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Southwest Beef and Sweet Potato Skillet

Southwest Beef and Sweet Potato Skillet
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A quick and hearty one-pan Southwest Beef and Sweet Potato Skillet featuring savory ground beef, tender sweet potatoes, colorful bell peppers, and a bold blend of smoky Southwest spices. Ready in under 30 minutes, this easy and flavorful dish is perfect for busy weeknights and can be customized to suit your taste and dietary preferences.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 1–2 bell peppers, diced (any color)
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 cup diced tomatoes (with juice)
  • 1 tsp salt, or to taste
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper, or to taste

Seasonings

  • 2 tbsp Southwest seasoning blend (chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder)

Optional Ingredients

  • 1 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
  • Shredded cheese, for topping

Instructions

  1. Prepare the sweet potatoes: Peel and dice the sweet potatoes into small, even cubes to ensure they cook evenly and become tender quickly when sautéed.
  2. Brown the ground beef: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef, season lightly with salt and pepper, and cook until browned and fully cooked through. Remove the beef from the pan and set aside, leaving the drippings in the skillet.
  3. Sauté the vegetables: In the same skillet, add diced onions and bell peppers. Cook until softened and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Add the diced sweet potatoes and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the sweet potatoes begin to soften and are tender.
  4. Add seasoning and tomatoes: Sprinkle the Southwest seasoning blend over the vegetables and stir well to coat. Pour in the diced tomatoes with their juice and combine everything evenly. Let the mixture simmer for a few minutes to meld the flavors.
  5. Combine beef and optional beans: Return the cooked ground beef to the skillet and mix in the black beans if using. Cook for an additional 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, allowing all flavors to fully come together and the sweet potatoes to reach desired tenderness.

Notes

  • Cut sweet potatoes into consistent small cubes for even and faster cooking.
  • Let cooked ground beef rest briefly off the heat to retain juiciness and flavor.
  • Start seasoning with half the spice blend and adjust gradually to avoid overpowering.
  • Use a heavy skillet like cast iron or stainless steel for better heat distribution and deeper flavor development.
  • Add fresh lime juice at the end to brighten and balance the flavors.

Nutrition

Keywords: Southwest skillet, beef and sweet potatoes, one pan dinner, quick weeknight meal, gluten free, hearty skillet, ground beef recipe

Find it online: https://juliaglam.com/southwest-beef-and-sweet-potato-skillet/