Skillet Ground Beef and Potatoes Recipe
“Meat and Potatoes” isn’t an insult. Ground Beef and Potatoes is a wallet-friendly one-skillet wonder with no need for side dishes.
Skillet Ground Beef and Potatoes Recipe
“Meat and potatoes” is sometimes used in kind of negative way. Most often, it’s used implying that people from Midwest ONLY eat these two items.
That’s isn’t at all true, BUT if you are looking for a good recipe for meat and potatoes, you’ll definitely want to consult somebody from the Midwest.
And hi, that’s me, born and raised! I know how to make these ingredients taste their best.
If you have a pack of ground beef, two potatoes, and a handful of pantry ingredients, you’re well on your way to making this hearty skillet dinner that goes beyond just meat and potatoes. There’s lot of veggies here, too!
Why You’ll Love this Recipe for Ground Beef and Potatoes
- It’s a one skillet wonder, so there’s not a big mess to clean up after dinner.
- It’s a wallet-friendly option for feeding the whole family.
- With protein, carbs and veggies all in one dish, there is no need to worry about making additional sides.
Skillet Ground Beef and Potatoes Ingredients
- potatoes – the starchy base of this dish. I’ve found that two medium russet potatoes is the right amount for four servings.
- ground beef – you’ll need a one pound package of ground beef, which is the protein in this dish.
- onion – adds depth of flavor.
- bell pepper – adds sweetness and color.
- olive oil – a good glug will help us saute the potatoes and prevent them from sticking to the pan.
- spinach – stirred in at the end for extra nutrients and color.
- ketchup – adds sweetness and tanginess, and enhances the flavor of the beef.
- Worcestershire sauce – adds an umami richness.
- garlic powder, cumin, dried oregano and paprika – the seasonings that enhance the depth of flavor of this dish.
- salt and pepper – for seasoning the potatoes and ground beef perfectly.
- hot sauce – to add just a kick of heat to balance the richness of the beef. I usually use Tabasco, but any type of hot sauce works.
- green onions – to garnish, adding a pop of fresh onion flavor and green color.
- sour cream – a garnish that adds a bit of creaminess.
- shredded cheese – sprinkle this on each serving because who doesn’t like some cheesy goodness?
How to Make Potatoes and Ground Beef
1. SAUCE. Whisk together the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, oregano, paprika, pepper, cumin, hot sauce and some of the salt.
2. POTATOES. Cook the potatoes in oil in a large high-sided skillet until they are golden brown, seasoning them with the rest of the salt.
3. BEEF AND VEGGIES. Add the beef, onion and bell pepper and cook until the meat is almost cooked through.
4. SIMMER. Stir in the sauce mixture and some water and cook until the potatoes are fully tender.
5. SPINACH. Stir in the spinach and cook until it’s wilted.
6. SERVE. Serve garnished with green onions, sour cream and shredded cheese.
Ground Beef and Potatoes Recipe Substitutions
- MEAT – Don’t limit yourself to ground beef. This dish is also great with ground sausage, pork, chicken or turkey.
- POTATOES – you can make this dish with any type of potato you have on hand. Yukon Gold in particular also works nicely.
- BELL PEPPER – I like red bell pepper best here, but any color of bell pepper works. If you don’t like bell peppers, stir in a chopped zucchini.
- GREENS – If you’re not a fan of spinach, you can also use kale or arugula.
Skillet Ground Beef and Potatoes Skillet Home Chef Tips
- When dicing the potatoes, take care to make them as uniform in size as possible. This ensures they cook evenly.
- For a crispy, cheesy finish for your potatoes and ground beef, sprinkle the cheese over the skillet at the end and brown and melt the cheese under the broiler for a minute.
How to serve this Ground Beef and Potatoes Skillet
This ground beef and potatoes skillet is a complete meal on its own, but you can serve it with garlic bread or easy yeast rolls for mopping up any extra sauce.
Storing leftover Ground Beef and Potatoes
If you have leftovers, transfer them to a storage container and place them in the fridge uncovered for a few hours until they are fully chilled, then cover them with the lid and keep up to 3 days.
Add a splash of water and reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop until heated through.
Recipe for Ground Beef and Potatoes
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon Hungarian paprika
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt divided
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon Tabasco or other hot sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1-1/4 pounds russet potatoes about 2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced into 1/2-inch cubes
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 medium yellow onion
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 box baby spinach 5 ounces
- Shredded Cheddar cheese, sliced green onions and sour cream, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- In small bowl, whisk ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, oregano, paprika, 1/2 teaspoon salt, pepper, cumin and hot sauce until combined.
- In large high-sided skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add potatoes and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook 6 to 8 minutes or until potatoes are golden brown and just starting to become tender, stirring occasionally.
- Add beef, yellow onion and bell pepper and cook 4 to 6 minutes longer or until meat is almost cooked through, stirring occasionally and breaking up meat with side of spoon as it cooks.
- Stir in 1/2 cup water and ketchup mixture and cook 3 to 4 minutes or until potatoes are tender, scraping crusty bits off bottom of pan as the mixture cooks.
- Stir in spinach; cook 1 to 2 minutes or until spinach is wilted.
- Serve garnished with green onions, sour cream and shredded cheese.
Notes
- When dicing the potatoes, take care to make them as uniform in size as possible. This ensures they cook evenly.
- For a crispy, cheesy finish for your potatoes and ground beef, sprinkle the cheese over the skillet at the end and brown and melt the cheese under the broiler for a minute.
