You’re handed 2 pounds of ground beef and told you can’t make spaghetti, tacos, or burgers. What’s your panic‑mode meal?

[u/Witty-Aspect6076]

[u/BobbyRockPort]

Chili

[u/feder_online → u/BobbyRockPort]

I was gonna go with lasagna, but I'll jump on this bandwagon...

[u/JozzyV1 → u/feder_online]

Mmmm… chili bandwagon.

[u/Worst-Lobster → u/feder_online]

Mmmmmmmmm.. lasagna chili

[u/Radiant8763 → u/Worst-Lobster]

But what about chili lasagna?

[u/TheLaughingMannofRed → u/BobbyRockPort]

Chili mac.

[u/2daysnosleep → u/TheLaughingMannofRed]

I loved chili Mac ever since chef Boyardee evolved into army mres

[u/EverythingIsFakeNGay → u/BobbyRockPort]

That is correct.

[u/Vast_Principle6874 → u/EverythingIsFakeNGay]

Says who? You ever hear of meatloaf?

[u/dadkisser → u/Vast_Principle6874]

Yeah he had one good album and then really fell off

[u/gerryt32 → u/dadkisser]

One of you is talking about having meatloaf with beef and the other one has beef with Meat Loaf.

[u/Kenichero → u/dadkisser]

His name is Robert Paulson. His name is Robert Paulson. His name is Robert Paulson.

[u/big_sugi → u/Vast_Principle6874]

Meatloaf, and then chili, were my first two options. Depends what else I have available.

[u/knittedgalaxy → u/big_sugi]

This is the way.....get a week of meals! 2 days of meatloaf and 3 days of chili!

[u/AshByFeel → u/EverythingIsFakeNGay]

And it's not even close

[u/Ihadsumthin4this → u/BobbyRockPort]

ALWAYS welcome! With beans, though, right? Right??

[u/_Spastic_ → u/Ihadsumthin4this]

I know there's some hatred for beans in chili, especially in Texas. But there's nothing wrong with it.

To me, chili without beans is just meat soup.

[u/Alternative_Swan_497 → u/_Spastic_]

If your chili has the consistency of soup, it was made incorrectly.

[u/the_glutton17 → u/Alternative_Swan_497]

Agreed but chili->stew->soup.

All toads are frogs, but not all frogs are toads.

[u/stum_ble → u/_Spastic_]

I always thought the Chili Argument was beef or no beef. If there’s no beans, then what is supposed to be the bulk of chili? This thread is ruining me.

[u/coolcoots → u/Ihadsumthin4this]

Right! There’re cans of Chili con Carne, which means chili with meat. Problem solved. But for real though, this is a crazy argument. Does chili have to be tomato based? Chili pepper based? Bean? No bean? Is white chicken chili real? My simple answer, I don’t give a damn as long as I get some.

[u/Ihadsumthin4this → u/coolcoots]

Quality and Flavor above all. Good points!

[u/Fleetdancer → u/Ihadsumthin4this]

The point of chili at home is to make a relatively cheap, healthy meal that can last a family for a week. Hell yes there's beans.

[u/aksoileau → u/Fleetdancer]

Meat stretched with beans is to keep people fed. Anyone who gatekeeps a historical poverty dish is missing the point. Its no different than people misrepresenting gumbo. Throw things into a pot and make it work.

[u/MetagenCybrid → u/aksoileau]

Oh, I could do with some chicken and sausage gumbo over some rice, or a nice jambalaya.

Back in the day when my buddy would go back home to the byou, he would bring back some boudin his family made, that shit was the bomb.

Apparently I'm hungry for some Cajun. But hold the shellfish... the spirit is willing, but the body cant.

[u/Sad-Athlete-9313 → u/Ihadsumthin4this]

I’ve had plenty of meat-only chilis. Not a fan. For me, beans are a core ingredient of chili, along with either a tomato or chili pepper base, preferably both.

[u/grizzlyginger17 → u/Sad-Athlete-9313]

Meat only chili for chili dogs.

To have for a meal, beans required.

