What Is Lean ground beef and How Can I Use It?

Wondering what to do with lean ground beef? This guide covers how to pick it, cook it, store it, and swap it, plus 436 recipes to put it to work.

Key Points

90/10 is the lean workhorse; for burgers, fattier 80/20 chuck honestly beats it.
Done at 160°F (71°C); lean grinds turn mealy fast past that point.
A bread-and-milk panade keeps lean meatballs and meatloaf from going rubbery.
Use it in chili, sauce, and casseroles that bring their own moisture.
Gray interior meat is oxygen chemistry, not spoilage; judge it by smell and date.

What is lean ground beef?

Lean ground beef is the 90/10 grind: 90 percent lean meat to 10 percent fat. That ratio is the working compromise between flavor and grease, and it is what more than 430 recipes here mean when they call for lean ground beef.

The label math matters because the fat is doing real work. It bastes the meat as it renders and carries most of the beefy flavor, so the leaner the grind, the harder you have to work to keep dinner from drying out.

Extra lean, 93/7 and up, suits sauces and chili where the liquid does the moistening. For burgers, fattier 80/20 chuck beats it every time.

Lean patties fight you.

Cooking It Without Drying It

Ground beef is safely done at 160°F (71°C), and the window past that is short. Lean grinds especially go from juicy to mealy in a couple of unattended minutes.

When you brown it, the enemy is the crowd. Pack a pound into a small pan and it steams gray in its own juices. Spread it across a wide, hot pan instead and leave it alone, and it builds the browned crust that flavors the whole dish.

For meatballs and meatloaf, lean beef wants a panade: a slice of bread soaked in a few tablespoons of milk, mashed and mixed in. The starch holds the moisture the missing fat would have provided, the difference between a tender Prize Winning Meat Loaf and a rubbery one.

There is also the baking soda trick. Toss the beef with ¼ teaspoon dissolved in a tablespoon of water per pound, wait fifteen minutes, then cook. The raised pH keeps the proteins from squeezing out their moisture, so the meat browns instead of stewing.

Where It Earns Its Keep

Lean grinds belong in dishes that bring their own moisture. Think chili like Grandmas Ohio Farm Chili, meat sauce layered into Alex's Lasagne, and brothy bowls like Savory Hamburger Soup, where draining a fattier grind would cost you flavor for nothing.

Season after browning when the recipe allows. Salt drawn into raw ground meat tightens its texture toward sausage, which is right for meatballs and wrong for taco filling.

Do not rinse browned beef under the tap. It washes away the rendered flavor you just built, and the little fat it removes from a 90/10 pound is not worth the soggy result.

Swapping It

Ground turkey trades in at the same weight but cooks drier. Add a tablespoon of olive oil per pound and stop at 165°F (74°C). Ground chicken behaves the same way.

A half-and-half blend of beef and finely chopped mushrooms keeps the texture, stretches the meat, and browns right along with it. Nobody audits the ratio.

Lentils stand in for the texture in vegetarian chili and sloppy joes, with the seasoning doing the heavy work.

Buying and Keeping It

Buy by the date and your nose, not the color. The bright red outside and grayish inside of a supermarket package is oxygen chemistry, not age; the pigment turns gray wherever air cannot reach. Spoiled beef announces itself with a sour smell and a sticky surface.

Freshly ground from a butcher's case is worth the extra when the beef is the dish, burgers above all.

Raw ground beef keeps only a day or two in the fridge, so cook it or freeze it promptly. Frozen flat in a zip bag it holds quality for three to four months and thaws in minutes under cold water.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 serving ( 3 oz ) (85g)

Amount per Serving

Calories 173Calories from Fat 81

% Daily Value *

Total Fat 9.1g 14%

Saturated Fat 3.6g 18%

Trans Fat 0.6g

Cholesterol 69mg 23%

Sodium 63mg 3%

Total Carbohydrate 0.0g 0%

Dietary Fiber 0g 0%

Sugars 0.0

Protein 21.4g

Vitamin A 0% Vitamin C 0%

Calcium 1% • Iron 13%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your caloric needs.

recipeland.com/nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find lean ground beef: Lean ground beef is usually found in the asian section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Ground beef, lean is a member of the Beef Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese: 牛肉，瘦
British (UK) term: beef mince, lean
en français: boeuf haché maigre
en español: carne de res molida

How much does lean ground beef weigh?

Amount	Weight
1 serving ( 3 oz )	85 grams
1 patty ( yield from 1/4 lb raw meat )	86 grams

Beef Products

Beef, short ribs 58 Beef, steak 94 Beef liver 36 Suet 51 Corned beef 76 Rump steak 5 Beef roast, rump 38 Beef, tenderloin 63 Beef, filet mignon 50 Stewing beef 184

Recipes using lean ground beef

There are 436 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Cheeseburgers

Microwave cheeseburgers brown ground beef patties with a quick bouquet sauce wash, then melt cheese on a soft bun in minutes. A retro 70s-style fast burger for when the stove is busy.

