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Easy Ground Beef and Sweet Potato Skillet: Best One-Pan Dinner

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A quick and easy one-pan dinner featuring ground beef and caramelized sweet potatoes with warm spices. Perfect for busy weeknights, this 30-minute meal is comforting, flavorful, and made with simple pantry ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb (450g) ground beef (85/15 recommended)
  • 2 medium sweet potatoes (about 1 lb / 450g), scrubbed and cut into ½-inch cubes
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • ¼ cup (60ml) beef broth
  • Optional garnishes: fresh parsley or cilantro, lime juice, sour cream or Greek yogurt

Instructions

  1. Prep all ingredients: dice onion, mince garlic, cut sweet potatoes into ½-inch cubes. Mix smoked paprika, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet (12-inch) over medium-high heat. Add sweet potato cubes in a single layer and cook undisturbed for 4-5 minutes until golden brown. Stir and cook another 3-4 minutes until tender and caramelized. Remove sweet potatoes and set aside.
  3. Reduce heat to medium. Add ground beef to the same pan, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Let cook undisturbed for 3 minutes to sear, then stir and cook until fully browned, about 5-6 minutes. Spoon off excess fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the pan.
  4. Add diced onion to the beef and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant, stirring constantly.
  5. Sprinkle the spice mixture over the beef and onion. Stir and cook for 1 minute to toast the spices. Pour in beef broth and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
  6. Return the sweet potatoes to the skillet. Stir gently to coat with the spiced beef mixture. Cook for 2-3 minutes until heated through and flavors meld.
  7. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt, pepper, or a squeeze of lime juice if desired.
  8. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh herbs, a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt, or a squeeze of lime juice.

Notes

For best results, sear sweet potatoes first to develop caramelized crust. Cut sweet potatoes into uniform ½-inch cubes for even cooking. Let beef sear undisturbed for 3-4 minutes before stirring for deeper browning. Toast spices for 1 minute before adding liquid to enhance flavor. Leftovers keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and can be frozen for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

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

Find it online: https://goldensimmer.com/easy-ground-beef-and-sweet-potato-skillet-best-one-pan-dinner/