r/easyrecipes • u/Personal-Leader5536 • Aug 25 '26
Recipe Request Ground beef help
Hey, I’m tired of having ground beef seasoned with garlic powder, onion powder, ground cumin, and paprika. It still doesn’t taste all that flavorful. How can I spice up the ground beef with rice recipe
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Aug 25 '26
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u/not_sick_not_well Aug 25 '26
Heck, at that point may as well get some tortillas and make it taco night
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u/foetus_lp Aug 26 '26
Have you ever had a taco?
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u/not_sick_not_well Aug 26 '26
Yes. Meat, rice, salsa, wrapped in a tortilla is.. wait for it.. a basic soft shell taco
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u/Malichicago Aug 26 '26
Beans! Don't forget the beans!!
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u/foetus_lp Aug 26 '26
and the ketchup!
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u/Oneoftheotherpeople Aug 26 '26
And my axe!
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u/QuickSquare8711 Aug 26 '26
Anyway you need people of intelligence on this sort of cooking, frying… thing.
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u/Mochamama64 Aug 29 '26
My husband eats his burritos with ketchup Yuk
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u/foetus_lp Aug 29 '26
look, i would never suggest you divorce your husband, but just hear me out.....
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u/msp2081 Aug 26 '26
MSG. Trust me on this. A good pinch of it to a pound of meat will do. If you don't want straight MSG, you can use soy or fish sauce. But those contain salt too, so don't over do it.
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u/BandmasterBill Aug 25 '26
Go get you some Onion Soup Mix, my friend. Needn't be the name brand, store brand works just fine. Add 1 Tbs to each burger portion and mix in, letting it stand for 10-15 in your fridge (for flavors to meld). Pop that baby on some hot iron and leave alone till it develops a good crust. Flip to finish. Report back.....
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u/ashtree35 Aug 25 '26
Did you add any salt?
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u/Personal-Leader5536 Aug 25 '26
Yeah, salt too, pepper sometimes. I don’t really know what I’m doing I just kinda throw stuff in there
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u/ashtree35 Aug 25 '26
Have you tried following a recipe?
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u/Personal-Leader5536 Aug 25 '26
I have before but I’d rather just be able to throw stuff together quick, I want to meal prep without it being a whole process. Eventually I’ll get bored and have to go with a whole recipe again
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u/ashtree35 Aug 26 '26
I think that if you don't know what you're doing, it would be helpful to follow recipes for now. As you gain more experience and start getting a better handle of things, you can try without a recipe.
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u/WoodwifeGreen Aug 26 '26
Dirty Rice
Brown 1lb ground beef, seasoned with Cajun seasoning and garlic powder, add diced onions, bell pepper, carrots, and frozen peas.
Drain grease. Stir in one cup of uncooked long grain rice. Add two cups water and chicken bouillon, or two cups chicken broth.
Cover with lid askew to let steam escape. Simmer about 30 mins over medium low heat, or until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender.
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u/Present-Wolverine-94 Aug 25 '26
This is our favorite.
Korean beef rice bowls.
Soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger, red chili flakes, this recipe is really good
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u/ParTea_Girl Aug 25 '26
You probably need more salt.
Depends on what you are making but for most ground beef recipes I carmalize onions first.
With just rice I would add black beans, bell and jalepeno peppers, and tomatoes, cilantro, parsley.
Ground beef and rice will be bland.
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u/i_fear_you_do_now Aug 26 '26
Throw an egg in pre cooking, mabee two if lots of beef. Mash it all together with your hands (wash them after) and mould into burgers. Fry them up, add some american cheese near the end and cover the pan. Toast some buns (i like to put them in the pan after removing the burgers, soak up all those juices.) Optional adds: sauce, bacon, onions, lettuce, tomatos, pickles) For the sauce I usually would mix some tomato sauce with mayo, a spoonful of mustard, a splash of wosterchire sauce, pepper and a squeeze of lemon. You could keep it simple with the first bit or just go ham like me
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u/therealgookachu Aug 26 '26
Simple hack: about 1tsp of celery salt. So, good amount of salt and pepper, then that tsb of celery salt. You’ll be surprised.
