Southwest Ground Beef and Sweet Potato Skillet Recipe
A hearty and flavorful Southwest Ground Beef and Sweet Potato Skillet featuring lean ground beef, smoky spices, tender sweet potatoes, fire-roasted tomatoes, and melted cheddar cheese. This one-pan dish is easy to prepare, perfect for a comforting weeknight meal with a hint of southwestern zest.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Southwestern
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 2 cups peeled and diced sweet potatoes
- 14.5 ounce can fire roasted diced tomatoes
- 4 ounces canned diced green chiles
- Cilantro for garnish (optional)
Spices and Seasonings
- 5 teaspoons chili powder (divided)
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin (divided)
- Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon grated garlic
Other
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Cook Ground Beef and Onions: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the diced onion and ground beef, crumbling the beef with a wooden spoon. Season with 1 tablespoon (3 teaspoons) chili powder, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, salt, and pepper. Cook until the beef is nearly done, then add the grated garlic and cook for another minute. Remove the beef mixture onto a plate and wipe out the skillet.
- Simmer Sweet Potatoes and Vegetables: Add the peeled and diced sweet potatoes, fire roasted diced tomatoes, canned diced green chiles, water, remaining 2 teaspoons chili powder, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, and salt and pepper to taste into the skillet. Stir to combine, cover with a lid, reduce heat, and simmer for about 20 minutes or until the sweet potatoes are tender.
- Combine Beef with Sweet Potatoes and Melt Cheese: Return the cooked ground beef mixture to the skillet and stir everything together. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on top and cover with the lid for about a minute or until the cheese has melted. Garnish with chopped cilantro if desired and serve immediately.
Notes
- You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for lean ground beef for a lighter option.
- Adjust the chili powder quantity to your preferred heat level.
- Use fresh diced tomatoes if canned are unavailable, but fire-roasted adds extra smoky depth.
- To make it a complete meal, serve with a side of rice or a green salad.
- Leftovers reheat well in a skillet or microwave.
Keywords: southwest ground beef skillet, sweet potato recipe, easy ground beef dinner, one pan southwestern skillet, fire roasted tomatoes recipe
