How to Cook Ground Beef (Boiled Ground Beef)
Want to know how to cook ground beef for tacos, chili, and more? Boiling is a simple, quick, and healthy method for cooking ground beef!
Is it better to fry or boil ground beef?
What to Make with Ground Beef
- Ground Beef Tacos
- Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
- Cheesy Enchilada Stuffed Peppers
- Chili (Cincinnati Chili, Easy 6 Ingredient Chili)
- Beef Stroganoff Casserole
- Chili Mac
- Beef Bolognese
This is such an easy meal prep idea. Keep it in your fridge for the week, and use it with other recipes as needed!
How to Boil Ground Beef
- Place the ground beef in a pot.
- Fill the pot with enough water to fully cover the meat.
- Use a wooden spoon to break up the meat into small crumbles.
- Bring the water to a boil, stirring often so the beef stays in small pieces.
- Once it boils, lower the temperature, cover the pot, and let it simmer until the beef is fully cooked through.
- Drain the boiled ground beef, and season it to your liking (or whatever your recipe calls for).
How long to cook ground beef?
Once the water has reached a boil, cover the pot with a lid and let it simmer. It should only need about 15 minutes to fully cook through. The meat will turn brown when it’s done, so keep an eye on it.
What temperature to cook ground beef?
Ground beef 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 Guide for more information about the best temperatures for all types of meat.
How do you drain ground beef?
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.
How long does cooked ground beef last in the refrigerator?
If you’re cooking ground beef ahead of time, or you just have extra, store it in an airtight container (let it cool before storing). Boiled ground beef will last in the refrigerator for a couple of days. You can also freeze it for 1-2 months for later use.
How to Cook Ground Beef for Tacos
What spices go well with ground beef?
See the recipe card below for more details on how to cook ground beef by boiling. Enjoy!
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How to Cook Ground Beef (Boiled Ground Beef)
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- water
- 1 ounce taco seasoning optional
Instructions
- Place the beef in a deep stove-top pan.
- Add enough water to cover the meat.
- 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).
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Nutrition Information
When I worked as a cook in a little Texas cafe, the owner (a Hispanic man) made his taco meat by boiling it. He also boiled in a separate pot a vegetable mixture of celery, onions, garlic, bell peppers which he added to the cooked beef along with salt and pepper. This made hands down the best taco meat I EVER ate anywhere.
That sounds wonderful, Naomi! Thanks so much for stopping by!
I couldn’t help noticing that you listed burgers in your list of things to make with boiled ground beef. When I clicked on that link there was nothing at all about using boiled beef to make the burgers. Am I missing something here? I cannot imagine doing such a thing or that it would even work.
I do not use boiled ground beef for burgers, just regular ground beef! Sorry for the confusion!
I learned this secret about my town’s the fine bits of beef in the sauces at my town’s best spaghetti restaurant and the best hot dog stand about 20 years ago. Very small and very smooth, but still discernably beef.
Will this be hard as a rock if I dehydrate it and if so is there a remedy? Thanks
Unfortunately, I don’t have any experience dehydrating this recipe, sorry!
This is a fantastic idea for ground venison. I had the processor grind it with no added fat with plans to add it as needed. I don’t use it for patties so it wasn’t important from that aspect. This would be perfect since the meat is about 95% and has to be chisled from the pan if used as-is!
If you boil the ground beef (or ground bison) is it safe to then drink the broth it creates it the pot?
Sure! It is no different than to meat!
Do you know if boiling then straining will cause loss of nutrients like vitamin b?
I am not sure, I apologize!
Sarah,
I recommend looking up steamed ground beef recipes to retain the most nutrients.
I’m going to try this. I don’t eat meat and I’m always concerned about cooking meat for my husband. Boiling then simmering will reach high enough temps so I feel better about that. Also liked reader suggestion to boil in beef broth then skim fat to re-use broth. I left it at 2 stars for now but will definitely be back to update after I’ve tried this.
Let us know how it went!
This is the whitest thing I’ve ever read in my entire life. I understand why you could do this for health reasons but you’re better off just not eating ground beef if you’re concerned with it. At least brown the beef after you boil it or it will just be chewy meat particles with absolutely no flavor.
Good thing there are alternative options!
What a racist comment to make! Cooking is universally done bye people of all walks of life. These instructions are perfect for cooking tender ground beef.
Question – can I cook the ground beef raw in the pot with water, spices and sauce rather than just water? I saw this on TV where it was all done in one pot with no draining. What do you think?
I don’t think that’s a bad idea at all!
I prefer draining the beef mixture from the water it was boiled in to remove the grease. This is the entire reason I boil it, to better remove the fat.