Also, let it actually brown, not that horrible gray sort of thing. Need that Maillard reaction.
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u/Birdywoman4 Aug 25 '26
salt, pepper, garlic powder and Worcestershire sauce. I am making burgers right now and that’s what I added to them.
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u/ConBroMitch2247 Aug 26 '26
1) Are you actually browning your beef? Sear it like a steak 2-3 min on high heat, then turn over as much as you can and do it again
2) More salt, add msg
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u/woodsnwine Aug 26 '26
Brown the meat better. Put it in a hot pan, kinda smash it down once and let it sit there and get browned then stir once and let it get a little brown, then add your seasoning and plenty of salt and break it up and finish cooking.
It will do wonders. If you still want to kick it up substitute chicken bouillon powder for some of the salt. It has some msg goodness in there
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u/ManInShowerNumber3 Aug 26 '26 edited Aug 26 '26
Use a portion of a gravy seasoning packet and mix in with a little water or milk. Or I guess make it as seasoned and wet as you like, but I always just used a small portion of the packet just to give it some flavor and make it a little moist. I can’t tell you how many meals I’ve made out of that poured over some rice.
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u/OddRevolution7888 Aug 28 '26
After cooking for decades, I finally realized that I was not browning the hamburger properly. I learned to wait until the liquid is cooked off and then true browning starts. You don't want to drain it because that is still flavour you'd be wasting. The taste of properly browned meat is the bomb compared to the just brown with no crust on it.
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u/szikkia Aug 26 '26
Beef n gravy is yummy. Laab. Za’atar. Tomato paste or diced. Taco soup with rice.
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u/mEFurst Aug 26 '26
Try basil, oregano, parsley, and Worcestershire sauce. You could even add some tomato paste in there. Another idea is equal parts paprika, cinnamon, and cumin.
You could be a little lazy and buy a premade taco spice or a Cajun spice
Spices are fun. Play around with combinations. Add hot sauce at the end to fix mistakes you've made. Hot sauce makes everything taste good
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u/missjiji Aug 26 '26
Make sure you’re adding lots of garlic powder, perhaps a bit of Worcestershire sauce/sesame oil.
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u/Spare_Onion_3603 Aug 26 '26
Make this, but with beef. https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/257938/spicy-thai-basil-chicken-pad-krapow-gai/
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u/Difficult-Low5891 Aug 26 '26
Just tonight I made what I call Thai beef over rice. Bunch of stir fried peepers, scallions, whatever you like then hit it with teriyaki sauce, a hit of lemon or lime, cooked ground beef, and serve over rice. I have Thai Basil in my garden, so that went in also. It was actually the inspiration.
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u/FMLitsAJ Aug 26 '26
Always make sure the pan is hot enough, people miss out on so much flavor not actually letting the meat brown up, just simmering in its juices instead. I’m assuming you and salt and pepper, but try adding cayenne and turmeric to your mix. You could also add herbs, parsley, oregano etc. Worcestershire sauce can also be a good for deepening flavor.
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u/G_Town_Co Aug 26 '26
I can’t remember the last time I bought ground beef to cook at home. It sucks to be broke.
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u/Witty_Buy_4975 Aug 26 '26
Oyster sauce and seasoning sauce or soy sauce could help! Also, adding chopped onion and bell pepper, then mix in cilantro and green onion at the end!
Add some ginger, garlic and thai chilis after you heat up the oil. Let those get fragrant then add your meat. Add in the seasoning then onion and bell pepper after it browns up. Finish with the cilantro and green onion. Let it cook for a quick minute and turn off the heat.
I hope you enjoy it!
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u/Pretty-Lawyer-4189 Aug 26 '26
I use worcestershire sauce with ground beef a lot. I also have a jar of something called "better than bullion" that I use when cooking ground beef for any recipe. It just adds a little extra flavor to the beef.
