Plan ahead and stock your freezer with a big batch of this make-ahead ground beef. It freezes like a dream and can be used as a time-saving shortcut in your favorite beef recipes—from chili to shepherd’s pie and a whole lot more. Make it easy on yourself and freeze in meal-sized portions of 2-cups, which is the equivalent to 1 pound of cooked ground beef. Once you master this recipe, you’ll always have a backup dinner plan that doesn’t involve calling for take-out. Here’s how to do it!
Make-Ahead Ground Beef
- Prep Time 30 min
- Total 30 min
- Servings 16
- Ingredients 5
Ingredients
- 3 lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef
- 1 cup chopped onions (2 medium)
- 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
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Step1In a 12-inch skillet, cook beef, onions and garlic over medium-high heat, stirring frequently; drain. Reduce heat, cook 5 more minutes. Cool for 5 minutes.
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Step2Line a rimmed sheet pan with foil and spoon beef onto foil.
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Step3Break beef apart as necessary, ensuring that it’s spread evenly on the pan.
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Step4Freeze about 1 hour, stirring once, until firm.
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Step5Divide mixture into quart-sized resealable freezer plastic bags or containers with about 2 cups in each. Label and freeze up to 2 months.
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Nutrition
150
Calories
10g
Total Fat
15g
Protein
1g
Total Carbohydrate
0g
Sugars
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 Serving
- Calories
- 150
- Calories from Fat
- 90
- Total Fat
- 10g
- 15%
- Saturated Fat
- 3 1/2g
- 18%
- Trans Fat
- 1/2g
- Cholesterol
- 55mg
- 18%
- Sodium
- 260mg
- 11%
- Potassium
- 180mg
- 5%
- Total Carbohydrate
- 1g
- 0%
- Dietary Fiber
- 0g
- 0%
- Sugars
- 0g
- Protein
- 15g
% Daily Value*:
- Vitamin A
- 0%
- 0%
- Vitamin C
- 0%
- 0%
- Calcium
- 0%
- 0%
- Iron
- 8%
- 8%
Exchanges:
0 Starch; 0 Fruit; 0 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 0 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 0 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 0 Fat;Carbohydrate Choice
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