Yummy Burgers

Sour cream burgers stay juicy because the sour cream goes right into the beef, along with green onion and a little crumb to keep them tender. Cook them fast in the microwave or sear them on the grill, then load up the buns.

Italian Meatballs-Pasta Machine

Classic Italian meatballs with beef, herbs, and breadcrumbs. Freezer-friendly meatballs that bake or pan-fry until browned, perfect for pasta night or meal prep.

Best Meatballs & Spaghetti Sauce

Italian meatballs and spaghetti sauce simmer parmesan-laced beef meatballs in a wine-spiked tomato sauce with onion, garlic, green pepper, basil, and oregano. Weeknight ready in 45 minutes.

Best Meatballs & Spaghetti Sauce

Italian meatballs and spaghetti sauce simmer parmesan-laced beef meatballs in a wine-spiked tomato sauce with onion, garlic, green pepper, basil, and oregano. Weeknight ready in 45 minutes.

Amazing Cincinnati Chili

Cincinnati's iconic chili simmers with warm spices like cinnamon, allspice, and cocoa powder, creating a Greek-influenced meat sauce perfect for ladling over spaghetti.

Chili Soup

Hearty chili soup with ground beef, kidney beans, strained tomatoes and a surprising swirl of cream. Simple to make with just a handful of ingredients, simmers low and slow.

Protein/Paleo Burger

Protein paleo burger: a seasoned beef patty mixed with scallion, garlic, and serrano, stacked bunless on lettuce with a fried egg, grilled portobello, avocado, and chimichurri. High-protein, grain-free.

Cheddar Burgers

Cheddar burgers with grated sharp cheese mixed right into the beef along with minced onion, breadcrumbs, and barbecue sauce. Cheese-stuffed patties that won't squeeze out a slice on the grill.

Savory Spaghetti & Meatballs

Savory spaghetti and meatballs with ground beef meatballs seasoned by dry onion soup mix, browned and simmered in jarred spaghetti sauce. The 30-minute weeknight version that tastes like a slow-cooked Sunday sauce.

Chili Super Bowl

Big-batch Super Bowl chili with ground beef, pinto beans, and tomato juice base, simmered low for hours with a deep spice blend of cumin, cayenne, and paprika. Feeds a crowd.

Remember the Alamo Chili

Remember the Alamo Chili: a hearty Texas-style ground beef chili built on fresh hot chilies, garlic, cumin and citrusy Mexican oregano in a rich tomato base. Add beans if you must, and finish with a cool spoonful of sour cream.

Bbq Cheeseburgers

Quick and easy to make, and these burgers taste delicious. Enjoy the juicy bites with some homemade fries or coleslaw aside.

Chili with Kidney Beans

Chili with kidney beans is a hearty crowd-size beef chili built on garlic-browned ground beef, peppers, tomatoes, and red kidney beans, simmered low with chili powder, cloves, and bay. Crowd cooker for game day.

Easy Garlic Meatballs

Easy garlic meatballs pack half a head of fresh garlic into tender ground beef rolled with sweet Vidalia onion and Italian breadcrumbs. Simmered in tomato sauce until they soak up every drop.

Hamburger with Almonds

Hamburger patties mixed with toasted slivered almonds and fine herbs, then broiled or grilled. The almonds add unexpected nutty crunch and texture to the classic burger, dressed up or down for any meal.

Modified Chili Con Carne

A from-scratch chili con carne made with dried pinto beans, lean ground beef, and a smoky blend of cumin, oregano, and chili powder. Simmers into a thick, soul-warming bowl that's lower in sodium than most.

Cabbage & ground beef

A simple, tasty and heart-warming recipe for winter days.

Arcadian Eight Bean Chili

Arcadian eight bean chili packs six bean varieties, ground beef, bacon, and dried poblanos into a smoky simmered crowd-feeder. Cinnamon and coriander give this chili an unexpected depth.

Yummy Meatballs with Milk Gravy

Beef meatballs in a creamy milk gravy with sherry, thyme, and Worcestershire. A lighter take on Swedish-style meatballs using yogurt as binder. Serve over egg noodles or pasta.

Aaron's Hillbilly Chili

Hillbilly chili made the back-porch way: ground beef, pinto beans, crushed tomatoes, and a splash of jalapeño pickling liquid for kick. A no-fuss Appalachian-style chili finished with vinegar.

Cactus Chili No. 2982

Serve with sour cream, chopped green onions, grated sharp Cheddar and crushed red pepper flakes alongside.

Bert Greene's Peppered Chili

Bert Greene's peppered chili layers ground beef and beef shoulder strips with three different chiles (mild ground, caribe, fresh serrano). Slow-baked three hours with red wine, fresh tomatoes, and herbs. Kidney beans go in last. A serious cook's chili.

Beef & Bean Burrito Stack (Crockpot, Slow Cooker)

A unique burrito like "stack" made in your crockpot, cheesy and tasty.

Grilled Hamburgers with Sour Cream & Herbs

Grilled Hamburgers with Sour Cream and Herbs recipe

Abilene Texas Chili

Abilene Texas chili simmers ground beef and beans in a tomato vegetable juice base with paprika, cumin, cayenne, and Mexican oregano. Hearty bean-style Texas chili that feeds a crowd of 16.