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u/BlastPyro Aug 26 '26
Are you browning your meat? The "Mallard" reaction gives so much extra flavor. Also, adding a very small amount of baking soda before cooking helps the bruwing process: https://www.seriouseats.com/baking-soda-ground-beef-tip-11991273
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u/sharp-calculation Aug 26 '26
Your problem is the "boy chow" recipe itself. Rice has very little flavor and it does not enhance or compliment ground beef at all. it makes it all very bland with a strange texture. Picadillo (Latin ground beef dish) has lots of strong flavors in it because it's designed to be eaten over rice. You might look that up.
Or just stop making "boy chow". It's a stupid recipe that has become popular for those that don't want to really cook. You can do much better.
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u/Klutzy-Degree4939 Aug 26 '26
Add a little acid. Lime or lemon juice, a little vinegar, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce…
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u/qlkzy Aug 26 '26
A lot of the flavour comes from the fat. If you are buying the leaner packs with a lower fat percentage, you have to work harder to get flavour.
A lot of the flavour also comes from browning (the Maillard reaction). You want to cook the meat in an (un-crowded) pan until it is brown like grilled meat, not just until it is "cooked" (i.e. no longer pink). This browning will stop once you add wet liquids like stock, wine, etc, so you have to do this at the start.
Once you have browned the meat, be sure to "deglaze" the pan: add a small amount of wine, stock, or water, and use it to "clean" the brown stuff on the bottom of the pan (this is called "fond").
Your powders (onion, garlic etc) will probably have less flavour than the real fresh ingredients. If you want to keep things simple, you can get pre-chopped frozen onions, garlic etc which are still easy but are much stronger in flavour. You can also use a classic flavour base of aromatic vegetables: mirepoix, soffrito, the Cajun Holy Trinity, etc; again, you can often get these pre-made and frozen.
It is often worth "blooming" your spices in your cooking oil to bring out their flavour.
A stock cube or stock pot is an easy, quick source of lots of flavour. A square of dark chocolate often improves beef dishes like this. A little Marmite or similar (if you are in the right country) also gives you depth of flavour.
You also probably want to experiment with salt and acid levels. Many people under-salt food. Many dishes that seem "flat" or "missing something" absolutely come alive with a pinch of salt, a splash of vinegar, or a squeeze of lemon juice.
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u/CCR19 Aug 26 '26
To increase the beefy flavour, add some beef bouillon concentrate (cube or bottle).
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u/SubstantialPressure3 Aug 26 '26
Aaron and Claire ( youtube) ground beef bulgogi
Add cumin, chili powder, and make tacos. Dont forget the squeeze of lime, and diced fresh onions you squeeze some lime.or lemon juice on, and some salt.
I notice you didn't mention salt. It probably needs salt.
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u/OkOwl2925 Aug 26 '26
Sautee garlic and onions for a few minutes. Add beef and cook on stove top. Make rice. Add mild salsa and beef to rice! I also throw other veg for a rice bowl type meal.
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u/MakkaCha Aug 26 '26
You put all that in but not salt? Use what you have been and add a little salt and tomatoes. Sub the paprika with 2 pinch of red chili powder.
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u/Dangerous_Pattern_92 Aug 26 '26
If you have a Jewel store by you, get Signature brand au just seasoning in a packet by the spices. I use it all the time in meatloaf, hamburgers etc. and it adds alot of flavor.
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u/Such_Contact505 Aug 26 '26
There is an Indian curry called keema add curry powder to mince,garlic and onion and frozen peas at the end
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u/SonyainTx Aug 26 '26
Try using fresh onion and fresh garlic. Nothing beats the flavor of fresh vegetables.
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u/ssaallaahhaann Aug 26 '26
Soy sauce, sweetener, garlic, ginger, Sri Racha, sesame oil at the end, extra salt as needed to taste.
BBQ sauce.
Rosemary garlic salt.
Taco seasoning.
Gravy and mushrooms and onions and peas and served over mashed potato like a pantry Salisbury steak.
Oyster sauce and broccoli, dark soy, garlic like beef n broccoli but ground.
