Quick Ground Meat and Potato Skillet Recipe for Cozy Dinners

Let’s talk about a hearty ground meat and potato skillet that promises comfort in every single bite.

Crispy edges of golden potatoes complement the rich, savory meat perfectly.

Russet potatoes add a creamy texture that melts against well-seasoned beef.

Home cooks appreciate how quickly this meal comes together after a long day.

Simple ingredients create maximum flavor without complicated techniques or expensive additions.

Mediterranean and American culinary influences shine through in this satisfying one-pan wonder.

You’ll devour this skillet faster than you can set the table, so gather your appetite and prepare for a delicious adventure.

Best Sides For Potato Skillet

• Pair Savory Red Wine: Select a medium-bodied red wine like Syrah or Merlot that complements the rich, hearty flavors of the ground meat and potato skillet, cutting through the creamy sauce with balanced acidity.
• Enhance with Fresh Green Salad: Create a crisp mixed green salad with light vinaigrette to balance the dish's richness, adding refreshing texture and providing a bright counterpoint to the heavy skillet meal.
• Serve with Crusty Bread: Grab a rustic sourdough or French baguette to soak up the creamy sauce, offering a delightful textural contrast and extra satisfaction to the comforting one-pan dinner.
• Complement with Roasted Vegetables: Prepare simple roasted vegetables like Brussels sprouts or asparagus with olive oil and garlic, providing a nutritious side that adds color and additional nutrients to the meal.

Ground Meat Skillet Meals

• Low-Carb Cauliflower Swap: Replace potatoes with riced cauliflower for a keto-friendly version that reduces carbohydrates while maintaining the dish's hearty texture.
• Vegetarian Bean Blend: Substitute ground meat with black beans or lentils, creating a protein-packed meatless skillet that's perfect for plant-based diets.
• Mediterranean-Inspired Version: Add diced bell peppers, oregano, and feta cheese to transform the skillet into a Mediterranean-style one-pan meal with vibrant flavors.
• Spicy Southwest Remix: Incorporate diced green chiles, cumin, and top with pepper jack cheese for a zesty southwestern-inspired variation that brings extra heat to the original recipe.

FAQs

• Can I use different types of ground meat?

Absolutely! Ground beef, turkey, chicken, or pork work great in this skillet recipe. Each meat brings its own unique flavor, so feel free to experiment with what you have on hand.

• How can I make this dish healthier?

Try using lean ground meat, low-fat cream soup, and adding extra vegetables like diced carrots or peas. You can also use Greek yogurt instead of milk for added protein and lower fat content.

• Is this a kid-friendly meal?

Definitely! Kids love this simple, hearty dish. The combination of meat and potatoes is familiar and comforting, and you can easily customize the seasonings to suit their taste preferences.

• What kitchen tools do I need to make this recipe?

You’ll only need a large skillet, a spatula for stirring, and basic measuring cups. It’s a one-pan meal that makes cleanup super easy and quick.

Ground Meat And Potato Skillet Savory One-Pan Wonder

• Whip Up a Speedy Weeknight Meal: This ground meat and potato skillet delivers maximum flavor with minimal effort, perfect for busy families.
• Simplify Dinner Prep: One-pan cooking means less cleanup, saving precious time after a long day and reducing kitchen mess dramatically.
• Budget-Friendly Comfort Food: Affordable ingredients like ground meat and potatoes create a hearty, filling dish that stretches your grocery budget without sacrificing taste.
• Kid-Approved Crowd-Pleaser: The creamy texture and familiar flavors make this skillet meal a guaranteed hit with picky eaters, ensuring everyone at the table enjoys their dinner.

Ground Meat and Potato Skillet Ingredients

• Ground Beef: A hearty protein that provides rich flavor and substance to the skillet dish, lean varieties work best for healthier option.
• Ground Turkey: Lean alternative to beef with similar protein content, good for lower fat meals.

• Potatoes: Adds substantial texture and fills out the dish, diced works perfectly for even cooking and quick preparation.

• Cream Soup, Milk: Creates creamy sauce that binds ingredients together, canned cream soups offer convenient flavor base.
• Sour Cream: Tangy ingredient that adds richness and slight acidity to the dish, helps create smooth sauce texture.

