Whip up a healthy, protein-packed dinner for your family in no time! People talk a lot of smack about red meat, but the truth is it can be part of a healthy diet. Aside from delivering amino acids that increase satiety, speed up metabolism and build lean muscle, beef contains healthy doses of iron, zinc, niacin, selenium, vitamin E and B vitamins — nutrients that support blood formation, as well as brain and nervous system function. Here’s how to eat it: Limit weekly consumption to roughly 3 ounces. Consuming fat in excess, healthy or not, results in one thing: flab. Ground beef is sold with 5 to 30 percent fat, giving you the option to choose from 80-95 percent lean varieties. However, the leaner the cut, the lower the vitamin and mineral content. We recommend going for 90 percent lean, which yields 182 calories, 9 grams of fat and up to 24 grams of protein per 3-ounce serving. Finally, always go for grass-fed. It’s naturally lower in calories and fat than grain-fed beef. Additionally, it contains more heart-healthy omega-3s, less saturated fat, and as much as four times the vitamin E. We’ve compiled a list of ground beef recipes that are pretty epic. From breakfast to dinner, we’ve even included healthified dietary sinners. Pick one a week to enjoy without guilt.

Zucchini boats are a dieter’s dream. Take your favorite indulgent meal, ditch the empty carbs and enjoy all the mouth-watering flavor for a portion of the calories. These boats are topped with lean ground beef, enchilada sauce, diced red onion, avocado, and tomato, cheddar cheese and fresh cilantro—all for just 222 calories. Get the recipe from Joyful Healthy Eats.

Quinoa is all the rage, but how often does it make its way onto your plate? The superfood is a complete protein, contains twice as much fiber as other grains, and is packed with vital nutrients like iron, magnesium, lysine, and vitamin B. An easy way to consume more: These korean quinoa bowls that come together in just 15 minutes. Get the recipe from Smile Sandwich.

Cauliflower wears many disguises these days, from pizza crust and rice to potatoes (or in this case, hash). The universal dish typically consists of meat, potatoes, spices and, depending on where it’s served, additions such as onions, fried egg, and cream. What better way to start (or end) your day than with this cheesy, low-carb and protein-packed meal? Get the recipe from Gluesticks Gum Drops.

When it comes to rapid weight loss, portion control is everything, so it’s pretty clutch when a meal comes out of the oven already portioned for you. Get the recipe from Veggie Balance.

Avocados are the perfect weight-loss food. According to research published in the journal Diabetes Care, a diet rich in monounsaturated fat can prevent abdominal body fat distribution by actually turning off certain fat genes. And that’s not all—a study published in Nutrition Journal found that participants who ate half a fresh avocado with lunch reported a 40 percent decreased appetite for up to hours afterward. That has us thinking about stuffing less cheese and more avocado into our quesadillas. Get the recipe from Damn Delicious.

Sweet potato noodles and black beans team up to fuel your body with slow-digesting carbohydrates, knocking out a third of your daily quota of flat-belly fiber. Insufficient fiber intake can cause fatigue, prevent weight loss, and even increase the risk for heart disease. To make sure you’re getting enough, women should aim for 25 grams a day, while men should consume closer to 38 grams. Get the recipe from Slim Sanity.

With a water content of up to 92 percent, eggplants are one of the most hydrating veggies. Packing with low-calorie fiber and an army of nutrients that support a healthy metabolism, immune system, and cardiovascular system, this is one food you want to eat on the reg. Start with this savory casserole. Get the recipe from Not Enough Cinnamon.

The Paleo diet (a.k.a. the caveman diet) is based on foods presumed to be available to Paleolithic humans. We’re talking humans who roamed the Earth roughly 2.6 million years ago and only consumed nature’s bounty. These burgers are made with grass-fed beef, which is void of harmful antibiotics and chemicals and is naturally leaner. Get the recipe from Joyful Healthy Eats.

Originally a way to use leftovers, shepherd’s pie has become a menu staple in Irish pubs around the U.S. And considering that Saint Patrick’s Day is just around the corner, we can’t think of a more timely recipe. Channel your inner Irishman (or -woman) and whip up this savory meal. Get the recipe from Cupcakes and Kale Chips.

Transport your tastebuds from Ireland to Sweden with these gravy-battered meatballs. Work them into your weekly cheat meals, or pair two with mashed cauliflower or veggie noodles for a balanced meal. Get the recipe from Damn Delicious.

Sloppy joes can’t possibly be healthy, right? Wrong. This recipe combines lean ground beef and garlic with hidden carrots, celery, bell pepper and onion to deliver a leaner take on your secret guilty pleasure. Get the recipe from Celebrating Sweets.

This recipe is packed with healthy fats, wholesome carbs and metabolism-boosting protein thanks to sweet potatoes, bacon and eggs. But don’t don’t just reach for the whites. The yellow part of the egg boasts a fat-fighting nutrient called choline that’ll help whittle your waist, boost your immune system, fight stress and improve your cholesterol profile. And yes, you read that correctly — bacon is a green light as long as you opt for uncured, reduced-sodium, center-cut meat. Get the recipe from Paleo Running Momma.

Spaghetti squash is a low-cal, satiating replacement for pasta that’s a total game-changer: You can’t eat 2.5 cups of spaghetti with meat sauce for less than 250 calories and 24 grams of carbs. Traditional spaghetti alone is 552 calories! Get the recipe from The Cookie Writer.