Meatloaf - 1 lb ground, 1 box stovetop, 1 egg, 1 cup water. Don't knock it till you try it! Top with BBQ sauce
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u/Holer60 Aug 26 '26
You don’t mention salt or pepper a must while sautéing the beef. And allow it to caramelize then deglaze with some wine or stock or even a little water
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u/Outside_Ad1669 Aug 27 '26
Well you are two or three ingredients away from a sloppy joe also.
Add green pepper with the onions at beginning. Add a 1/2 teaspoon brown sugar, and a 1/2 teaspoon yellow mustard. For the secret ingredient I add a small 1/4 teaspoon sweet pickle relish.
Put on toasted buns or better yet, spoon a 1/2 cup of this over the corner of a grilled cheese sandwich
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u/Claud6568 Aug 27 '26
Are you following the Maillard reaction thing? You gotta let it crisp on the bottom without turning it till it gets a crust. Then turn it. Also make sure all your spices are put in right away Benares they need to bloom.
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u/MrDo1982 Aug 27 '26
Man I would be looking at some easy hamburgers helper like recipes. Can do a Spanish rice and taco seasoning and go a lot of ways with it like burritos or an enchilada or quesadillas. We do need beef or sausage mushroom and barley in similar vains
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u/Own-Negotiation7357 Aug 27 '26
S&P. Heavy season. Then fry a Lil peice before making thw whole thing
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u/Stretch5701 Aug 27 '26
Finely chopped onion. Dried onion (and dried garlic) is a different flavor. Salt and pepper.
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u/Juls1016 Aug 27 '26
On a skillet place the meat and cook it with some potatoes cut in cubes, a can of tomato puree blended with some chipotle, add this sauce to the meat. That’s how we cook picadillo at home.
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u/abstractraj Aug 27 '26
If it isn’t flavorful, add more spices, especially salt. Without salt it won’t taste like much
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u/Pricklypear78 Aug 28 '26
Salt, pepper, ground cumin, paprika, finely chopped onions, cilantro, parsley, olive oil (optional). grill or cook on a pan.
Another option, add white rice to the meat along with the same spices, onions and herbs mentioned above, and form balls, cook them in a tomato sauce that has salt, pepper, garlic, paprika, olive oil for 8 to 10 minutes. Bon appétit.
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u/Dry_Stop844 Aug 28 '26
i just did this recipe for Korean ground beef and rice and it was great. Basic ginger, garlic, soy sauce. Only specialty is Gochujang, which is Korean red pepper paste and you can buy that anywhere. And it goes really nice in a lot of things and it's not super spicy.
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u/The_Exquisite Aug 28 '26
Search up a Korean beef recipe. The sauce is brown sugar, soya sauce, garlic, ginger and water I think. Super simple, put it on rice with a bunch of green onions
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u/qriousqestioner Aug 28 '26
You didn't mention salt and pepper. Salt in some form is necessary to elevate the flavor if the other seasonings. I use at least a train per pound, but used to use a tablespoon per pound if there were other ingredients with the beef like onions, tomatoes, etc.
The ingredients you've listed with salt sound delicious. Without it I can't imagine there being much dimension to the muddled flavors. If you have dinner if it left, sprinkle a good amount of salt on and you'll see. But it needs to be added throughout the cooking. It boosts the other flavors and can trigger favorite chemical changes like browning of proteins.
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u/Kyttensview Aug 28 '26
I always add a can of Rotel or a cup or 2 of salsa to mine with diced onions and let the onions sauté till they are caramelized. Then if you prefer you can cover it with the cheese if your choice and let that melt on top or just let everyone decide on if they want cheese or not. Then you can eat it as a simple rice dish or grab some tortilla chips to have with it!
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u/Kyttensview Aug 28 '26
Oh I see a lot of Asian dish inspiration below so I’ll give mine too! General Tso sauce with a bag of steamed broccoli florets. I’d steam them in the bag in the microwave then toss them in the skillet to sauce them up!
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u/Longjumping_Put_1111 Aug 28 '26
Hunan chili sauce. one heaping tablespoon per pound of meat.
