How Many SmartPoints Does Ground Beef Have on Weight Watchers?

Ground beef is a diet staple for many. It’s versatile, budget-friendly, and easy to cook with. But on Weight Watchers, the SmartPoints value of ground beef depends on the leanness. The fattier the beef, the more points you’ll use up. So how many SmartPoints does ground beef have? Let’s take a detailed look.

Understanding Ground Beef and Fat Percentages

Ground beef is made by grinding up beef trimmings into the familiar crumbly texture we all know. The main factor that affects its SmartPoints is the fat content. Here are some key ground beef definitions:

• Regular ground beef – This has only 80% lean meat and 20% fat, It’s the fattiest option

• Lean ground beef – With 90% lean meat and 10% fat this is a healthier choice.

• Extra lean ground beef – The leanest at 95% meat and just 5% fat.

The more fat in the beef, the more flavorful it is, but those extra calories drive up the SmartPoints. Sticking with leaner varieties is best for keeping points down.

SmartPoints for Different Types of Ground Beef

The Weight Watchers app provides the SmartPoints values for different cuts of beef. According to it, here is how many SmartPoints 3 ounces of cooked ground beef contains:

• Regular (80/20): 6 SmartPoints
• Lean (90/10): 5 SmartPoints
• Extra Lean (95/5): 4 SmartPoints

So a quarter pound burger made with regular beef would be around 8 SmartPoints, while extra lean would be just 5 or 6. For the lowest SmartPoints options, 95% lean is the clear winner.

Ground Turkey and Chicken SmartPoints

For an even lower SmartPoints alternative, consider switching to ground turkey or chicken. While not quite as flavorful, they can both be used in most recipes calling for ground beef. The SmartPoints:

• Regular ground turkey/chicken: 5 SmartPoints
• Lean ground turkey/chicken: 4 SmartPoints

Again, opting for the leanest possible meat reduces the SmartPoints. But even the regular turkey or chicken is lower than beef.

Tips for Managing SmartPoints with Ground Meat

Here are some tips to keep in mind when cooking with ground meat on Weight Watchers:

• Choose leaner varieties as often as you can.
• Weigh out exact portions to control points.
• Bulk up meat dishes with lots of veggies to add volume.
• Cook meatless 1-2 days a week to save points.
• Use a lean protein like beans in chili instead of ground beef.
• Flavor meat with bold spices and herbs instead of fat.

Sample SmartPoints for Common Ground Beef Dishes

To give you an idea of how ground beef dishes calculate in SmartPoints, here are some examples using 96% lean beef:

• 3 oz beef burger patty: 4 SmartPoints
• 1/2 cup chili with beef: 7 SmartPoints
• 1 cup spaghetti Bolognese: 10 SmartPoints
• Beef taco filling (3 oz beef + toppings): 5 SmartPoints
• Meatballs (2 large): 5 SmartPoints

As you can see, the tastiest beef recipes tend to have higher SmartPoints values. But there are still plenty of ways to enjoy ground beef dishes while following Weight Watchers. Just be mindful of portion sizes and choose lean varieties whenever you can. What matters most is finding recipes you love so you can stick to the program long-term. With some creativity, you can definitely satisfy beef cravings and reach your weight loss goals.