This hearty dish features tender ground beef and soft, tasty potatoes cooked together. It’s perfect for a cozy dinner and great for satisfying those hunger pangs!
Key Ingredients & Substitutions
Ground Beef: This is the heart of the dish. I prefer using lean ground beef to cut down on grease. For a healthier twist, you could use ground turkey or chicken instead. They work well and still provide great flavor.
Potatoes: I’ve used regular Yukon Gold potatoes here for their creamy texture, but you can swap them out for sweet potatoes or red potatoes for a different taste and color.
Bell Peppers: The mix of red and yellow bell peppers gives a nice sweetness and color to the dish. Feel free to use green peppers if that’s what you have; they will provide a slightly different flavor.
Spices: The combination of paprika, cumin, and chili powder adds depth to the flavor. If you like it spicy, consider adding cayenne pepper or using a spicy chili powder instead!
Cheese: Cheddar is a classic choice for this dish, but feel free to switch things up with pepper jack for heat or mozzarella for a milder, stretchy cheese.
How Do You Get the Potatoes Perfectly Tender?
Cooking potatoes until they’re nice and tender can be a challenge. To ensure they cook evenly, cut them into uniform pieces. This helps them soften at the same time. Here’s how to do it:
- Start cooking the potatoes with the onions and garlic; they’ll absorb great flavors from the skillet.
- Cook until fork-tender (about 10-15 minutes). Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- For extra browning, let them sit in one spot for a minute or two before stirring.
This technique enhances the dish and gives you that lovely, golden color everyone loves!
How to Make Ground Beef and Potatoes Skillet
Ingredients You’ll Need:
For the Skillet:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 4 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar or your preference)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Fresh cilantro for garnish (optional)
How Much Time Will You Need?
This recipe takes about 10-15 minutes for preparation and 25 minutes for cooking, totaling around 35-40 minutes from start to finish. It’s a quick and hearty meal you’ll enjoy making and eating!
Step-by-Step Instructions:
1. Brown the Ground Beef:
Start by heating the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the ground beef to the skillet. Cook it until it’s nicely browned, breaking it apart with a spatula as it cooks. Sprinkle in some salt, pepper, paprika, cumin, and chili powder to season the beef. Stir to combine all the flavors!
2. Drain and Set Aside the Beef:
When the beef is cooked, remove it from the skillet. If there’s extra fat in the skillet, carefully drain it off. Set the beef aside while we work on the vegetables.
3. Cook the Potatoes and Onions:
In the same skillet, add the diced potatoes, onion, and minced garlic. Cook this mixture for about 10-15 minutes, stirring it occasionally. You want the potatoes to get tender and start to brown. The aroma will be fantastic!
4. Add the Bell Peppers:
Next, it’s time to add some color! Toss the diced red and yellow bell peppers into the skillet and continue to cook for another 5 minutes. This will allow them to soften and blend with the other veggies.
5. Mix in the Ground Beef:
Now, return the cooked ground beef to the skillet. Mix everything together well, so the beef and veggies are nicely combined. It’s looking good!
6. Cheese Time!
Sprinkle the shredded cheese evenly over the mixture in the skillet. Cover it with a lid and let it cook for about 2-3 minutes. This will help the cheese melt beautifully over all the ingredients.
7. Finish and Serve:
Once the cheese is melted, remove the skillet from heat. If you’d like, you can garnish with fresh cilantro for a burst of flavor. Serve this warm, and enjoy your delicious ground beef and potatoes skillet!
Can I Use a Different Type of Meat?
Absolutely! You can substitute ground turkey, chicken, or even pork in this recipe. Just be aware that leaner meats like turkey or chicken may require a bit more seasoning to enhance the flavor. You may also need to adjust cook times slightly depending on the meat used.
What If I Don’t Have Fresh Garlic?
No problem! You can use 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder as a substitute for each clove of garlic. Add it along with your spices to the ground beef to get a nice garlic flavor throughout the dish.
How Should I Store Leftovers?
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. If you want to keep it longer, you can freeze it in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Just be sure to let it cool completely before freezing!
Can I Add More Vegetables?
Definitely! This recipe is very flexible. You can add vegetables like zucchini, corn, or even spinach. Just remember to adjust cooking times accordingly to ensure everything is tender and flavorful.
