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Southwest Ground Beef Bowl with Cottage Cheese Queso Recipe

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4.2 from 45 reviews

  • Author: Sophia
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings

Description

This Southwest Ground Beef Bowl with Cottage Cheese Queso is a flavorful and nutritious one-bowl meal combining roasted spiced sweet potatoes, seasoned lean ground beef, and a creamy, tangy cottage cheese queso. Served with optional toppings like hot honey, pico de gallo, and guacamole, this recipe offers a balanced and satisfying Tex-Mex-inspired dish perfect for a wholesome lunch or dinner.

Ingredients

Sweet Potatoes

  • 2 medium sweet potatoes (approximately 5 ounces each), peeled and cubed
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Salt to taste
  • Freshly cracked black pepper to taste
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin

Ground Beef

  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 2 tablespoons store-bought or homemade taco seasoning

Cottage Cheese Queso

  • 1 cup cottage cheese, whipped or regular
  • ¼ cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese or shredded Mexican cheese blend
  • ½ teaspoon store-bought or homemade taco seasoning

Serving Suggestions (All Optional)

  • Hot honey, store-bought or homemade
  • Pico de gallo
  • Guacamole

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare Sweet Potatoes: Preheat your oven to 425° Fahrenheit. In a large mixing bowl, toss 2 medium peeled and cubed sweet potatoes with 1 tablespoon olive oil, salt, freshly cracked black pepper, and ½ teaspoon ground cumin until the pieces are well coated.
  2. Roast Sweet Potatoes: Spread the sweet potatoes evenly on a large baking sheet. Place in the oven and roast for 15 minutes. Carefully remove the baking sheet, flip the cubes over to ensure even cooking, and return to oven for another 10 to 15 minutes or until they are golden brown and tender.
  3. Cook Ground Beef: Place a large skillet on the stovetop over medium heat. Add 1 pound of lean ground beef and cook while breaking it up with a spatula or wooden spoon until partially browned. Stir in 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, for 7 to 10 minutes until the beef is fully cooked and crumbled. Drain excess fat if necessary and set aside.
  4. Prepare Cottage Cheese Queso: Combine 1 cup cottage cheese, ¼ cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese, and ½ teaspoon taco seasoning in a blender. Blend until smooth and fully combined. You may blend a bit longer to warm it through or microwave briefly until just warmed, or serve at room temperature.
  5. Assemble the Bowls: Divide the roasted sweet potatoes evenly into serving bowls. Top each with the cooked ground beef and a generous dollop of cottage cheese queso. Drizzle hot honey over the top if desired, and add pico de gallo and/or guacamole for extra flavor and texture. Serve immediately for best taste and freshness.

Notes

  • For a spicier kick, add a pinch of cayenne to the taco seasoning or extra black pepper to the sweet potatoes.
  • Lean ground beef can be substituted with ground turkey or plant-based alternatives for different dietary preferences.
  • Whipped cottage cheese works best for the queso but regular cottage cheese blended thoroughly yields a creamy texture as well.
  • Adjust seasoning amounts to taste, especially salt and taco seasoning, depending on the brand and personal preference.
  • Leftovers can be stored separately in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; reheat the sweet potatoes and beef thoroughly before serving.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 35 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Roasting
  • Cuisine: Southwestern American

Find it online: https://sophiasrecipe.com/southwest-ground-beef-bowl-with-cottage-cheese-queso-recipe/