The carnivore diet is often approached as a short-term, intensive reset, so staying consistent until reintroducing other food groups is crucial. Ground beef, unsurprisingly, is a carnivore staple. It can be prepared dozens of ways while maintaining this zero-carb diet.
Before we get into specific ways to use ground beef, here are some general tips to increase variety, nutrition, and taste.
- Use grass-fed, grass-finished ground beef.
- Salt to taste, but be mindful of overall sodium intake.
- Mix different fat ratios (from 70/30 to 90/10).
- Use different cooking methods (pan-frying, baking, smoking, etc.).
- Make carnivore-friendly snacks ahead of time.
- Use beef broths and ground beef to create hearty soups.
15 convenient carnivore ground beef recipes
Here are a few of our favorite carnivore-friendly ground beef recipes. You are limited on a carnivore diet, but there are still plenty of ways to mix up your meals.
Depending on how strict you are with carnivore guidelines, you may need to omit some spices and/or other ingredients. Each recipe has simple instructions, but we have also included links to reference recipes for each suggestion. Enjoy!
1. Carnivore mac & cheese
Brown ground beef until well-cooked, then stir in softened, cubed cheese and a splash of cream, letting everything melt together into a thick, creamy sauce. The result is a hearty, pasta-free take on a comfort food classic, rich with beef and dairy. For a full recipe breakdown, check out Katy Owens’ Carnivore Hamburger Mac & Cheese.
2. Carnivore stroganoff
Sear ground beef until browned, then fold in sour cream and let it simmer into a thick, velvety sauce. This stripped-down version of stroganoff is all about richness, achieved with nothing but meat, dairy, and salt. Primal Edge Health combines classic comfort with carnivore simplicity, offering depth without the carbs.
3. Carnivore beef and egg gratin
Brown ground beef, pour over a mixture of eggs and cream, and bake until just set for a custardy, protein-dense dish. Low Carb So Simple brings together minimal ingredients for maximum flavor and texture in this carnivore-friendly gratin.
4. Nutrient-dense burger bake
For those looking to elevate basic ground beef, Stacey Venancio blends beef with nutrient-rich liver, oysters, bound with eggs and baked to perfection. It’s a straightforward dish that delivers a powerful nutritional punch, without compromising on flavor or simplicity.
5. Ground beef curry
Brown ground beef in a heavy skillet until deeply caramelized, then stir in heavy cream and simmer until it reduces into a rich, velvety sauce. Season simply with salt to taste — the natural fats and browning bring out complex, curry-like depth without spices.
6. Ground beef omelette
Cook ground beef until browned and just crisp around the edges. Beat eggs with a splash of cream and a pinch of salt, then pour over the beef, cooking gently until just set. Fold, and let the residual heat finish the center for a tender, protein-packed omelette.
7. Ground beef taco bowl
Sear ground beef until well-browned, allowing the fat to render and deepen the flavor. Spoon over a bowl of shredded cheese and a dollop of sour cream. Salt to taste — the contrast of warm beef and cool dairy delivers satisfying, taco-inspired richness without carbs.
8. Carnivore breakfast trio
Start with crisped ground beef or sausage patties, fry eggs in reserved fat, and melt cheese over both until bubbly. Serve together — salty, savory, and satisfying, with nothing extra to weigh it down.
9. Carnivore burgers
Form ground beef into thick patties, season generously with salt, and sear over high heat until the crust develops and the inside remains juicy. Top with melted cheese and, if desired, a spoonful of sour cream for added richness.
10. Carnivore waffles and beef
Whisk eggs with cream cheese and a bit of salt to create a thick batter, then cook in a waffle iron until golden and set. Serve alongside browned ground beef or sausage, with a touch of melted butter for indulgence.
11. Carnivore breakfast casserole
Combine browned ground beef with beaten eggs and shredded cheese, then bake until firm and golden on top. The eggs set around the beef, while the cheese forms a savory crust, perfect for slicing and reheating.
12. Carnivore meatballs
Mix ground beef with grated cheese for binding, season with salt, and form into tight balls. Bake or pan-sear until browned and cooked through, letting the fat and cheese meld into each bite. Serve simply, no sauce needed.
13. Ground beef stuffed cheese cups
Press shredded cheese into muffin tins and bake until melted and crisp at the edges. Fill each cheese “cup” with browned ground beef, allowing the fats to mingle. Finish with a sprinkle of salt for a crunchy, savory bite.
