The best Ground Beef and Potatoes skillet meal is this one, expertly seasoned and designed to be cooked quickly, all in one pan. Easily satisfy your hungry crew with this simple and flavorful dinner. It’s perfect for busy weeknights and makes delicious leftovers too!
Personal Experience
I like veggies as much as the next person, but sometimes, when it comes to the end of a long day, all I’m really craving is a hearty meat and potatoes meal.
This ground beef recipe with potatoes and cheese is so simple to throw together, and can be ready in about half an hour. I love that it uses inexpensive ingredients that I usually pick up at the grocery store every weekend.
Savory, smoky seasonings give the meat and potatoes the best flavor, and melty cheddar cheese is the perfect finishing touch to this one-skillet dinner.
If you like this recipe, I have more easy dinner ideas with ground beef for you to try! Take a look at my Mexican Beef Picadillo. It’s very similar to this one, but with bell pepper and tomatoes. I also have a Hamburger Potato Casserole that is comforting and creamy.
Sometimes I’m satisfied with this carnivore-friendly dinner, but other times I’ll add an easy veggie like my Air Fryer Vegetables, or make a simple side salad.
Ingredient Notes
Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
- Ground Beef: Pay the little bit extra to get lean ground beef or extra lean beef for this recipe. A low fat percentage (about 10%) means that less grease will cook off of the meat, and you won’t need to drain it away. It’s a win-win! More meat, less fuss!
- Potatoes: Cut a pound of potatoes into small cubes so that they cook quickly and evenly in the skillet. I’m using plain white potatoes, but the recipe will work with any type of potatoes you have in the pantry. Try red potatoes, Yukon Gold potatoes, or even Russet potatoes.
- Olive Oil: Use a light olive oil (not extra virgin) to cook the potatoes and saute the aromatics. You can also use any other type of cooking oil you have, such as avocado oil or canola oil.
- Garlic and Onion: These aromatic vegetables give so much flavor. I highly suggest that you use fresh garlic cloves rather than pre-minced or dried versions of the same.
- Salt and Pepper: We will season as we cook, using some salt and pepper for the potatoes and the rest for the ground beef. Of course, taste the dish at the end and add additional seasoning if you like.
- Seasonings: Warm cumin, smoky smoked paprika, and savory onion powder make everything taste amazing!
Tip!
Interested in making this dish spicy? Try adding a pinch of cayenne pepper to the meat, and serving this with your favorite hot sauce on the side.
More Meat and Potatoes Recipes
Greek Lemon Chicken and Potatoes
Ground Turkey and Sweet Potato Skillet
Garlic Butter Steak and Potatoes
Cottage Pie
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
Ground Beef and Potatoes Skillet Meal
Equipment
- Large nonstick or cast iron skillet
- Wooden Spoon or spatula
- Chef’s Knife
- cutting board
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) olive oil not extra virgin
- 1 pound (450 g) potatoes peeled and diced small
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika divided
- ½ teaspoon salt divided
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper divided
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) olive oil
- 1 medium (150 g) yellow onion finely diced
- 1 pound (450 g) lean ground beef (about 10-12% fat)
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 medium garlic cloves minced
- ½ cup (50 g) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives or parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large well-seasoned or nonstick pan over medium-high heat.
- Add the diced potatoes and season with ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper.
- Cook, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are golden and tender, about 10-12 minutes. Remove to a plate and set aside.
- In the same pan, add another 1 tablespoon of olive oil and the diced onion. Cook for about 2 minutes until softened and translucent.
- Add the ground beef, breaking it apart with a spoon. Season with ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon cumin, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper. Cook until the beef is browned and no longer pink.
- Return the cooked potatoes to the pan. Add the minced garlic and stir everything together. Cook for 1 minute to combine the flavors.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed. If the potatoes are still a bit firm, add ¼-½ cup of water or broth, cover with a lid, and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender.
- Remove the pan from heat and sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese on top. Cover with a lid for 2-3 minutes until the cheese melts.
- Garnish with chopped chives or parsley and serve warm.
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
© Little Sunny Kitchen
Recipe Tips
- Choose your best skillet. Potatoes will cook best in a non-stick pan or a very well-seasoned cast-iron skillet. I like to use a large 12-inch skillet so that everything will fit too! If your skillet doesn’t have a lid, use foil to cover it at the end to melt the cheese.
- Swap the ground beef for ground turkey or ground chicken if you like! You can even make this recipe with vegan ground “meat”. With the cheese, the meal will be vegetarian, or you can leave out the cheese for a fully vegan potato skillet.
- The potatoes should be fully cooked after step 2, but if they still have a little bit of a bite to them, add a splash of broth or water, cover the pan, and steam them for a few minutes.
- Meal Prep and Leftovers: This dish is even tastier the next day after the flavors have a chance to develop. Store the leftover beef and potatoes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave for an easy, filling lunch.
- Fresh herbs add a beautiful pop of green and some great flavor. Try chives or chopped parsley.
Leave a Review!