Comments on: How to Stretch Ground Beef & Bulk Meatball Recipe

By: Elise

Elise — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 15:58:38 +0000

I always add beans or rice to meals like tacos, soup or burgers. It stretches a lot further and you hardly notice any difference!

By: Karen B

Karen B — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 13:25:20 +0000

to get my ground beef to stretch a little further, add a can of rinsed beans. Mexican, I use Pinto, Italian, I use white beans. I mash a little and keep some whole. They absorb the flavors and I think it is more fiber than rice.

By: Nancy Fleming

Nancy Fleming — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 00:05:37 +0000

I have stretched our hamburger with minced potatoes. I learned this from the mother of one of my daughter’s friends. She added one (big) potato, minced very fine, to a pound of hamburger. It tasted great, absorbed the taco seasoning very well, and made at least 4 more tacos. When my kids were little, this was a real money saver. I put oatmeal and veggies in meatloaf, and use cornflake crumbs in meatballs, too. When rump roast was cheaper than ground beef, I’d buy a rump roast, roast it, then slice it on my slicer. Then I’d measure it out in 3 ounce servings, two servings per package. I use it in stir fries, soups and sandwiches. Two perfect servings for my retired husband and myself. A good slicer and a good meat grinder are two very important investments in the kitchen. Both have helped me save money.

By: Stacy

Stacy — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 15:34:33 +0000

I have recently started adding a few cups of shredded carrots to a pound of beef that I am going to brown. Once it’s cooked down, and especially when I’m adding taco (or other) seasonings, you hardly notice that it’s there b/c the color blends in. It bulks it up, and adds some nutrition and fiber!

By: Lynn

Lynn — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 14:19:29 +0000

What a great idea to sneak in more veggies!!

By: Lynn

Lynn — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 14:12:03 +0000

We are a single income family of 7. I *NEED* to stretch everything! I use a combination of brown rice & cooked lentils to stretch my ground beef. Works wonderfully. Lentils are a great source of fiber and protein. I will, on occasion, cook the lentils with some beef bouillon (for flavor).

By: Laura

Laura — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 01:16:37 +0000

I always add rice and beans to my taco meat to stretch one pound of ground beef into two meals for my family of 7. We love it!

By: Taja

Taja — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 22:29:56 +0000

If you know someone who raises beef, ask them how much a quarter- or half-beef would run you. I have a cousin who raises beef and, although I do get a slight discount for being family, my beef is generally cheaper than grocery store meat AND it tastes better, despite not being certified organic or “certified” grass-fed. (Well, my hamburger is only a little bit more expensive than grocery-store hamburger, but my steaks and roasts are way cheaper.)

By: Tiffany

Tiffany — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 16:18:36 +0000

I love this idea!

By: Rebecca K

Rebecca K — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 16:04:42 +0000

I have a meatloaf recipe I make that is so incredibly wonderful. I add a shredded zucchini and a shredded carrot to it in order to bulk it up. It makes a big difference! And my son is eating veggies too!