14. Ground beef and egg scramble
Cook ground beef until browned, then stir in beaten eggs and cook gently until just set. The eggs soak up the beef’s juices, making for a satisfying, protein-rich scramble. Top with melted cheese if desired.
15. Ground beef crust quiche
Press ground beef into a thin layer along the bottom and sides of a baking dish to form a “crust.” Bake briefly to set, then fill with eggs and cheese, and bake until golden. The result is a high-fat, no-carb quiche that’s hearty and satisfying.
What ingredients can you use with ground beef on carnivore?
That depends on how strict you are. Elimination diets are built around the idea of removing potential dietary triggers — whether for inflammation, digestive issues, or autoimmune symptoms, and slowly reintroducing foods to identify what the body tolerates.
The carnivore diet takes this concept to its furthest point, eliminating all plant-based foods and leaving only animal products, which are generally low in common allergens and antinutrients.
In that sense, it represents the most extreme, yet arguably most controlled, form of an elimination diet. For individuals seeking to isolate variables in their nutrition with absolute precision, the carnivore approach is the logical conclusion — stripping the diet down to a single, nutrient-dense food group to minimize variables and assess baseline health.
In other words, your options are limited, but for good reasons.
Here’s what you can eat with your ground beef:
- Other ground meats such as lamb, pork, bison, venison, elk, and other wild game.
- Whole cuts of meat such as steaks, roasts, ribs, chops, etc.
- Poultry such as chicken, duck, and turkey (including skin and fat).
- Seafood such as salmon, sardines, mackerel, cod, etc.
- Shellfish such as shrimp, scallops, oysters, etc.
- Fish roe (fish eggs).
- Eggs, including whole eggs or yolks only (if preferred), mixed into patties or served alongside.
- Dairy (if tolerated, in moderation), including butter, heavy cream, low-lactose cheese (hard, aged varieties like cheddar or Parmesan), and raw dairy (raw milk, kefir, yogurt).
- Animal fats such as bone marrow, lard, tallow, suet, duck fat, goose fat, and bone broth.
- Organ meats such as liver, heart, kidney, and spleen (can be ground and mixed with meat).
- Collagen and gelatin from bone broth or as powdered supplements.
- Salt.
What you can’t eat with your ground beef:
- All fruits and vegetables.
- High-lactose dairy products.
- Legumes, nuts, and seeds.
- Any grains or bread products.
- All alcohol.
- All sugars, including honey and maple syrup.
- Any beverages besides water.
Why sourcing quality meat is critical for the carnivore diet
The carnivore diet is everywhere these days, and with so many people exhibiting food allergies, elimination diets are increasingly popular. However, the quality of your ground beef matters significantly. The best diets can be undermined by sub-par ingredients containing antibiotics, hormones, or other additives. Starting with clean, sustainable sources is crucial.
For example, not all ground beef is created equal. The fat content and quality vary widely between grass-fed and grain-fed beef. Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA), a naturally occurring trans fat (the good kind!) associated with many health benefits, is found in higher concentrations in grass-fed beef. This is not to be confused with manmade, industrial trans fats commonly found in processed foods, which have been linked to inflammation and obesity.
This is why buying grass-fed ground beef is important. Studies suggest that CLAs are 300-500% higher in grass-fed and grass-finished beef than in their industrial counterparts.
In short, what’s the point of undertaking the most extreme anti-inflammatory diet possible if you are purchasing products whose production standards create inflammation? Or at best, provide a limited nutritional profile?
The most nutritious beef in the world
The quality of the meat you buy has a direct impact on your body. US Wellness Meats is proudly teamed up with a group of elite grass farmers from the Island of Tasmania, located off the coast of Australia. We made this decision because Tasmania is a utopia for cattle due to the year-round maritime climate buffered by the Southern Ocean. No hormones or GMOs are allowed on the island, and the air quality is viewed as the gold standard for purity.
When you combine that grass and environment with exceptional regenerative agriculture practices, you end up with the best beef you can possibly have — no hormones, GMOs, antibiotics, or anything else that gets in the way of beef being beef.
See how good our ground beef really is (delivered to your door).
Nathan Phelps
Nathan Phelps owns and writes for Crafted Copy, a boutique copywriting shop that finds the perfect words for interesting products. He is also an ethical foodie, outdoors-aficionado, and hails from Nashville, TN. He splits his time between helping sustainable businesses find new customers and managing his ever-increasing list of hobbies, which include playing guitar, baking bread, and creating board games.
