Description
This Southwest Ground Beef and Sweet Potato Skillet is a hearty, flavorful one-pan meal perfect for weeknight dinners. Combining lean ground beef with sweet potatoes, fire-roasted tomatoes, and a blend of classic Southwest spices, this dish delivers comforting warmth and a delicious savory taste with minimal cleanup. Topped with melted cheddar cheese and fresh cilantro, it’s a balanced and satisfying meal ready in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef Mixture
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 3 teaspoons chili powder, divided
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon grated garlic
Vegetables and Add-ins
- 2 cups peeled and diced sweet potatoes
- 14.5 ounce can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
- 4 ounces canned diced green chiles
- 1/4 cup water
Topping
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Cilantro for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Prepare Ground Beef: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and diced onion, crumbling the beef as it cooks. Season with 3 teaspoons chili powder, ground cumin, kosher salt, and fresh ground black pepper. Cook until the beef is nearly done, then stir in grated garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Prepare Sweet Potatoes: In the same skillet with the beef, add peeled and diced sweet potatoes, fire-roasted diced tomatoes, canned diced green chiles, and 1/4 cup water. Season with the remaining 2 teaspoons chili powder, additional cumin as desired, kosher salt, and black pepper. Stir to combine, then cover the skillet and simmer over medium-low heat for about 20 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork.
- Combine and Serve: Once the sweet potatoes are tender, stir the cooked ground beef back into the sweet potato mixture. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top, cover the skillet again, and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes until the cheese melts. Garnish with fresh cilantro if desired before serving.
Notes
- Use lean ground beef (90% lean or higher) to keep the dish healthier and reduce excess fat.
- For a spicier kick, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or use a spicier variety of chili powder.
- Sweet potatoes can be substituted with regular potatoes or butternut squash if preferred.
- Covering the skillet while simmering helps the sweet potatoes cook faster and steams the ingredients to meld flavors.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop.
