Description
This Southwest Ground Beef and Sweet Potato Skillet is a hearty and flavorful one-pan meal featuring lean ground beef, tender sweet potatoes, and a delicious blend of southwestern spices. Enhanced with fire-roasted tomatoes, green chiles, and melty cheddar cheese, it’s a satisfying dish perfect for weeknight dinners that combines zesty and comforting flavors in an easy-to-make skillet recipe.
Ingredients
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 2 cups peeled and diced sweet potatoes
- 14.5 ounce can fire roasted diced tomatoes
- 4 ounces canned diced green chiles
- Cilantro for garnish (optional)
Spices and Seasoning
- 5 teaspoons chili powder, divided
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin, divided
- Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon grated garlic
Additional
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Cook the ground beef and onions: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the diced onion and ground beef, crumbling the beef with a wooden spoon. Season with 3 teaspoons of chili powder, 1 teaspoon cumin, salt, and pepper. Cook until the beef is nearly done, then add the grated garlic and cook for an additional minute. Remove the mixture from the skillet and set aside. Wipe out the skillet to prepare for the next step.
- Simmer the sweet potatoes and vegetables: Add the diced sweet potatoes, fire roasted tomatoes, canned green chiles, water, 2 teaspoons chili powder, 1 teaspoon cumin, and salt and pepper to the cleaned skillet. Stir everything to combine, then cover with a lid. Reduce the heat to low and let simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sweet potatoes are fork-tender.
- Combine beef with sweet potato mixture: Return the cooked ground beef mixture to the skillet and stir well to blend with the sweet potato and vegetable mixture.
- Add cheese and garnish: Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top of the skillet. Cover with the lid and allow the cheese to melt for about one minute. Once melted, garnish with chopped cilantro if desired, and serve hot.
Notes
- You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for ground beef for a leaner option.
- Adjust the chili powder and cumin to your preferred spice level.
- Make sure to cut sweet potatoes into evenly sized pieces to ensure even cooking.
- Covering the skillet while melting the cheese helps it melt evenly and keeps the dish moist.
- For a dairy-free version, omit the cheese or use a plant-based cheese alternative.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Southwestern