Gyro Sandwiches

Greek gyro sandwiches blend ground beef and lamb with oregano, thyme, and garlic into thin patties, then tuck into pita with homemade cucumber-yogurt sauce and sliced onion. Street food classic done at home.

Bbq Meatloaf Aussie Style

Aussie-style BBQ meatloaf with beef, sausage, and curry powder, basted with a dark, complex BBQ sauce featuring instant coffee, red wine, and Worcestershire. The meatloaf that earns its place at any cookout.

Karen's Meatloaf

I use crushed Ritz crackers instead of bread crumbs and add 2/3 cup of shredded sharp Cheddar. A simple gravy to go along with the meatloaf can also be made using another packet of soup mix, 2 Tbs. flour and 2 cups of cold water. Simmer until thickened.

So Good Moussaka

Greek moussaka with eggplant layers, spiced ground beef in tomato-wine sauce, and an egg-cheese top that browns into a golden crust. Simplified home-cook version of the Athens classic.

Nacho Casserole

This nacho casserole is cheesy, tasty and packed with flavors. Serve it with some tortilla chips, heavenly delicious.

Greek Meat Rolls in Tomato-Wine Sauce

Accompany with a Greek-style salad sprinkled with feta cheese and olives!

Italian Burgers

Ground beef burgers mixed with spinach, Parmesan, and marinara, then grilled and topped with melted mozzarella. An Italian-American twist on the classic burger that tastes like meatballs in patty form.

Granny's Tacos

These tacos were delicious! Made them for a recent family dinner, and everyone at the table just kept asking for more. Thank goodness that I had enough to cover everyone's appetite :)

Peter's Burgers

Classic burger for the grill with a slight twist. Instead of bread crumbs as filler this burger recipe uses rolled oats along with a bit of teriyaki sauce for a boost of extra flavor.

Consumer Report's Chili (Scaled Down)

Classic beef chili with crushed tomatoes, kidney beans, and an 8-tablespoon hit of chili powder warmed up with cumin, coriander, and allspice. Simmered until thick and adjustable from mild to wildfire.

Bandit's Chili

Ground beef chili with kidney beans, a hit of cider vinegar, and a quiet pinch of allspice for warmth. A solid one-pot weeknight chili that fully comes together in an hour.

Asian Salisbury Steaks & Watercress

A refreshing twist on classic Salisbury steaks. The added sweet red bell pepper, scallions and ginger really boost the flavor of the steak. The watercress gives a nutritional boost. This recipe could work equally as well served on a bed of mashed potatoes with gravy instead of the watercress.

Anniversary Burgers

Anniversary burgers: tender beef patties with horseradish, thyme, and dry mustard, grilled and brushed with melted butter-ketchup baste. Old-school cookout royalty.

Hamburgers

A low-carb easy bun-less burger that's quick and easy, topped with a tasty sauce.

Mac Skillet Dinner

Mac skillet dinner is homemade hamburger helper: ground beef, mushrooms, and corn in a chili-spiced tomato sauce tossed with macaroni. One skillet, budget-friendly, and on the table fast. The weeknight dinner kids actually finish.

Nona's Meatballs

This recipe is over 100 years old. I add a twist to the recipe (and a little sweetness) by adding some golden raisins, like my favorite restaurant in Provincetown, Mass., does.

Classic German Burgers

German frikadellen burgers blend ground beef with minced onion, parsley, eggs, and a whisper of nutmeg, then pan-fry in butter for a tender, juicy patty that beats any backyard burger.

Beef & Bacon Chili

Beef and bacon chili browns ground beef in rendered bacon fat with pinto beans, picante sauce, and tomatoes for a smoky weeknight chili. The bacon is the magic. Ready in an hour.

Mexicali Spoon Bread Casserole

Similar to a tamale pie recipe. Sometimes referred to as the most delicious thing there ever was, this aromatic mix of ground beef, tomato sauce and, spices, topped with a cheesy polenta style cornbread-like topping baked as a casserole is certain to become a family favorite.

Hot N' Spicy Beef Burgers

Hot 'n' spicy beef burgers: ground beef seasoned with fresh jalapeño and cumin, grilled to order, then crowned with melted Monterey Jack and a juicy tomato slice on a toasted bun.

Basic Shepherds Pie

Shepherd's pie with seasoned ground beef, leftover roast beef, vegetables, and a fluffy mashed potato top finished under the broiler. A hearty pub-style casserole that uses up Sunday roast.

Eastern European Kotlety (Meat Patties)

While growing up, my Polish-Russian grandmother, who lived with our family, made these little meat patties quite often and they were a family favorite. Here is my rendition, from what I remember when cooking with Grandma, as she never wrote the recipe down. The patties were always served with mashed potatoes, green beans, applesauce, and, of course, plenty of ketchup for the patties.

Stuffed Zucchini

Hearty beef stuffed zucchini boats topped with melted cheese. Ground beef, rice, and marinara fill summer squash halves for a satisfying baked dinner.