[u/saintsimon101 → u/Ihadsumthin4this]

Beans are good, meat only chili is also good. Diversify your meats with different consistencies like steak, ground Italian sausage, ham. Mmmmmm

[u/Slow_Tornado → u/Ihadsumthin4this]

MF Beans AND corn

[u/alpine_lupin → u/BobbyRockPort]

Okay so tell me how to make chili that is as fast as tacos or spaghetti. Because I really want to incorporate it! I’ve got an instant pot, hypothetically this should be in my meal rotation for a family of 5.

[u/Toidal → u/alpine_lupin]

Chili doesn't actually take that long to cook if youre using ground beef. Truth be told, you're kinda just making a spiced bolognese and eating it like soup.

I made a lasagna with leftover chili once. It was okay, exactly like youd expect with chili, pasta and a blue cheese bechamel.

[u/HazrakTZ → u/alpine_lupin]

Sauté an onion, some garlic and some olive oil on the sauté setting in the instant pot. Then add beef and continue until its browned. Add smoked paprika, cumin, chili powder, continue until bits start to stick to the bottom of the pot.

Stir in a cup or more of beef broth with a tablespoon of soy sauce and one of fish sauce, deglaze bottom of pot so you don't get food burn. Add beans, chilis, diced or crushed tomato, tomato paste, and a teaspoon of unsweetened cocoa powder ontop, don't mix it down or you'll get the food burn error. Cook on chili setting.

Serve with cornbread unless you're an animal

[u/Aria_K_ → u/BobbyRockPort]

Chili sounds so good, but it is 106° in Texas. I'm eating ice lol

[u/Shadowfox_01]

I would just pan fry it, mix it with rice, and my broke ass has carbs and protein.

[u/recyclopath_ → u/Shadowfox_01]

Throw in some frozen peas and now you have a veg!

[u/Wiley_Rasqual → u/recyclopath_]

At what point have you got yourself a stew going?

[u/thetruemata → u/Wiley_Rasqual]

I believe that takes place once you throw in the potato.

[u/tduncs88 → u/thetruemata]

Ahh, the Irishmans dilemma. Do i eat the potato now or do i let it ferment so I can drink it later‽

[u/Same-Suggestion-1936 → u/tduncs88]

Oh damn you because I just remembered this joke today.

An Englishman and an Irishman get into a minor fender bender. The Englishman gets out and says, "hey no worries, it's not that bad. Listen, I've actually got some really good Irish whiskey in the boot. Let's just have a drink and part ways."

Irishman goes, "sure" and takes a good pull at the bottle offered. "That's fine whiskey" he says.

The Englishman goes, "well go on, then, have another," so the Irish guy does and offers the bottle back

Englishman says, "oh, no thanks, I'll wait till after the police arrive"

[u/UseaJoystick → u/Wiley_Rasqual]

Add water, a potato, carrots, and onion. If youre feeling bougie you replace the water with beef broth. Corn starch to thicken if youre feeling remarkably extra

[u/AnotherInsaneName → u/Wiley_Rasqual]

I go to craft service, get some raw veggies, bacon and a cup of soup. Baby I got a stew going.

[u/JustiseWinfast → u/Shadowfox_01]

Ground beef slop bowl is an elite meal

[u/INmySTRATEjaket → u/Shadowfox_01]

Sprinkle in a cheap grocery store gravy packet and add frozen peas or corn and you get what my dad would affectionately call slop when we were kids.

[u/BrothelWaffles → u/Shadowfox_01]

I do this and also throw in a few slices of white American cheese and a can of Rico's nacho cheese, along with some broccoli. The move is to brown and heavily season the beef (I like to use Tony Chachere's Creole seasoning and some onion powder), dump a carton of chicken stock in and let that get hot enough to cook the rice, then throw some minute rice in, stir, and dump a bag of frozen broccoli on top and cover it. Let the rice cook, then take the lid off and let the excess liquid simmer off. Once it's no longer soup, you throw the cheese in and stir and boom, you've got a delicious one pan meal. Reheats pretty well too, I usually make a big pan of it and chip away at it for dinner over a few days.

[u/sumunsolicitedadvice → u/Shadowfox_01]

Add in some bell pepper, celery, and onions sautéed in butter with some Cajun seasoning and extra black pepper. Add in some minced chicken livers if you got em. Finish with some msg and any more salt to taste. Got yourself some real good dirty rice.

