Are you on the hunt for the ultimate 10-minute dinner? A cozy, comforting, and incredibly flavorful meal that is on the table in a flash, with almost no cooking required? This amazing, one-pan (mostly!) Ground Beef Hummus Bowl is that perfect recipe! We’re talking a luscious, creamy bed of your favorite hummus, topped with a scoop of savory, warmly spiced ground beef and a “choose-your-own-adventure” of fresh, crunchy toppings.
This isn’t just another recipe; it’s your new secret weapon for your busiest nights. We’ll show you how to use a few smart shortcuts to create a stunning, from-scratch-tasting meal that is packed with protein and incredible, Mediterranean-inspired flavor. This is a satisfying, soulful, and deeply comforting dish that the whole family will love.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Recipe Overview: The Ultimate 10-Minute Dinner Solution
What makes these Ground Beef Hummus Bowls so spectacularly delicious is their incredible simplicity and their wonderful combination of textures and flavors. This recipe is a masterpiece of efficiency. The “sauce” and base of the dish is a thick, creamy layer of high-quality, store-bought hummus. The only cooking required is to quickly brown some ground beef with a fragrant, warm spice blend of cumin, paprika, and a hint of cinnamon. The entire bowl is then brought to life with your favorite fresh and briny toppings, creating a perfect harmony of warm, savory meat, cool, creamy hummus, and fresh, crunchy vegetables.
| Metric | Time / Level |
| Total Time | 15 minutes |
| Active Prep Time | 15 minutes |
| Difficulty Level | Easy |
| Servings | 4 bowls |
The Pantry Powerhouses: The Essential Ingredients
This iconic dish uses one brilliant shortcut and a handful of high-quality pantry staples to create its signature rich and savory flavor.
- The Hummus (The Hero Ingredient!):
- This is the brilliant shortcut that makes this a true 10-minute meal! Using a container of your favorite brand of high-quality, store-bought hummus provides the perfect, creamy, and flavorful base with zero extra work. A classic, plain hummus is a fantastic canvas, but a roasted garlic or a red pepper hummus would also be delicious.
- The Savory Ground Beef:
- Ground Beef: For the best, most flavorful result, it is highly recommended to use an 80/20 or 85/15 ground beef.
- The Spices: A simple but powerful, warm, and aromatic spice blend of earthy cumin, smoky paprika, and a surprising but authentic hint of ground cinnamon. The cinnamon adds a wonderful, subtle warmth and depth that is a classic pairing with ground meat in many Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines.
- The Toppings: A simple dollop of hummus and a scoop of meat is delicious on its own, but the toppings are what truly make this dish a masterpiece! A combination of fresh, creamy, and crunchy toppings provides the perfect, textural contrast.
Step-by-Step to the Best Ground Beef Hummus Bowls
This delicious, one-pan (mostly!) meal is incredibly simple to prepare.
Step 1: Cook the Spiced Ground Beef
In a large skillet, heat the 1 tablespoon of olive oil over a medium heat. Add the 2 cloves of minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute, until it is fragrant but not brown.
Add the 1 pound of ground beef, the 1/2 teaspoon of ground cumin, the 1/2 teaspoon of paprika, the 1/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, and a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Cook, using a wooden spoon to break up the beef as you go, for 5 to 7 minutes, until the beef is browned and no pink remains.
Part 2: Assemble Your Hummus Bowls
Step 1: Prepare your four serving bowls by adding a generous, roughly 3/4-cup dollop of hummus to each bowl.
Pro Tip: For a beautiful, restaurant-style presentation, use the back of a spoon to smooth the hummus and create a large “swoosh” or a well in the center. This creates a perfect little nest to hold your warm ground beef and all its delicious juices.
Step 2: Top the hummus in each bowl with a scoop of your prepared ground beef.
Step 3 (The Best Part!): Add your choice of toppings, give everything a final, generous drizzle of a good quality olive oil, and serve with some warm pita bread for dipping and scooping.
Ground Beef Hummus Bowls (A 10-Minute Dinner!)
