17 Easy Beef Recipes That Require Only 8 Ingredients (or Less)

2015-06-09
17 Easy Beef Recipes That Require Only 8 Ingredients (or Less)

We hear you. You're looking for easy beef recipes with few ingredients—and so much the better if they're speedy, too. Here, you'll find a cache of quick and easy beef dinner recipes including simple steak recipes, beef stew dinners, and more. All have eight ingredients or less—we expect you'll already have oil, salt, and pepper on hand. Even better, most can be on your table (or in your slow cooker, pressure cooker, or air fryer) in minutes.

01 of 17

Beef Sirloin Tips with Smoky Pepper Sauce

On a budget? This easy beef dinner recipe calls for sirloin tip steak, a cut that brings plenty of rich, beefy flavor, yet costs less than many other steaks. Give it a go in this barbecue-sauced, 6-ingredient beef recipe that can be on your table in 30 minutes.

02 of 17

Tamale Pies

When you're on the hunt for easy ground beef recipes with few ingredients for dinner, it helps to choose one with some olives in the mix. The simple staple packs loads of flavor in just one ingredient, as you'll notice if you try this cornbread-topped easy beef recipe.

03 of 17

Balsamic-Glazed Flank Steak with Fall Fruit Salsa

A splash of balsamic on the steak and in the pear, apple, and cranberry salsa really ties this fall-flavored meal together. While this beef dinner recipe looks showy, it takes just 20 minutes from start to finish.

04 of 17

Upside-Down Pizza Casserole

It's so easy to skip the usual takeout options when you have a few quick beef dinner recipes up your sleeve. This one definitely needs to be in your rotation. With just four ingredients—all of which are easy to keep on hand in the freezer, fridge, and cupboard—the comforting casserole can be ready in 35 minutes, start to finish.

05 of 17

Monday Dinner Beef Stew

Here's an easy beef stew recipe that doesn't take all day to cook to tender perfection. The trick here is to use refrigerated cooked beef tips as a shortcut ingredient. Finish the pot with tiny new potatoes, carrots, and leafy kale, and you've got a one-pot dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes.

06 of 17

Herb-Garlic Roast Beef

This easy beef roast recipe is ready in less than 20 minutes thanks to pre-cooked roast beef au jus. Simply add our herb-garlic mixture to add fresh flavor to the dish. Carrots and red potatoes complete the easy beef dinner.

07 of 17

Herbed Steaks with Horseradish

Talk about steak recipes that can beat the clock. This easy beef dinner recipe combines mustard, horseradish, parsley, and thyme to add unbeatable flavor to juicy top loin steaks. Broil some bell peppers and tomatoes for a quick and colorful side dish.

08 of 17

Air-Fryer Flank Steak and Fennel

Lean on your trusty air fryer to make an easy beef recipe for dinner tonight—sides included! Quick-cooking flank steak, potatoes, and fennel are seasoned with lemon, salt, and pepper before air-frying for a quick 20 minutes max. Allow the meat to rest at least 5 minutes before slicing to let the juices redistribute.

09 of 17

Steak au Poivre

It's hard to believe that one of France's most famous steak recipes, Steak au Poivre, is so easy to make at home. You simply press black pepper into the steaks before cooking. After cooking, you make a simple (but rich) pan sauce flavored with mustard and brandy.

10 of 17

Quick Skillet Lasagna

Lasagna doesn't come to the top of mind when you think of 30-minute meals with ground beef, but with a little tweaking, it can. Here, all the things you love about lasagna—the melted cheese, the meaty red sauce, and the curly noodles—get readied in a skillet for a super-quick version of the family favorite.

11 of 17

Saucy Meatball Sandwich

This easy beef dinner recipe doesn't require any frozen ingredients and still only takes 20 minutes to complete. Kids and adults alike will love the juicy meatballs covered in tangy marinara and nutty Parmesan.

Test Kitchen Tip: The internal color of ground beef won't indicate whether they're done. Use a meat thermometer to make sure the meatballs register a safe internal temp of 160ºF.

12 of 17

Beef and Cabbage Wraps

If you're looking for quick and easy beef recipes for easy weekend lunches, check out this 6-ingredient winner. You simply cook ground beef, onions, corn, and your favorite barbecue sauce. Then, serve with shredded carrots and cabbage inside warm tortillas. A black bean salad from the deli would make a speedy side.

13 of 17

Pressure Cooker Beef and Broccoli

This easy beef and broccoli recipe is both Paleo- and keto-friendly, but delicious enough that everyone at the table will enjoy it. The healthy Instant Pot recipe of the takeout favorite gets bold flavor from coconut aminos and ground ginger. Enjoy over cauliflower rice to keep your meal low-carb.

14 of 17

Flank Steak with Antipasto Topper

When it comes to steak recipes, sometimes you feel like grilling, sometimes you don't. This colorful recipe offers instructions for both grilling and skillet cooking. Either way, it's a fresh and simple way to enjoy steak on a busy weeknight.

15 of 17

Mustard-Crusted Steaks with Herb Butter

When cooking indoors, some steak recipes call for broiling, others for pan-frying. For this expert recipe, you do both. Pan-frying is the secret to the steak's rich, brown exterior, while finishing the steak under the broiler helps sear the mustard crust on the top.

16 of 17

Salisbury Steak

Why make a frozen meal when you can easily make this easy beef recipe with few ingredients? Lean ground beef is flavored with onion soup mix, garlic, and a bit of Worcestershire. Topped with mushrooms, you've got a plate of the classic umami-rich flavors you know and love in less than 30 minutes. Enjoy with a scoop of mashed potatoes and/or your favorite quick veggie sides.

17 of 17

Hamburger Pie

Love heirloom recipes? This popular version of shepherd's pie first appeared in the 1950s, and it endures as one of our most popular recipes with ground beef and potatoes ever. Serve the warming easy beef dinner recipe to your family tonight, and see why its appeal lives on.

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