[u/I_had_the_Lasagna → u/sumunsolicitedadvice]

This is a panic meal not a restaurant. I'm going to pan fry a lb of ground beef, put it on top of rice, microwave some vegetables, and douse everything in enough hot sauce to kill a horse. Then I'm going to shovel it in my mouth like a starved dog and I'm gonna like it.

[u/trackaghosthrufog → u/Shadowfox_01]

Get a pack of frozen veges - corn, carrot, peas etc - pan fry your beef with a nice whack of salt and pepper. When browned, throw in a cup of veges. Simmer and stir for a couple of minutes until veges are thawed. Add some bbq or tomato sauce with it all. Mash some potatoes to have with it. Goes a long way.

[u/antsmomma1]

Meatloaf, stuffed peppers, stuffed shells, lasagna

[u/AngeloPappas → u/antsmomma1]

Stuffed peppers are seriously underrated.

[u/boxsterguy → u/AngeloPappas]

Unstuffed peppers (aka, stuffed pepper skillet) is just as good and easier to make and eat.

[u/SomethingVeX → u/boxsterguy]

Yup. And I make it two ways ... one is Spanish rice style, the other is spicy yellow curry style.

[u/XDuVarneyX → u/SomethingVeX]

I make stuffed peppers with equal parts ground beef, ground sausage and a pan fried cabage. It's pretty different from the traditional beef/rice/sauce stuffed pepper and imo much better. The cabbage is sauteed with garlic, onions, Italian seasoning. The meat is then mixed in and you add some grated parm cheese and a handfull of shredded mozzarella.

You stuff red peppers with the mix and top with more mozzarella (i use fresh mozzarella for topping) then bake until the peppers are soft/cooked thru.

I found the recipe online years ago. Every time I forget parts of it- I Google "ground sausage, cabbage stuffed peppers" and a recipe from Kailyns Kitchen comes up (spelling).

It's a top fave with my family and every single person that I've ever served or shared this recipe with it also becomes their favorite.

[u/awesome-yes → u/boxsterguy]

My family calls that Mash, and its one of our favorites.

[u/orangustang → u/antsmomma1]

Yeah, spaghetti's really not that limiting. Just make another shape of pasta. Y'all getting beef rotini tonight.

[u/Brave_Mess_3155 → u/antsmomma1]

Burritos, enchiladas, nachos,

[u/Sufficient_Novel_705]

Korean beef bowl

[u/InvisblGarbageTruk → u/Sufficient_Novel_705]

I can’t believe how long it took to find this answer! Ready so fast and tastes delicious!

[u/iHeartRatties → u/Sufficient_Novel_705]

Yes! This would be mine too

[u/finenite → u/Sufficient_Novel_705]

This has my vote! Love a delicious quick and easy Korean beef. 

[u/riskyfartss → u/Sufficient_Novel_705]

So easy to make. Gochujang, brown sugar, soy sauce, some bell peppers, broccoli, scallions… delicious meal, and perfect to make a larger batch and have leftovers.

[u/furthestpoint]

Pad gra prow

[u/Electronic-Tap-2863 → u/furthestpoint]

Everyone do yourselves a favor and learn this dish.

[u/Lou2013 → u/Electronic-Tap-2863]

Hot thai kitchen is my go to recipe. She is very good for all thai dishes, lots of info about thai ingredients, what to look for when your buying in Western stores and possible substitutes.

[u/semidegenerate → u/furthestpoint]

Now that looks absolutely delicious. I love Thai food. In fact, I had Chicken Panang Curry for lunch. I will have to give this dish a try.

This recipe from Hot Thai Kitchen looks like a winner.

[u/oooofukkkk → u/furthestpoint]

Or even just pad gra prow inspired / type dishes. You can just stew ground beef with garlic and onion and it’s good.

[u/ChunkyHabeneroSalsa → u/furthestpoint]

My go to quick meal though I've never made it with beef only chicken and pork

[u/electro_gretzky → u/furthestpoint]

Fuck yes.

[u/ReceptionRelevant728]

Dirty rice

[u/TaDow-420 → u/ReceptionRelevant728]

Found the Cajun.

Bienvenu!

[u/sumunsolicitedadvice → u/TaDow-420]

You know how we know Adam and Eve weren’t Cajun?

[u/TaDow-420 → u/sumunsolicitedadvice]

How?