An incredibly quick and easy recipe for a flavorful ground beef and hummus bowl, ready in about 10 minutes. This dish features a simple, savory ground beef mixture cooked with garlic and warm spices like cumin, paprika, and cinnamon. The warm, seasoned beef is then served in a bowl over a generous swirl of creamy hummus. The bowl is designed as a ‘choose-your-own-adventure’ meal, perfect for customizing with a variety of fresh, Mediterranean-style toppings like feta, olives, and tomatoes, and is typically served with warm pita bread.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more for drizzling
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound ground beef (10-20% fat)
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 3 cups hummus
- 4 pitas, warmed
- Optional Toppings:
- Chickpeas
- Crumbled feta cheese
- Kalamata olives
- Banana peppers or other pickles
- Diced tomatoes or cucumbers
- Chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
- Add the ground beef and the spices (cumin, paprika, cinnamon). Cook for 5 to 7 minutes, breaking up the beef as you go, until it is browned and no pink remains.
- Season the cooked beef mixture with salt and pepper to taste.
- To assemble, spread approximately 3/4 cup of hummus in each of four bowls. Use the back of a spoon to create a well in the center of the hummus.
- Top the hummus with a portion of the prepared ground beef.
- Add your choice of optional toppings.
- Finish with a drizzle of olive oil and serve with a warm pita on the side.
Notes
- This is an extremely fast meal, with a cook time of about 10 minutes, making it perfect for a busy weeknight.
- Using store-bought hummus is a key time-saving shortcut for this recipe.
- This meal is highly customizable and is great for serving a group, as each person can choose their own toppings.
- Leftover ground beef and hummus should be stored separately in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
“Build Your Best Bowl!”: The Ultimate Toppings Bar
This is where the fun really begins! Setting out a “choose-your-own-adventure” toppings bar is the key to success with any family dinner. Here are a few of our favorite additions:
- Creamy & Briny: A generous crumble of salty feta cheese is a must-have! Some briny Kalamata olives or tangy banana peppers are also fantastic.
- Fresh & Crunchy: Some diced tomatoes and cucumbers (like a simple Israeli salad), some finely diced red onions, and a large sprinkle of fresh, chopped parsley.
- Extra Protein: A handful of whole chickpeas adds another layer of texture and protein.
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Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
- Make-Ahead: For a super-fast and impressive weeknight meal, you can get a head start by preparing the entire spiced ground beef mixture up to 5 days in advance. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This turns the final dish into a true, 2-minute assembly job.
- Storage: Store any leftover ground beef and hummus in separate, airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is the absolute, number one secret to a really deep and flavorful hummus bowl?
The secret is to use high-quality, flavorful ingredients. Since this recipe is so simple, the quality of your hummus, your olive oil, and your fresh toppings will make all the difference. Using a delicious, store-bought hummus that you already love is the key to a fantastic result.
Q2: Can I make this recipe ahead of time for meal prep?
Yes, this is a perfect meal-prep recipe! You can prepare the spiced ground beef and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Then, you can simply assemble your fresh bowls with the hummus and your toppings for a quick, easy, and incredibly delicious lunch throughout the week.
Q3: Can I make this recipe vegetarian or vegan?
Yes, absolutely! To make a delicious and hearty vegetarian or vegan version, simply substitute the 1 pound of ground beef with about 1 1/2 cups of cooked lentils, some crumbled, plant-based ground “meat,” or about 1 pound of finely chopped and sautéed cremini mushrooms. Be sure to also omit the feta cheese for a completely vegan version.
Q4: What is the best kind of hummus to use?
A classic, simple, and high-quality plain hummus is a fantastic and versatile canvas for all the other delicious toppings. For an even deeper flavor, a roasted garlic or a roasted red pepper hummus would also be absolutely delicious.
Q5: What is the best way to warm up pita bread?
The easiest method is to simply wrap a stack of pitas in a slightly damp paper towel and microwave them for 30-60 seconds, until they are warm and soft. For an even more delicious, slightly charred flavor, you can warm them one at a time for about 15-30 seconds per side in a hot, dry skillet or directly over the open flame of a gas stove.