At ETNT we love healthy crock pot recipes. There’s nothing better than tossing ingredients into a slow cooker, turning up the heat and coming back hours later to a perfectly cooked, wholesome meal. This one gives you steaming plates of tender meatballs and fresh tomato sauce over broccoli rabe — not to mention a slimming nutritional profile. Get the recipe from Skinny Taste.

Feta, garlic, spinach, roasted red peppers, pine nuts, and oregano—your taste buds are in for a serious treat. Get the recipe from Cinnamon Spice and Everything Nice.

For these low carb stuffed peppers, red means go. The scarlet hue contains more than double the vitamin C and up to 8 times as much vitamin A as green. Bonus: It can make you happier too. The higher the concentration of vitamins you consume in a meal, the better your mood. Get the recipe from Healthy Seasonal Recipes.

Fresh basil is an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, immunity-boosting, and stress-slashing herb. Combined with julienned carrots, bell peppers, chopped onion, lime juice, and lean ground beef, this is one nourishing, tasty, disease-fighting meal. Get the recipe from Fresh Planet Flavor.

Full of hunger-taming fiber, vitamins, minerals, and carotenoids, butternut squash is a fat-burning, belly-shrinking and nutrient-boasting superfood. What better way to enjoy it than with muscle-building ground beef and bloat-banishing kale? Get the recipe from The Healthy Foodie.

With 259 calories, 4 grams of fiber and 18 grams of protein, this is far from your typical slice of lasagna. Get the recipe from Healthy Seasonal Recipes.

Beans are the G.O.A.T of high fiber foods. In fact, one half-cup serving provides your body with eight grams of slimming fiber and about seven grams of satiating protein—roughly the same amount found in one ounce of chicken. These two macronutrients help to slow digestion, stabilize blood sugar and keep you full. This recipe is brimming with pinto, kidney and black beans, making it a triple threat. Get the recipe from Aberdeen’s Kitchen.

You can easily infuse Korean flavors to ground beef by blending soy sauce, garlic, sesame oil, and other seasonings. Once you’re done cooking the beef, serve it over steamed rice and stir-fried vegetables. Top with sesame seeds and onion for an authentic DIY Asian dish. Get the recipe from Dinner at the Zoo.

For those who have never heard of kofta, it refers to a wide variety of Middle Eastern spiced meatballs or meat kebab dishes. In this recipe, you cook the ground beef with onions and season them with garlic, spices, and mint leaves. Then, you top them over a bed of Greek yogurt, hummus, and veggies. Use pita chips or even more veggies to dip. This is one of those occasional exceptions where we would say go ahead and enjoy a snack or appetizer for dinner. Get the recipe from Cookin’ Canuck.

Taco salads are one of those delicious restaurant menu items that are often deceptively loaded with calories and fat. However, if you make it at home, you can control the ingredient amounts in an effort to make it a little bit healthier, even if you still opt for a tortilla bowl. This recipe relies on fresh and healthy ingredients like black beans, romaine hearts, guacamole, and salsa, in addition to the flavorful main star that is the seasoned ground beef. Get the recipe from The Cookie Rookie.

This Mexican-inspired recipe swaps out the refined carbs in tortillas and chips for vitamin C- and A-rich bell peppers. Picadillo is a flavorful combination of seasoned ground beef and potatoes mixed with chili peppers. We promise you’re not going to feel deprived one bit with this dish. Get the recipe from Chili Pepper Madness.

While this comforting recipe features cauliflower as the main event, it’ll definitely remind you of a loaded baked potato. Ground beef, cheese, and spices make for a filling casserole that comes together quickly at dinnertime. Get the recipe from Gluesticks and Gumdrops.

Fiber-filled bell peppers take the place of tortilla chips in this flavor-packed nacho recipe. Chili powder, ground cumin, salt, and garlic powder make up the fajita seasoning that gives the ground beef a special kick, and Greek yogurt, avocado, and lime juice make for a tangy avocado cream sauce. Get the recipe from Fit Foodie Finds.

If you’re new to trying South American-inspired food, chimichurri sauce is a great place to start. The combination of olive oil, parsley, garlic, salt, and red pepper perfectly complements beef dishes like these meatballs, which are even more mouth-watering when served inside a baguette roll. Get the recipe from A Cozy Kitchen.

A crock pot or other slow cooker is a great way to whip up healthy dishes while cutting down on prep time. This Mexican casserole combines classic ingredients like black beans, ground beef, bell pepper, cheese corn, and spices with protein-packed quinoa and Greek yogurt for a filling and wholesome meal. Get the recipe from Well Plated by Erin.

Whether it’s winter or summer, we say anytime is a good time for a hearty bowl of chili. This recipe features staples like ground beef, kidney and black beans with cheese and veggies for a spicy protein-packed meal that will fill you up, yet still have you wanting seconds. Get the recipe from Averie Cooks.

For a Mediterranean take on pizza, this recipe calls for pita bread as your crust base. Top with seasoned ground beef, hummus, toasted pine nuts and tomatoes for a tasty dish that can work well as a meal or appetizer. It also incorporates ghee (clarified butter with lowered dairy fats and preserved nutrients like healthy fats), which can also be substituted with feta cheese for added protein and flavor. Get the recipe from A Cedar Spoon.