Hamburgers

• Hamburgers may be the go-to classic for using ground beef, and for good reason -- they're tasty, filling and easy to make and serve. Break out the grill on a summer afternoon for lunchtime smoke-kissed patties. Or cook them indoors in a skillet or grill pan. You can also broil them in an oven broiler. Whether you use plain ground beef seasoned with no more than salt and pepper or get fancier, with additional seasonings or even a stuffing, is up to you.

Sloppy Joes

• Like hamburgers, sloppy Joes are quick and easy as well as hearty and filling. Unlike hamburgers, sloppy Joes are easily reheatable for lunches at work or at school. You can also keep the sloppy Joe filling warm in a thermos until lunchtime. Then pile it on a bun and eat.

Chili

• Chili can be made with both ground beef and beans or with ground beef alone, as you prefer. The beans add protein and fiber, but let your taste buds make the final decision. Chili reheats well and travels beautifully in an insulated thermos.

Chili Mac

• Spread some of that chili over boiled macaroni noodles and you have the classic dish known as chili mac. Add some shredded cheese for extra flavor if you like. Chili mac also travels and reheats well. Kids like it, too.

Nachos

• Cook up a batch of ground beef, season with taco seasonings and then spread it over tortilla chips for a casual but hearty meal of nachos. Add whatever toppings you like -- shredded cheese, sour cream, beans, salsa, olives or whatever else appeals. Feel free to experiment. Nachos are best served fresh, but if you're transporting them to work or school, store the meat in one container, the tortilla chips in another and the toppings separately as well. That way the chips stay crisp.

Meatloaf

• Freshly cooked meatloaf might be a bit of a production for lunchtime. But leftover meatloaf is another story. A meatloaf sandwich is a lunchbox standard. One reason for this is because, unlike many other ground-beef-based dishes, meatloaf tastes fine when served cold. You can also choose to reheat it, of course.