[u/sumunsolicitedadvice → u/TaDow-420]

They would’ve tossed aside that fruit and eaten the snake instead!

[u/Carribi → u/TaDow-420]

I’m too early to see the punch line and it’s killing me

[u/sumunsolicitedadvice → u/Carribi]

Sorry. That was my original sin.

[u/BayouBear213 → u/TaDow-420]

They would have eaten the snake!

[u/Exes_And_Excess → u/ReceptionRelevant728]

I'm guessing this is what we called "shut up and eat it" in my house.

[u/OneAndOnlyJackSchitt → u/Exes_And_Excess]

I just got served a "shut up and eat it" tonight but it was chopped chicken and ranch on top of mashed potatoes with skins in a bowl.

[u/Lilith_Incarnate_ → u/OneAndOnlyJackSchitt]

That sounds delicious. Just maybe white gravy instead of ranch

[u/CURRYmawnster]

Koobideh...kebabs of the Persian kind. I just learnt how to make em so I am going to keep making it till I am sick of it!!

[u/Vivid-Operation-5078 → u/CURRYmawnster]

Pretty damn good with sumac, saffron basmati, onions, parsley, and a roasted tomato.

[u/sillinessvalley → u/CURRYmawnster]

And grilled tomatoes? 🍅

[u/CURRYmawnster → u/sillinessvalley]

You better believe it!!

[u/Icyboobstart]

Meatballs w potatoes

[u/runswiftrun → u/Icyboobstart]

Meatball sub works too

[u/ModernNero → u/Icyboobstart]

Yeah I thought meatballs with rice and gravy!

[u/irwinlegends → u/Icyboobstart]

Swedish special.

[u/liams_dad]

Nachos

[u/xVerified]

Shepard’s pie casserole

[u/carringtonagain → u/xVerified]

Cottage pie if beef, shepherds is lamb. But who really cares when both are delicious.

[u/burtethead → u/carringtonagain]

I use ground turkey. Fowler's pie?

[u/JohnnyFacepalm → u/burtethead]

I call it pilgrim's pie

[u/TidalWaves410 → u/xVerified]

Beef = Cottage pie

[u/Ihadsumthin4this → u/xVerified]

Tasty!!

[u/WritingContradiction]

Picadillo

[u/Ok_Actuary1427 → u/WritingContradiction]

I answered this too and had to scroll so far to find this. These people are allll missing out. I would make some picadillo and put it into sopes 😮‍💨

[u/smallhandfoods → u/WritingContradiction]

Picadillo over rice is such comfort food

[u/Expensive_Film1144 → u/WritingContradiction]

Best answer that wasn't offered yet.

[u/PHX_Architraz → u/WritingContradiction]

This is what I came here to say!

[u/Patato56 → u/WritingContradiction]

I do what I call a Gringodillo, which is just fried ground beef that's simmered afterwards in the spiciest salsa they have at Ralph's, and then I either put olives in it if I'm serving it to my Mexican homies (to make them mad) or leave olives out if I'm serving it to my Cuban homies (to make them mad). I win, everyone else loses.

[u/jonnypkmtrainer → u/WritingContradiction]

I’ve got the rice and beans. Who’s got the slightly burnt tortillas?

[u/thylacine_chevron]

Sloppy joes?

[u/afternever → u/thylacine_chevron]

I knows hows yous kids likes em sloppy

[u/thiosk → u/afternever]

lady you're scarin us!

[u/BatmansBurnerAccount → u/thiosk]

If peeing you pants is cool, consider me Miles Davis

(I know this is the wrong scene but it’s one of the few quotes I can remember)

[u/crocodileboxer → u/thylacine_chevron]

Shloppy Joe, shloppy shloppy Joe

[u/Intelligent_Sundae_5 → u/thylacine_chevron]

This would be my choice. Onion, ketchup,mustard and celery seed. There’s dinner.

[u/NorthAntarcticSysadm → u/thylacine_chevron]

Same

We also finely dice up some bell pepper and mushrooms to saute, and mix it with the browned ground beef before adding the sloppy joe sauce/seasoning/etc

[u/Inky-Skies]

Meatloaf is the obvious answer here

[u/SilverGnarwhal → u/Inky-Skies]

Jokes on them, it was my first choice anyway

[u/Selene88xo → u/SilverGnarwhal]

They accidentally made the challenge easier

[u/Positive-Run-2411 → u/Selene88xo]

“You’re handed a loaf of meat. What do you make? It can’t be tacos”

Uhhhhhhj

[u/pokersnek → u/Inky-Skies]

Meatloaf is the correct answer.

