Southwest Beef Sweet Potato Skillet (Printable version)

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

# What you'll need:

→ 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.
07 - Serve hot, garnished with cilantro, avocado, and shredded cheese as desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one pan so cleanup is literally just washing the skillet and calling it done
  • The sweet potatoes get this incredible caramelized edge while staying tender inside
  • It re heats beautifully for lunch the next day if there is actually any left
02 -
  • Sweet potato size varies wildly so do not trust the time test the potatoes with a fork instead
  • The spices can seem like a lot but they need to stand up to the sweetness of the potatoes
  • Letting the final uncovered cook happen is what creates those little crispy bits everyone fights over
03 -
  • Use a large skillet even if it looks like too much space because crowding the pan makes vegetables steam instead of getting those nice golden edges
  • Prep all your ingredients before you start cooking because once that beef hits the pan things move fast

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