Okay, so I’ve been trying to eat healthier and use my air fryer more, and let me tell you, ground beef has been a lifesaver. It’s cheap, easy to find, and you can do a million things with it. I wanted to find some new ways to cook it in the air fryer, so I did some digging and experimenting. Here’s what I came up with:
Basic Air Fryer Ground Beef
First things first, you gotta know how to cook the ground beef plain before you can get fancy. It’s super simple.
- I took 1 pound of ground beef (I usually use 80/20 because it’s got good flavor).
- Crumbled it up into the air fryer basket. It’s ok if it is a little crowded.
- Set the air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
- Cooked it for about 7-9 minutes. The key is to shake the basket or stir the beef halfway through so it cooks evenly.
- You know it’s done when it’s all brown and there’s no pink left. Drain off any extra grease, and you’re good to go!
Spicing Things Up
Once I had the basic method down, I started playing around with different seasonings and flavors. Here are a few of my favorites:
Taco Night!
- After browning the beef, as described above.
- I added a packet of taco seasoning and a splash of water. Stir it all up.
- Cooked at 370 degrees fahrenheit for another couple of minutes to let the flavors blend.
- Bam! Instant taco meat for taco salads, burritos, or whatever you want.
Quick & Easy Meatballs
- I mixed 1 pound of ground beef with 1/2 cup of breadcrumbs, 1 egg, some Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Rolled them into little meatballs.
- Then, pop those into the air fryer at 380°F(193°C) for about 10-12 minutes, shaking halfway through.
- Once they’re cooked, I tossed them in some marinara sauce. So good over pasta or on a sub!
Cheeseburger “Fries”
This one is a little weird, but trust me.
- Cook the ground beef like in the basic method.
- Added some Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper while it cooks.
- Once it was done, I sprinkled a bunch of shredded cheddar cheese on top.
- Put it back in the air fryer for just a minute or two to melt the cheese.
- It is like a deconstructed cheeseburger.
- I served it with some air-fried potato wedges for dipping, and it was a hit!
Honestly, I’m still discovering new things to do with ground beef in the air fryer. It’s become my go-to for quick and easy meals. I hope that my own practical experience can inspire everyone! Don’t be afraid to experiment and find your own favorite recipes!
