Southwest Ground Beef Sweet Potato Skillet (Printable)

Hearty one-pan skillet with seasoned beef, sweet potatoes, and Southwest spices ready in 35 minutes.

# What goes in:

→ Meats

01 - 1 lb ground beef (preferably lean)

→ Vegetables

02 - 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and diced (about 3 cups)
03 - 1 small red onion, diced
04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced

→ Spices & Seasonings

05 - 1 ½ tsp chili powder
06 - 1 tsp ground cumin
07 - ½ tsp smoked paprika
08 - ½ tsp salt
09 - ¼ tsp black pepper

→ Pantry & Oils

10 - 2 tbsp olive oil

→ Optional Toppings

11 - ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
12 - 1 avocado, sliced
13 - ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese (omit for dairy-free)

# Directions:

01 - Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spatula, until browned and cooked through, about 5-6 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary and transfer beef to a plate.
02 - Add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to the same skillet. Add the diced sweet potatoes and cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
03 - Add the diced onion and red bell pepper. Continue to cook for 4-5 minutes, until vegetables begin to soften.
04 - Return the cooked ground beef to the skillet. Add chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to combine.
05 - Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sweet potatoes are tender.
06 - Uncover and cook another 2-3 minutes to allow any excess moisture to evaporate. Serve hot, garnished with cilantro, avocado, and shredded cheese as desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything happens in one pan so cleanup is practically nonexistent and you can focus on eating instead of scrubbing
  • The combination of sweet and savory hits different with sweet potatoes going golden while those Southwest spices build layers of flavor
  • Ready in 35 minutes flat which means you can actually eat dinner before 9pm on busy weeknights
02 -
  • Sweet potatoes vary wildly in how fast they cook so test one with a fork before serving because crunchy sweet potatoes will ruin the whole experience
  • Don't rush the initial beef browning step because those caramelized bits stuck to the pan add incredible depth to the final dish
  • If you're skipping dairy for any reason this recipe still delivers but maybe add extra avocado to compensate for the richness
03 -
  • Cut your sweet potatoes as uniformly as possible so they finish cooking at the same time instead of having some mushy and some underdone pieces
  • Prep all your vegetables before you start cooking because once that beef hits the pan everything moves fast

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