The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ latest official data says in June 2020, the average price of a pound of lean ground beef climbed to a whopping $5.63 per pound. In the intervening year, we’ve seen all kinds of economic turmoil, sending us into inflationary times, when the price of everything is soaring.

If you and your family are not ready to turn vegetarian—nor are you prepared to pay a king’s ransom for quality hamburger—you do have another option: Get creative. Okay, maybe a little sneaky, too.

But first, let’s talk turkey, I mean, ground beef. The really lean option of ground beef, 93/7, is not easy to prepare well. That’s because there’s not enough fat in it to turn out juicy, delicious fare. Super lean ground beef requires careful seasoning as well as careful cooking.

Let’s say that you, like I, prefer organic, lean ground beef. Yesterday I paid $5.00 per pound for the best quality at my supermarket, on sale. Yikes! But I didn’t really pay that.

My effective cost is more like $3.24 per pound. How? Please don’t tell a soul—I stretch it. I take the best quality ground beef and then “extend” it by at least one-third. So whatever the price in the store, I mentally reduce it by 33% to get my effective cost.

How to Stretch Ground Beef

Sounds horrible, I know. But it’s not. By mixing in something with the ground beef to make it go farther, I get results that are so much better than the beef alone. I’m always doctoring, seasoning, adding this or that depending on what I’m making.

Take meatloaf for example. I wouldn’t be surprised if just the word “meatloaf” makes you respond with a resounding “Yuck!” That’s because a brick of ground beef stuck in the oven with a little salt and pepper is going to turn out dry as shoe leather, and about as tasty.

But take that same amount of ground beef and mix it with a few, well-chosen ingredients, then bake it up or put it on the grill. You are going to be amazed. Even your children are going to say it’s great, and ask you to do that again. And again.

Just don’t be so anxious to tell your secrets. There’s something about adding stuff to ground beef that grosses people out.

Rice

When browning ground beef for anything like tacos, chili, or sloppy Joes, add one cup of cooked rice for every pound of meat, just after draining the grease. Your family will never know. The rice (brown or white) takes the seasoning very well so that visually it looks like it is all ground beef.

Potato

Add grated potato or dry potato flakes to hamburger meat for any Mexican dish like tacos or chili.

Bulgar wheat

Cook it first in water until soft according to label instructions. Then add to any recipe calling for ground beef and tomato sauce, reducing the amount of ground beef you use to accommodate the addition of the bulgur wheat. Shhh! I’ve been know to go 50/50 cooked bulgar to ground beef. That means 1/2 pound ground beef where the recipe calls for 1 pound.

Pureed vegetables

Roast them first, then puree in the food processor or blender. Add one cup per pound of ground beef.

Fillers

Add one-half cup of pre-cooked lentils, kasha, quinoa, or beans to the raw ground beef. Now cook it just as if you would if it were all ground beef.

Stale bread

Tear it up into little bits. Add an egg and spices to make meatballs and burgers.

Turkey

Ground turkey is very lean and often lacking in flavor. And it’s dry. Mix 50/50 with ground beef for fabulous results.

Meatloaf

Here’s my family’s all-time favorite recipe for meatloaf. This is the way your grandma made it, trust me on this. This is the recipe that made the house smell great, that went perfectly with mashed potatoes, and which you knew you could eat every day of your life and never get tired of it.

This is the recipe that will make your family hope and pray there will be leftovers for tomorrow. If you follow this recipe well, the kids will never know you used bread, carrots, and cheese to turn 1 1/2 pounds of ground beef into more like 3 pounds.

First published: 2-17-20; Revised & Updated 6-02-21

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Lei Marchand-Jacques says:
February 17, 2020 at 1:16 pm

Very good recipes and 8deas to stretch the hamburger, but, I have another way that works great for us. I buy a top round roast with a little fat for $2.49lb and grind it up myself, and I end up with 97 % beef. Now I can stretching more. Thanks Mary!
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Cherie says:
February 17, 2020 at 12:51 pm

The best meatloaf is the original Quaker Oats recipe…hands down. Also, meatloaf and hamburgers are better with 80% lean meat…it is juicier and more flavorful.
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- Sue says:
  February 17, 2020 at 1:55 pm
  