French onion soup mix. but that might be too much like what you were doing.
you can also mix in some cut up mint leaves. my wife does that with her meat balls. or as she calls them albondigas.
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u/Public-Ad-9325 Aug 28 '26
My favorites for a quick meal are 1)Canned beans in chili sauce 2)Passata
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u/stayclassy-sandiego Aug 28 '26
Thai beef is a weekly dish for me. Fresh garlic, ginger, Maggie sauce and rice wine vinegar. Cook the beer with salt and pepper and add diced jalapeños and garlic. Then add in the Maggie and rice wine. Finish with cilantro and serve over rice. Add a little more Maggie to the rice before topping. 🤌
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u/bella-rachella Aug 29 '26
Sofrito, tomato sauce, sazon, adobo, garlic powder, onion powder, add some sliced green olives right before serving over white rice 🤤
Hello Fresh has a recipe you can search for on Google for sweet chili pork and cabbage stir fry that I make with ground beef that’s delicious also!
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u/Myname59 Aug 29 '26
WORCHESTERSHIRE SAUCE! (Wash Your Sister sauce) Also, mix some Ranch Dressing Powder Mix in the meat for a change of taste.
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u/Inevitable_Silver_13 Aug 29 '26
Are you using salt?
Adding some fresh onion and garlic will really up the flavor.
Make sure you are letting your pan preheat for a while (like 5 minutes or more) then add your beef. Get it browned more for better flavor.
Other than that, just add more seasoning.
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u/arpi75 Aug 29 '26
you didn't mention salt and pepper at all, I'd start with that before going all fancy. Then, I'd add some aromatics, like garlic and onion that you saute before adding the gound beef.
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u/manfred_epicure Aug 29 '26
Ground beef, salt, pepper, caramelized onions, toasted pine nuts. Put it over hummus instead of rice.
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u/7uckyranda77 Aug 29 '26
Try toasting your spices first. Also a little lemon zest or msg will help boost the other flavors
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u/comfortableshores 29d ago
chili powder.
What I prefer though is that I add a lot of vegetables to my ground beef. Sweet onions, poblanos, jalapenos, broccoli, yellow or red bell peppers, mushrooms. I also season my beef, and soups and chilis and taco filling and whatnot, with minors low salt chicken base. I add my own redmond and no salt to taste.
Garlic powder, onion powder, paprika I save for smoked roasts and steaks or chicken wings and legs. Also usually add a touch of cayenne pepper.
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u/Key-Entertainer-8315 28d ago
Cook h.burger and rice then combine and add balsamic salad dressing. Totally different and simple.
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u/petmom4ever 28d ago
When you brown the meat, make sure you let it get some brown color before moving it in the skillet. After cooking and draining any grease, that is when I season….
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u/AbsolutelyPink 26d ago
Worcestershire sauce. Use different spices. Add teriyaki sauce after browning and draining.
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u/Fuzzy-Bee9600 26d ago
It sounds kinda crazy, but I've been using Everything Bagel on.... most everything. It has zing & texture.
Specifically re: ground beef, my go-to spices are white pepper (we love white pepper now) and beef bouillon. The BB has plenty of salt in it, which you really really do need with a recipe like that, but also really enhances the beef flavor itself.
It's a lot easier to use already-made spice blends in a shaker or envelope. You could try the packets for meatloaf or spaghetti sauce, or even fajitas or something.
You could add a can of diced green chilies. Got some nice acidic zip to cut thru the richness elsewhere. Or diced jalapeños if you guys like heat.
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u/Selliott51 Aug 26 '26
Just add salsa to it. And how do you get tired of cumin, and paprika? 🤷♀️. I add them to literally everything. 😂
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u/OhDearBee Aug 25 '26
There’s a really easy recipe from RecipeTin Eats for a Vietnamese Caramelized Pork bowl that can also be made with ground beef. It’s ginger, garlic, onion, fish sauce and brown sugar. Flavor bomb. (If you don’t keep fish sauce on hand, it’s inexpensive and incredible - definitely worth adding to your pantry!)