Calories in Ground Beef

About Ground Beef

Ground beef is a versatile, affordable protein source that fits into countless recipes from burgers and tacos to chili and meatballs. A 4-ounce serving of cooked 85/15 (85% lean, 15% fat) ground beef contains 243 calories, 26 grams of protein, and 15 grams of fat. Leaner varieties like 93/7 have fewer calories and less fat.

The fat content is the primary variable in ground beef calorie counts. 80/20 (regular) ground beef has about 280 calories per 4oz cooked, while 93/7 has only about 182 calories — almost 100 calories less per serving for the same protein content. Choosing leaner ground beef is one of the easiest ways to cut calories while maintaining protein intake.

Ground beef provides all the nutritional benefits of steak — heme iron, vitamin B12, zinc, creatine, and a complete amino acid profile — in a more affordable and convenient format. Grass-fed ground beef has a slightly better omega-3 profile and contains more conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), but conventional ground beef is still a nutritious whole food.

Track your ground beef by exact percentage lean with BasedHealth to get accurate calorie counts. The difference between 80/20 and 93/7 is significant over a week of meals.