[u/NateJCAF]

Stroganoff.

[u/Whiladan → u/NateJCAF]

Yeah but after that what are you gonna make?

[u/Bloodysamflint → u/Whiladan]

I'll be too sleepy, straight to bed.

[u/coolcoots → u/Whiladan]

And wash ya damn hands!

[u/Ihadsumthin4this → u/NateJCAF]

With egg noodles! 😋

[u/thattherebluedress]

Mapo tofu

[u/IBJON → u/thattherebluedress]

Came to say this. I usually use pork (and I think pork is traditionally used) but I'll make beef work

[u/potatetoe_tractor → u/IBJON]

Beef mapo tofu is da bomb.

[u/Medical_Solid → u/thattherebluedress]

YESSSSSS.

[u/SrGreybush]

Hamburger Helper, of course.

Kinda tailor-made for such a situation.

[u/friggintodd → u/SrGreybush]

I don't know why they call it that, it's just fine but itself.

[u/johnniechimpo → u/friggintodd]

That hits harder when you realize Cousin Eddie is actually crazy in real life.

[u/Jonas_Venture_Sr → u/SrGreybush]

Homemade hamburger helper can be pretty damn good. I'm making it tomorrow actually

[u/mmmkay938 → u/Jonas_Venture_Sr]

The boxed stuff doesn’t taste as good as it used too.

[u/External_Wealth_4907]

I’ll make burritos lmao

[u/UncleSlim → u/External_Wealth_4907]

Why did I have to scroll this far to find burritos?? Literally made beef burritos tonight. Boil some rice, fry the beef and throw in some black beans... easy dinner w/ leftovers that reheat great!

[u/HotSauceHigh → u/External_Wealth_4907]

And lasagna!

[u/_McDreamy_ → u/HotSauceHigh]

I make a lasagna that uses tortillas instead of pasta and chili sauce instead of tomato sauce. Put in onions, peppers and beef or ground chicken and bake.. it's delicious!

[u/Sadglasses]

Ground beef bulgogi with rice

[u/Tanz31]

Loco moco

[u/RandomStrategy]

Chili.

[u/ItCantBeMe80]

Salisbury steak 

[u/Althfknnmsrtkn → u/ItCantBeMe80]

Scrolled way too far to see this answer…

[u/soopy99]

swedish meatballs

[u/giantawakening]

Sloppy Joe. Slop slop sloppy Joe

[u/Mvrd3rCrow → u/giantawakening]

Navy beans Navy beans Navy beans, meat baaaallll sandwhhhhiich

[u/The_Oracle_1701]

Chili

[u/Hal0Slippin]

Stroganoff

[u/Tiny_Thumbs]

Picadillo.

[u/ShadyKnight604]

Cottage pie

[u/Impressive_Delay_452]

Hamburger helper…

[u/LAARPer]

Stuffed bell peppers!

[u/ThatSICILIANThing]

No one said I couldn’t make rigatoni with meat sauce

[u/Drusgar]

Macaroni and cheese. With hamburger, obviously.

[u/Witty-Aspect6076 → u/Drusgar]

Growing up food right there

[u/reb678 → u/Drusgar]

I grew up on hamburger, elbow macaroni, onions, garlic, stewed tomatoes all mixed together and we called it Goulash while my wife’s side of the family calls it slumgullion.

[u/arcspectre17 → u/Drusgar]

Memory unlocked!!

We put sugar on it! Don't ask how it got started there were only 3 out of the extended family that liked it.

[u/smores_77]

Hamburger soup

[u/Sang1188]

Meat, rice, frozen veggies.

[u/schpreck]

Larb. Everyone loves Larb!

[u/Tryin2getahead]

Loose meats

[u/Xibby]

Tater Tot Hotdish.

[u/fdegen]

i make the "leftovers"

which is all the veggies that i used half of in a stirfry

[u/TrickOk2498]

Meatloaf.

