the week, and use it with other recipes as needed!
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 1 lb lean ground beef
- ▢ water
- ▢ 1 ounce taco seasoning optional, or use other seasoning
Video
Instructions
- Place the ground beef in a deep stove-top pan. 1 lb lean ground beef
- Add enough water to cover the meat. water
- If the meat stays in clumps, break it apart with a wooden spoon until it is in small crumbles.
- Slowly bring to a boil, stirring often so the meat stays separated.
- Lower the temperature, cover, and simmer until the meat is brown and cooked.
- Drain. Stir in taco seasoning (if using). 1 ounce taco seasoning
Becky’s Tips
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Learn How to Cook!
- How to Cut an Onion (Chop, Mince, or Dice)
- How to Make Pasta from Scratch
- How to Cook Caramelized Onions
- How to Roast Garlic
- How to Cook a Baked Potato
How to Cook Ground Beef (Boiled Ground Beef)
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- water
- 1 ounce taco seasoning optional, or use other seasoning
Instructions
- Place the ground beef in a deep stove-top pan. 1 lb lean ground beef
- Add enough water to cover the meat. water
- If the meat stays in clumps, break it apart with a wooden spoon until it is in small crumbles.
- Slowly bring to a boil, stirring often so the meat stays separated.
- Lower the temperature, cover, and simmer until the meat is brown and cooked.
- Drain. Stir in taco seasoning (if using). 1 ounce taco seasoning
Video
Notes
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
