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One-Bowl Ground Beef and Sweet Potato Skillet

ground beef and sweet potato skillet - featured image
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A quick and satisfying one-pan meal featuring ground beef and tender sweet potato cubes, seasoned with smoked paprika and cumin. Ready in under 30 minutes, this skillet dinner is perfect for busy weeknights and leaves you with minimal cleanup.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20 works best)
  • 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cut into ½-inch cubes (about 2 cups)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon chili powder (optional)
  • ½ cup beef broth or water
  • Fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped (for garnish, optional)
  • Shredded cheddar cheese (for garnish, optional)
  • Sour cream or Greek yogurt (for garnish, optional)
  • Sliced green onions (for garnish, optional)

Instructions

  1. Prep your ingredients first: Peel the sweet potato and cut it into ½-inch cubes. Dice the onion. Mince the garlic.
  2. Heat the oil and cook the onion: Place your skillet over medium-high heat and add the olive oil. Once the oil shimmers, add the diced onion. Cook for about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion turns translucent and starts to soften.
  3. Brown the ground beef: Add the ground beef to the skillet. Break it apart with your wooden spoon into crumbles. Let it cook undisturbed for about 2 minutes to get a good sear, then stir and continue cooking until no pink remains. Drain excess fat if desired.
  4. Add garlic and spices: Reduce heat to medium. Add the minced garlic, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, pepper, and chili powder if using. Stir everything together and cook for about 1 minute until the garlic is fragrant.
  5. Add the sweet potato cubes and broth: Add the sweet potato cubes to the skillet. Pour in the beef broth. Stir to combine everything evenly.
  6. Cover and steam: Bring the liquid to a gentle simmer. Cover the skillet with a lid or foil. Reduce heat to medium-low and let it cook for 10 to 12 minutes. Check at the 10-minute mark by piercing a sweet potato cube with a fork; it should slide in easily but the cube should still hold its shape.
  7. Uncover and finish: Remove the lid. Increase heat to medium-high and let any remaining liquid cook off, about 1 to 2 minutes. Stir gently to avoid mashing the sweet potatoes. Taste and adjust salt and pepper if needed.
  8. Garnish and serve: Remove from heat. Sprinkle with fresh parsley or cilantro, shredded cheese, a dollop of sour cream, or sliced green onions. Serve directly from the skillet or spoon into bowls.

Notes

For more caramelization on sweet potato cubes, let them sit undisturbed in the skillet for an extra minute before stirring after uncovering. Use 80/20 ground beef for best flavor. Smoked paprika is key for depth; regular paprika can be used in a pinch. Leftovers keep well in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and flavors deepen overnight.

Nutrition

Keywords: ground beef, sweet potato, skillet, one-pan, weeknight dinner, easy, quick, gluten-free

Find it online: https://spoonmira.com/one-bowl-ground-beef-and-sweet-potato-skillet/