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Enjoying a Middle Eastern Inspired Ground Beef Bowl is like taking a masterclass in exciting flavors! The ground beef is made simply mouthwatering with spices like coriander, cumin, and cayenne. It’s deliciously savory, which makes it balance well with the fresh ingredients. These bowls really have it all!
The first three words of the title of this recipe are some of my favorite words to ever describe a dish – “Middle Eastern inspired!” When you hear that descriptor, you just know that the food, whatever it may be, will likely be richly seasoned to perfection and feature fresh veggies.
The seasoning mix that makes the ground beef so flavor packed is really what makes this whole recipe so phenomenal. Just a pinch of saffron (you know, so we feel a little fancy) is mixed with an array of bold, mouthwatering spices that make the ground beef have that signature Middle Eastern flair we all know and love.
Middle Eastern Ground Beef Bowls double as great lunch or dinner recipes! Really, there’s no bad time to dig into a bowl this flavorful, filling, and customizable. While I typically serve the ground beef with hummus, white rice, and fresh veggies, you can pick and choose what you’d like to toss into the mix.
What You’ll Need:
For the beef:
- Ground Beef – You can swap this out for ground chicken, turkey, or a plant based substitute.
- Onion – Dice it finely so you don’t have big chunks of onion.
- Garlic – Fresh garlic yields the best flavor.
For the seasoning:
- Coriander – This spice brings a tangy earthiness to the beef.
- Cumin – Similarly to the coriander, cumin is earthy. It’s helps the beef taste even more savory.
- Cinnamon – Just a pinch of cinnamon really warms up the ground beef.
- Allspice – In a pinch, you can just mix a combination of cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg to make your own allspice.
- Cayenne Pepper – There’s just enough to create a light note of heat. You can add more if you’d like this dish to be spicier.
- Ginger – Careful not to add too much, as ginger is very powerful.
- Turmeric – Often found in Middle Eastern recipes, this irreplaceable spice adds a signature peppery taste to the beef.
- Saffron – Don’t worry, we’re not breaking the bank! You only need a pinch of saffron in this recipe.
- Parsley – A little parsley for garnish is always a good idea.
How to Make Middle Eastern Inspired Ground Beef Bowls
For more detailed instructions, scroll to the bottom of this post.
Cook the beef. Cook the ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and onions. Cook until the beef is no longer pink and the onions are softened.
Make it flavorful. Whisk the seasonings together, then sprinkle the mixture over the beef. Let it mesh for 10 minutes while you stir often.
Assemble your bowls. Fill you bowl with white rice, hummus, ground beef, and the toppings of of your choice.
Common Questions
Can I make Middle Eastern Inspired Ground Beef Bowls ahead of time? You can, but you’ll need to store all of the ingredients separately. When you’re ready to serve it, just reheat the ground beef in a skillet with a little oil and assemble.
Can I use ground turkey or another ground meat? You definitely can. I’ve actually made this with ground chicken, ground turkey, and even ground bison.
How long will the ground beef stay fresh? Once cooked, any leftover ground beef you have will stay fresh for about 3-4 days when kept in an airtight container in the fridge.
Enjoy more of my favorite ground beef recipes!
Sheet Pan Beef and Cheese Quesadillas
Middle Eastern Inspired Ground Beef Bowls
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound (454 g) 85/15 ground beef
- ½ onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Seasoning:
- 1 tablespoon coriander
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon allspice
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Pinch of ground ginger
- Pinch of ground turmeric
- Pinch of saffron
- Fresh minced parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Whisk together ingredients for seasoning.
- In a large skillet over medium high heat, add 1 tablespoon of neutral cooking oil. Once hot, add ground beef and break into small pieces then add the onion and garlic. Cook until beef is thoroughly cooked through (no more pink) and onion has softened, about 5-7 minutes.
- Sprinkle the seasoning on top of the beef mixture, stir to combine, then let simmer/all flavors mesh for 10ish minutes, stirring often. I sometimes like letting the ground beef sit in the skillet a bit before stirring because it gives it a nice crispy char on the beef. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Serve in a large bowl with white rice, hummus, pickled red onions, Kalamata olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, and whatever favorite toppings you like. Maybe even some pita. Garnish with chopped parsley.
My entire family loved this recipe! Everyone went home asking for the recipe.
My in-laws were coming for dinner and I wanted to make something that would impress them. These ground beef bowls were a big hit. I didn’t have saffron but followed the recipe otherwise. My new favorite dinner.
My daughter and I can’t say enough about this recipe. It was super easy and we both loved the change up in flavor. The only thing I did differently was slightly increase the cayenne. Fabulous.
Made my own hummus and pickled onions. This recipe is amazing!
These Mediterranean bowls are so fresh and easy to make! Definitely adding to my dinner faves. Thank you!!