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Hearty Ground Beef and Sweet Potato Skillet

A quick, delicious, and nutritious one-pan meal that combines seasoned ground beef with naturally sweet potatoes. Perfect for busy weeknights and ready in 30 minutes.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 portions
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 380
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb lean ground beef 90% lean recommended
  • 2 medium sweet potatoes peeled and cubed into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 1 medium onion diced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 3/4 cup beef broth or water beef broth preferred for richer flavor
  • 1 bell pepper diced, optional
  • 1 can (15 oz) black beans drained and rinsed, optional
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese optional
  • Fresh cilantro or parsley for garnish

Equipment

  • Large 12-inch skillet or cast-iron pan
  • sharp knife
  • cutting board
  • Measuring spoons and cups
  • Wooden spoon or spatula

Method
 

  1. Heat olive oil in a large 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat for about 1 minute until properly hot.
  2. Add diced onion and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until translucent and starting to soften.
  3. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to let it burn.
  4. Add ground beef, breaking it up with a wooden spoon as it cooks, and brown for 5-7 minutes until no pink remains.
  5. While beef cooks, peel and cube sweet potatoes into uniform 1/2-inch pieces for even cooking.
  6. Add cubed sweet potatoes to the skillet with browned beef. Sprinkle cumin, paprika, chili powder, salt, and pepper over everything and stir well to combine.
  7. Pour in 3/4 cup beef broth, reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sweet potatoes are fork-tender.
  8. If using bell peppers or black beans, stir them in during the last 5 minutes of cooking to heat through.
  9. Remove lid and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes to allow excess moisture to evaporate.
  10. If desired, sprinkle shredded cheese over the top, cover until melted, then garnish with fresh cilantro or parsley before serving.
Etekcity Food Kitchen Scale - Kitchen Equipment Recommendation

Notes

Can substitute ground turkey for beef (add extra tablespoon of oil). Naturally gluten-free recipe. Great for meal prep - stores well for up to 3 days in refrigerator. Freezes beautifully for up to 3 months. Cut sweet potatoes uniformly for even cooking. Add more broth if mixture seems too dry during cooking.
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