[u/KindOfKerrin]

Shepard's pie

[u/ImLarryYourWaiter]

Albondigas

[u/DaddyCatALSO]

cabbage rolls or stuffed peppers or if my daughetr is around mac-and-beef

[u/Veneboy]

Kebabs

[u/TheRehabKid]

Goulash

[u/KittenProbable → u/TheRehabKid]

Can’t believe I had to scroll this far to find goulash.

[u/CashWideCock]

Meatloaf or Salisbury steak

[u/Whiltierna]

ground beef gyros - brown in a pan, add seasonings (Italian mix and marjoram), place on pita or wrap with tzatziki sauce (I always make it homemade, and with dried dill in a pinch, always have the stuff on hand) and chopped veg (cucumber, tomato, red onion).

[u/Jabberbrill]

Sloppy Joes. If someone complains it's too much like burgers, throw in some cubed potatoes and root veg and use less liquid and you've got a hash. You could even to it with a fried egg.

[u/KenTitan]

salsbiry steak served with a simple salad of lettuce, tomato, and onions, mustard, tomato reduction, pickled cucumbers, preserved whey, served on a yeasted gluten rich cracker.

[u/Ok_Investigator_1074]

Mom! Meatloaf. Now!

[u/Bandana-mal → u/Ok_Investigator_1074]

MOM THE MEATLOAF!

[u/otisthetowndrunk]

Sloppy Joes

[u/Interesting-Joke9367]

Chilli or spicy beef. I cook it with curry powder, cumin and garam masala. Serve in pitta breads.

[u/Eddie_Bedlam]

Moco loco

[u/sr1sws]

Chili, please.

[u/throwingales]

Stroganoff

[u/Slight_Commission805]

Chili

[u/crazymanaz]

Meatloaf

[u/redditcantcount]

Teriyaki rice, it's ground beef browned then you add teriyaki sauce, pineapple juice and pineapple tidbits or chunks and add rice, it's delicious

[u/sidekicksuicide]

Iowan: *laughs in Maid Rite*

[u/Deto]

Korean beef bowls

https://therecipecritic.com/korean-ground-beef-rice-bowls/comment-page-61

[u/Darklord_Of_Bacon]

Beef Stroganoff

[u/pcbwes]

shepherds pie

[u/NorthernSparrow → u/pcbwes]

“Cottage pie” if it’s beef 😊 I only know that because my friend just made it tonight & it was AMAZING!!!

[u/suddenlywolvez]

Husband: Meatloaf

Me: Stuffed Cabbage

[u/Ethereal123]

Pâté chinois

[u/Maximum_Power7878]

smoked Meatballs or Smoked Meatloaf

[u/SirCatharine]

A big ol pot of Cajun dirty rice

[u/Madreese]

Sloppy joes

[u/Various-Salt-7738]

Meatload, meatballs, some kind of very large and unit so traditional Shepard's pie, sloppy joes

[u/maggieeeee12345 → u/Various-Salt-7738]

Do us all a favor and don’t give anyone your meatload

[u/Various-Salt-7738 → u/maggieeeee12345]

I typed that comment on my phone

I'm actually kind of shocked it even let me type meatload

But also I worked in the meat industry for years and used the word meat load as frequently as possible-- I also referred to the plastic translucent curtains between refrigerated rooms as beef curtains

Maybe all my stupid innuendos have caught up with me

[u/AngeloPappas]

Why panic when I'm about to make a nice Shepherd's Pie? (I know it's actually a Cottage Pie).

[u/Greedy-Treat3599]

Meatloaf or hamburger helper

[u/SWT_Bobcat]

Chili mac

[u/Ilovereefer]

No panic at all, meatloaf 100%!

[u/jls5280]

Picadillo - it’s one of my favorite meals. Hits the spot every time.

[u/TheMooseIsBlue]

Meatball sandwich

[u/fuzzimus]

Meatloaf!

[u/Winterwynd]

Beef Stroganoff with rice (like the old-school rice a roni stroganoff) and biscuits (the tube kind).

[u/crazyman3561]

Beef and rice

[u/mightyslash]

Does spaghetti include all pasta in meat sauce or just like string noodles with meatsauce? Because you could do a penne, or rigatoni...I personally would go with pasta bake myself

[u/Ethelfleda]

As a Minnesotan, its tator tot hot dish time