Ever feel like cooking dinner is just too much work after a long day? This high-protein skillet might just change your mind. With only five main ingredients and one pan, you’ll have a filling meal that doesn’t leave your kitchen looking like a disaster zone.
This ground beef skillet combines tender sweet potatoes with savory beef for a one-pan dinner that actually tastes good. The sweet potatoes soak up all those delicious flavors while everything cooks together. No fancy techniques or complicated steps – just simple cooking that works.
If you want to learn more about choosing the right ground beef, the USDA has great guidelines for safe handling and selection.
Ground Beef Skillet Ingredients
You probably have most of these sitting in your kitchen right now:
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ medium red onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 2 medium sweet potatoes, scrubbed and diced (4 cups)
- 2 medium green bell peppers, chopped (1 cup)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
That’s it! No long shopping list or weird ingredients you’ll never use again.
Directions
Step 1
Heat that tablespoon of oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Toss in your diced onion and minced garlic. Let them cook until they get soft and smell amazing – about 2 to 3 minutes should do it. Then add your ground beef and cook it, stirring and breaking it apart with your spoon, until it’s no longer pink. This takes another 2 to 3 minutes.
Step 2
Now here’s where the magic happens. Stir in those diced sweet potatoes, chopped bell peppers, salt, and pepper. Cover the skillet and let everything cook together, stirring every now and then. The sweet potatoes need about 10 to 12 minutes to get tender. You’ll know they’re ready when a fork slides through them easily.
And that’s literally it. One pan, about 15 minutes total, and dinner is served.
Nutrition Facts
Per serving (1½ cups):
- Calories: 263
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Total Sugars: 5g
- Added Sugars: 0g
- Protein: 26g
- Fiber: 3g
- Sodium: 259mg
- Potassium: 744mg
Nutrition information is approximate and may vary based on specific ingredients used and preparation methods.
FAQs
Can I use ground turkey instead of beef?
Absolutely! Ground turkey works great in this sweet potato skillet. The cooking time stays the same. For more protein alternatives, Harvard Health has excellent information about cooking with ground turkey.
Do I have to peel the sweet potatoes?
Nope! Just scrub them clean and dice them up with the skin on. The skin adds extra fiber and saves you time. Sweet potatoes are packed with nutrients, especially when you keep the skin on.
What if my sweet potatoes aren’t getting tender?
Add a splash of water to the pan and keep it covered. Sometimes they need an extra few minutes, especially if you cut them bigger.
Can I make this ahead of time?
This ground beef and sweet potato combo actually tastes even better the next day. Store it in the fridge for up to 3 days.
What else can I add to this one-pan dinner?
Try different colored bell peppers, add some spinach at the end, or throw in your favorite herbs. This recipe is pretty flexible.
The Bottom Line
Sometimes the best meals are the simplest ones. This high-protein skillet proves you don’t need a bunch of fancy ingredients or complicated steps to make something satisfying. The combination of ground beef and sweet potato creates a hearty meal that fills you up without weighing you down.
The cleanup is minimal (just one pan!), the prep is straightforward, and the result is a balanced dinner that actually tastes like you put effort into it – even though you didn’t really. Plus, with 26 grams of protein per serving, this one-pan dinner keeps you satisfied way longer than most quick meals.
Next time you’re staring into your fridge wondering what to make, remember this recipe. It’s proof that good food doesn’t have to be complicated.