Description
A hearty and flavorful Ground Beef Sweet Potato Skillet that combines seasoned ground beef with tender sweet potatoes, red bell pepper, and fresh spinach. This one-pan meal is packed with spices like smoked paprika, cumin, and chili powder, making it perfect for a comforting and nutritious dinner. Garnished with creamy avocado slices and fresh cilantro, it’s a delicious dish ready in under an hour.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 medium-sized sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 cup fresh spinach leaves
Spices and Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Oils and Garnish
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Optional: avocado slices and chopped fresh cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat to prepare the base for sautéing your vegetables.
- Sauté onion and garlic: Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet and cook until translucent and fragrant, about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
- Cook ground beef: Increase the heat to medium-high, add the ground beef, and cook until browned thoroughly, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks to ensure even cooking.
- Drain excess fat: Once the beef is browned, drain any excess fat from the skillet to avoid greasiness.
- Set aside beef mixture: Remove the cooked ground beef from the skillet and set it aside in a separate bowl.
- Add remaining olive oil: In the same skillet, add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil to cook the sweet potatoes.
- Cook sweet potatoes: Add the diced sweet potatoes and cook on medium heat until they start to soften, approximately 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking or burning.
- Add red bell pepper: Add the chopped red bell pepper to the skillet with the sweet potatoes and cook for an additional 3 to 4 minutes until the peppers soften and release their sweetness.
- Return beef to skillet: Put the browned ground beef mixture back into the skillet with the vegetables.
- Season the dish: Sprinkle the smoked paprika, ground cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper over the skillet contents and stir well to evenly combine all the flavors.
- Add spinach: Lower the heat to low and fold in the fresh spinach leaves, cooking just until wilted, about 1 to 2 minutes.
- Garnish and serve: Remove the skillet from heat and garnish with avocado slices and chopped fresh cilantro if desired. Serve warm and enjoy your hearty skillet meal.
Notes
- You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for the ground beef for a leaner protein option.
- If you prefer a spicier dish, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or hot sauce along with the chili powder.
- To save time, use pre-diced frozen sweet potatoes but ensure they are thawed before cooking.
- Leftovers store well in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat nicely in a skillet or microwave.
- For added texture, sprinkle toasted pumpkin seeds or chopped nuts on top before serving.
