Palak Patel, a chef with the Institute of Culinary Education, told Business Insider that one of her favorite easy weeknight dinners is a hearty Bolognese or Italian meat sauce served over pasta.

"It's very easy to make a small or large batch to freeze for later," Patel said, "because all you have to do is combine ground beef with herbs and tomato. You can cook it slowly on the stovetop, slow cooker, or even an Instant Pot."

For a lighter version of this dish that's perfect for warmer months, use fresh tomatoes instead of canned for the sauce.

Jessica Randhawa, a chef with The Forked Spoon, told BI that ground beef can be a scrumptious taco filling.

"Ground-beef tacos are easy to make at home and can be full of flavor," she said. "Plus, you can control the fat content based on your personal needs by choosing leaner or fattier ground beef."

You can make an easy taco filling by simmering ground beef with tomato sauce and spices like paprika, garlic powder, and cumin. Add chopped vegetables or shredded cheese for extra flavor.

Cajun rice, also known as dirty rice for its color, is a traditional Louisiana Creole dish made with seasoned rice, chopped peppers, and spiced meat such as ground beef.

"Cajun rice is a great way to use ground beef," Randhawa said. "Though it's usually known as a spicy dish, you can omit spicy ingredients like jalapeño if you're sensitive to heat."

In addition to being a versatile meal that can easily be scaled up or down to feed groups of different sizes, Cajun rice is an ideal way to use up different cuts of meat — toss in leftover steak, sausage, or even chicken gizzards.

Mila Furman, a private chef and recipe developer with Girl and the Kitchen, told BI that meatballs are an ideal way to use high-quality ground beef.

"Meatballs are one of the most versatile meals to have in your [arsenal] as a chef," Furman said. "They're super simple to put together and will always be a hit for the whole table."

Whether you're making classic meatballs with tomato sauce or whipping up a batch of creamy Swedish meatballs, using ground beef with a slightly higher fat percentage will keep them juicy and tender.

If you're struggling to think of ways to use up a small portion of leftover ground beef, putting it in a soup may just be the answer.

"Using ground beef in soups isn't just for chili," Furman said. "Add ground beef — especially in the form of leftover meatballs — into soup with plenty of hearty vegetables for a complete meal."

A great way to infuse prepackaged ground beef with tons of moisture and flavor is to bake it into a lasagna.

"Lasagna is a versatile ground-beef meal because it's very hearty and works well with all kinds of veggies, like mushrooms, squash, or corn," Patel said. "Plus, you can add a fried egg on top to turn leftovers into a weekend brunch."

Patel said that using an average grocery-store package of ground beef to make burgers is a mistake.

"It is important to know the type of beef that you're buying," Patel said. "Prepackaged grocery-store ground beef is not processed daily or in-house, so the resulting burgers tend to be dry and chewy."

Instead of grabbing a package of ground beef, ask the deli or butcher to grind a portion of quality beef for you. Cuts such as chuck steak usually have a better ratio of fat to lean meat, which makes for a juicier burger.

Beef stroganoff is traditionally made with sautéed pieces of whole beef, but some recipes call for ground beef instead. Unfortunately, this variation is hard to get right.

"This is a very classic recipe for ground beef, but often the beef is left bland and dry while the delicate egg noodles are overcooked," Patel said.

Patel added that if the ratio of cream to beef is not balanced, this dish can become overly creamy and even soggy.

Steak tartare is made with lightly seared or raw ground beef, usually served as a patty topped with a raw egg yolk.

Randhawa said home chefs — and restaurant diners — should generally avoid steak tartare for safety reasons.

"Unlike other raw-meat recipes from around the world, steak tartare does not include an acidic citrus juice," Randhawa said. Acidic citrus juice can cause meat to seem somewhat cooked, but it doesn't actually make it entirely safe to eat.

"Uncooked meat can have both dangerous parasites and potentially life-threatening bacteria," Randhawa added.

Some salad recipes call for ground beef as a topping. But the temperature difference between warm ground beef and a cold salad can cause the melted fats in the meat to solidify.

"Do not put ground beef in your salads if you can help it," Furman said. "You often end up with a situation where beef fat leaks down through the greens and congeals."

You could avoid this stomach-turning scenario by chilling the cooked ground beef beforehand.

This story was originally published on June 2, 2023, and most recently updated on June 9, 2025.

Wedding planner Lindsey Nickel of Lovely Day Events said couples should skip handing out flutes of sparkling wine and allow guests to toast with the drinks they already have.

"This will save you a tremendous amount of money since guests often just take a few sips of Champagne and leave the rest," she said.

If you're determined to offer bubbly, try serving it in shallow coupe glasses rather than flutes to reduce waste.

Wedding master of ceremonies Artem Lomaz told BI that place cards can add unnecessary expense, clutter, and confusion to a reception.

"Place cards often get lost or mislabeled and leave guests unsure of where to sit," he said.

Instead, do a large seating chart that's easy to personalize and allows guests to orient themselves in the space.

The food-wall trend — in which couples set up a wall of edible decor like doughnuts or candy — tends to look better on Instagram than in real life.

"After the first few guests grab their desired pieces, the novelty wears off and you're left with stale snacks hanging on a wall," Lomaz said. "And if your reception is outside, the food may attract wildlife or bugs."

Avoid perishable decor by instead providing a photo op with draped fabric or hanging plants.

Renting a fancy car to make a grand exit from your reception can be pricey and lead to missed opportunities to connect with guests.

"Getaway cars can be great for photos, but couples often feel rushed to leave and miss out on saying goodbye to guests," Nickel told BI.

Instead, the wedding planner recommended using that money for the bar tab at the after-party.

Fireworks are an exciting way to end a wedding, but they can be loud, smoky, and hazardous to the environment.

"The air and noise pollution created by fireworks can wreak havoc with the local environment and interfere with animal life," Lomaz said.

If you want something similar, try giving guests glow sticks or sparklers (with safety instructions).

" … the high price of a large, elaborate wedding cake often catches couples by surprise," Nickel said.

It's often not necessary, either. Instead, order a small cake to cut at the reception and serve a sheet cake, or have a dessert bar for guests.

Wedding and event planner Keith Willard told BI that most receptions don't need more than one or two toasts.

"A long list of speeches or toasts can bore guests," he said. "At least half your guests won't know each other, meaning long-winded personal reflections won't be appreciated."

Willard also said that toasts should ideally clock in at under three minutes and be given by senior members of the wedding party, such as the maid of honor or the father of the bride.

Even if you and your partner are foodies, a wedding reception isn't the best time for a seven-course dining experience.

"Don't make your guests sit through four or more courses," Willard said. "A long meal is time-consuming and takes away from the guests' ability to let their hair down and have some fun at your wedding."

Focus on choosing an incredible main course and some interesting appetizers for cocktail hour.

Wedding photographer Amy Kolodziej said that dance-floor props can detract from the elegance of a wedding reception.

"Strobing headgear and neon glow sticks very rarely match the vibe from the rest of the wedding day," she told BI.

The photographer suggested serving a signature cocktail or fun snack during the reception instead.

The bouquet and garter tosses are long-standing wedding traditions that can make some guests feel uncomfortable.

"Unless you're getting married young or before most of your friends, asking your guests to self-identify as single can be awkward," Kolodziej said.

Skipping the flower toss can also save money by eliminating the need for an extra bouquet.

"Customized favors can often feel forced," Nickel said. "Plus, the majority of favors are usually left behind by guests."

If you really have your heart set on favors, consider something consumable, like chocolates or jars of local honey.

This story was originally published in July 2021 and most recently updated on May 28, 2025.