Description
This Best Mexican Ground Beef and Potato Skillet is a hearty and flavorful one-pan meal combining tender potatoes, seasoned ground beef, and vibrant Mexican spices. Perfect for an easy weeknight dinner, it features a mix of spices like chili powder, cumin, and smoked paprika, all cooked together in a skillet and topped with melted cheddar cheese and fresh cilantro. Serve with lime wedges for a zesty finish.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 medium potatoes, peeled and diced into small cubes
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
Spices & Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Liquids & Sauces
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce
- 1/4 cup beef or chicken broth
Toppings & Garnish
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro (for garnish)
- Lime wedges (for serving)
Instructions
- Heat and cook potatoes: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced potatoes and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they begin to soften and develop a light brown color.
- Sauté onion and bell pepper: Push the potatoes to one side of the skillet, then add the diced onion and red bell pepper to the empty side. Cook for about 5 minutes until the vegetables soften.
- Add garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute to release its flavor, making sure it doesn’t burn.
- Cook the ground beef: Add the ground beef to the skillet and cook until browned, breaking it apart with a spatula as it cooks.
- Season the mixture: Stir in the chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, optional cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper evenly throughout the skillet.
- Add tomato sauce and broth: Pour in the tomato sauce and beef or chicken broth, stirring to combine all ingredients well. Reduce heat to low.
- Simmer covered: Cover the skillet and let it simmer gently for 10 minutes, allowing the potatoes to become tender and the flavors to meld.
- Add cheese topping: Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top of the skillet. Cover again and cook for 2 more minutes until the cheese melts.
- Garnish and serve: Remove the skillet from heat, garnish with chopped fresh cilantro, and serve hot with lime wedges on the side for squeezing.
Notes
- For extra spice, add diced jalapeños along with the onion and bell pepper.
- Sweet potatoes can be substituted for regular potatoes for a slightly sweeter taste.
- This dish can be made ahead of time and reheated, making it perfect for meal prep.
