Ground Beef and Potatoes Skillet is an easy one-pan dinner the whole family will love. It’s made with simple pantry staples, comes together in about 30 minutes, and is perfect for those busy weeknights when you need dinner on the table fast.
Lately, I’ve been making all kinds of one-pan meals, from skillet to sheet pan dinners. Summer is always busy and packed with activities, and the last thing I want after a long day is to spend hours in the kitchen and a sink full of dishes. These meals are quick to make, packed with flavor and cleanup couldn’t be easier.
The first time I made this Ground Beef and Potatoes Skillet dinner there weren’t any leftovers. My family loved it so much that I made it again the next day. That’s when I knew this recipe deserved a permanent spot in our dinner rotation.
If you’re looking for more easy one-pan dinners, check out my Parmesan Crusted Chicken and Veggies Sheet Pan and Skillet Lemon Chicken Orzo.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe!
- Easy cleanup with just one skillet
- Ready in about 30 minutes
- Kid and family approved
- Filling enough to serve as a complete meal
- Leftovers taste just as good the next day and reheat well for lunch
Ingredients
- Ground beef: I like to use 80/20 ground beef for the best flavor, but lean ground beef or ground turkey works well too.
- Potatoes: I used russet potatoes but Yukon gold or red potatoes are great substitutes.
- Shredded cheese: Mild cheddar, Colby Jack, Monterey Jack, Pepper, Jack or a Mexican blend all works well with this dish.
- Seasonings: Salt, pepper, paprika, cumin, and onion powder
- Garlic: I used minced garlic for convenience but fresh garlic will give it the best flavor.
- Onion: A yellow onion adds sweetness, but white onion can also be used.
- Olive oil: Used for sautéing the onions and garlic. Vegetable oil or avocado oil can be substituted.
- Heavy whipping cream: Creates a rich, creamy sauce that coats the potatoes. Half and half can be substituted for a lighter version.
How to Make Ground Beef Potatoes
1. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Add in diced onions and minced garlic. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the onions become soft and translucent.
3. In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper, paprika, cumin and onion powder.
4. Add the ground beef to the skillet and sprinkle with seasoning mixture. Cook until beef is browned, breaking it apart as it cooks. Drain excess grease.
5. Push the ground beef to one side of the skillet and add the cubed potatoes.
6. Season the potatoes lightly with salt and pepper.
7. Cover the skillet and cook for about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes begin to soften and lightly brown.
8. Pour in the heavy whipping cream and continue cooking until the potatoes are fork tender.
9. Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the top. Cover the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes until the cheese has melted.
10. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Ways to Change Up This Recipe
- Add diced bell peppers with the onions
- Stir in cooked bacon for extra flavor
- Mix in sliced mushrooms
- Sprinkle in some red pepper flakes for some heat
- Swap the ground beef for ground turkey, ground chicken, or sausage
- Sprinkle chopped green onions on top before serving
Helpful Tips
- Cut the potatoes into evenly sized cubes so they cook at the same rate.
- Covering the skillet helps the potatoes cook faster and become tender.
- Shred your own cheese for the smoothest melt.
- If the skillet looks too dry while cooking add a splash more of heavy whipping cream.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can! Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Yes! Allow the skillet to cool completely before freezing in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
This meal is filling on its own, but it’s also delicious with garlic bread, dinner rolls, green salad, roasted veggies or steamed broccoli.
Recipe
Ground Beef and Potatoes Skillet
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs. ground beef
- 4 medium sized russet potatoes peeled and diced
- 2 cups shredded cheese
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp cumin
- ½ tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1 medium onion diced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 ½ cups heavy whipping cream
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add in diced onions and minced garlic. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the onions become soft and translucent.
- In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper, paprika, cumin and onion powder.
- Add the ground beef to the skillet and sprinkle with seasoning mixture. Cook until beef is browned, breaking it apart as it cooks. Drain excess grease.
- Push the ground beef to one side of the skillet and add the cubed potatoes.
- Season the potatoes lightly with salt and pepper.
- Cover the skillet and cook for about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes begin to soften and lightly brown.
- Pour in the heavy whipping cream and continue cooking until the potatoes are fork tender.
- Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the top. Cover the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes until the cheese has melted.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
Helpful Tips
- Cut the potatoes into evenly sized cubes so they cook at the same rate.
- Covering the skillet helps the potatoes cook faster and become tender.
- Shred your own cheese for the smoothest melt.
- If the skillet looks too dry while cooking add a splash more of heavy whipping cream.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclosure
Nutritional facts are estimates and are provided as a courtesy to the reader. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. Nutritional values are calculated via a third party. Changing ingredients, amounts or cooking technique will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.
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