  My mom always added oatmeal to ground beef for meatloaf along with the onions and seasonings. I do the same but I’ve also used half ground pork when it’s on sale. Adding finely shredded carrots/other veg. is a good idea as well.
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- Eileen says:
  February 17, 2020 at 5:24 pm
  
  I use this exact one when making mine. When my DH is making the meatloaf, he uses the one first posted. We do take a poorer grad of meat and occasionally add turkey to it as well. Family eats it up!
  Reply
Linda Lavine says:
February 17, 2020 at 11:13 am

I use a palmful of oatmeal and some salsa to mine. Healthy oatmeal and salsa is always in my house
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Amy King says:
February 17, 2020 at 11:12 am

HI Mary,
Amy from Hawaii again. This is very similar to the meatloaf recipe I have used for years–handed down from my mother. We add chopped celery instead of cheese, and we put the catsup and mustard right in the meatloaf instead of milk. My mom always used corn flakes (my dad’s favorite cereal), but I use rolled oats.

Mom always put her loaf in a dutch oven, put a couple of cups of rice beside it, and poured a can of tomato sauce on top. I loved that. The tomato sauce and seasonings from the meatloaf made the rice extra special. My husband doesn’t like rice, so I cook mine in a loaf pan and serve it with baked potatoes. After all, the oven is already on–why not use it for the potatoes, too?

This makes a meal my kids and husband ask for often. I love your suggestions for stretchers, however! Thank you for sharing this.
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Mary Z Longren says:
February 17, 2020 at 11:07 am

I only shred blocks of cheese because of the cellulose in purchased shredded cheese. It is not that much of a bother.
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Heather says:
February 17, 2020 at 10:45 am

Hi Mary. Really liked the Nok-out from your dirty carpet post. It is amazing and Ted, the owner very helpful and he know exactly who you were. I m telling everyone about it.
Nice meatloaf recipe I will try with a meat alternative base. I have t eaten meat for decades—I see their faces.
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Donna says:
February 17, 2020 at 9:14 am

How about your “Non-Meat Loaf”? You printer this long ago and it has been my crowd pleaser ever since. I do not eat red meat but love meatloaf and sandwiches the next day so your recipe made with walnuts, cottage cheese and corn flakes was a true gift.
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- Mary Hunt says:
  February 17, 2020 at 9:23 am
  
  Wow … you have a great memory, Donna! That post goes back nearly 10 years, to Oct. 2010. Based on your recommendation I think that post deserves a reappearance. Watch for it!
  Reply
Betty Thomas says:
February 17, 2020 at 8:57 am

This is a really good meatloaf and my family loves it too! I never used cheese for us but when the grandkids are here they like it with cheese. If you are lucky enough to have leftovers and already had your meatloaf sandwich this is a great base to make soup. My sister taught me this because her family does not like leftovers so she transforms the meatloaf and what a great idea it is. Break up the meatloaf into beef or chicken broth, add canned tomatoes, your choice of chopped veggies, some rice, pasta or cubed potatoes and seasonings to taste and YUM! Best transformstion ever!
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- Mary Hunt says:
  February 17, 2020 at 9:23 am
  
  Sounds great, Betty! Thanks for sharing that awesome idea.
  Reply
KatyL says:
February 17, 2020 at 8:33 am

I learned a similar recipe from my mother. She always used bread as a binder for meatloaf (you don’t need stale bread; any kind will do.) Difference is she’d take a few slices and wet it, then bring it out and tear it into pieces, and mix into the ground beef. You NEVER see it or know it’s there. Oh, and a quick way to flavor the meatloaf: add a cup or so of barbeque sauce to the mixture. You can also use it as a glaze. (If the meatloaf is too “wet”, just add another slice or two of torn up “wet bread.”) Absolutely fantastic and easy meatloaf! 🙂
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Sherill says:
February 17, 2020 at 8:24 am

Great idea, Mary! To take it a bit farther, I make little meat loaves in muffin tins. They keep well in the fridge, they’re easy to grab for a snack, and my grandkids love them.
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How to Stretch Ground Beef And Make the High Cost Easier to Swallow

How to Stretch Ground Beef