• Salt, Pepper: Basic seasonings that enhance overall meat and potato flavor.
• Shredded Cheese: Optional topping that melts and adds extra richness, cheddar or mixed cheese blends work well.
• Spices: Personal preference herbs and spices like garlic powder, paprika, or dried herbs can customize dish flavor.

Ground Meat And Potato Skillet How-To

Step 1: Sizzle the Meat

Brown the ground meat in a large skillet over medium heat.

Use a spatula to break down the meat into small, even pieces as it cooks.

Continue cooking until the meat turns a rich, golden-brown color and loses its pink appearance.

Step 2: Incorporate Potato Chunks

Gently add diced potatoes to the skillet with the browned meat.

Stir the mixture occasionally to ensure even cooking and prevent sticking.

Let the potatoes cook until they become tender and slightly crispy, which typically takes about 12-15 minutes.

Step 3: Create Creamy Sauce

• Cream soup
• Milk
• Sour cream (optional)

Stir the ingredients thoroughly, ensuring the sauce evenly coats the meat and potatoes.

The mixture should become smooth and well-integrated.

Step 4: Elevate with Seasonings

• Salt
• Black pepper
• Garlic powder
• Dried herbs

Mix the seasonings completely throughout the skillet.

If desired, top with shredded cheese and let it melt for an extra layer of richness.

Step 5: Serve and Enjoy

Transfer the skillet contents to serving plates.

The dish is best enjoyed hot, straight from the pan, with its comforting blend of meat, potatoes, and creamy sauce.

Skillet Tips For Meat And Potato Harmony

• Pat ground meat dry before cooking to ensure better caramelization and create a crispy, flavorful exterior that enhances the dish's overall taste.
• Cut potatoes into uniform, small cubes to guarantee even cooking and prevent some pieces from becoming mushy while others remain undercooked.
• Incorporate minced garlic or diced onions during meat browning to infuse the skillet with rich, aromatic undertones that complement the creamy sauce.
• Swap ground beef with ground turkey, chicken, or plant-based alternatives to accommodate different dietary preferences without compromising the recipe's core structure.
• Adjust milk or liquid quantity to achieve your desired sauce thickness, stirring gradually and allowing the mixture to simmer for a smoother, more integrated result.

Skillet Meal Stores Savory and Comforting

• Store leftovers in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking, keeping them fresh for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
• Transfer cooled skillet to freezer-safe containers, where it can maintain quality for up to 2 months. Wrap tightly to prevent freezer burn.
• Warm gently in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding a splash of milk or water to restore moisture and prevent sticking. Stir occasionally for even heating.
• Place portion in microwave-safe dish, cover with damp paper towel, and heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each to distribute heat evenly.

Ground Meat and Potato Skillet Recipe

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4.7 from 34 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Hearty ground meat and potato skillet delivers comfort straight from grandma’s kitchen, blending rustic flavors with simple ingredients. Satisfying one-pan meals like this promise warmth and deliciousness you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Proteins:

• 1 pound ground meat (beef, turkey, or your choice)

Starches:

• 12 small potatoes, diced (or adjust to preference)

Additional Ingredients:

• 1 can cream soup (any flavor you like)
• 3/4 cup milk (or substitute with water and sour cream if preferred)
• Seasoning of your choice
• Shredded cheese (optional, for topping)

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Instructions

1. Warm a spacious cast-iron skillet over medium flame and introduce ground meat, methodically crumbling and sautéing until the protein achieves a rich, caramelized exterior.
2. Incorporate diced potatoes directly into the skillet, ensuring they nestle among the browned meat fragments, stirring periodically to promote even cooking and prevent sticking.
3. Transition the skillet’s contents by gently pouring cream soup and liquid components, thoroughly integrating these elements to create a cohesive, creamy foundation that envelops the meat and potato mixture.
4. Elevate the dish’s flavor profile by sprinkling strategic seasonings throughout the skillet, whisking them meticulously to distribute robust taste across every morsel.
5. Optional: Blanket the surface with delicate shreds of cheese, allowing them to gradually melt and transform into a luxurious, golden-hued topping that adds textural complexity and rich depth.
6. Remove from heat and let the skillet contents rest momentarily, permitting flavors to harmonize before serving this comforting, rustic one-pan culinary creation.

Notes

• Choose lean ground meat to reduce excess fat and create a healthier version of the dish.
• Dice potatoes uniformly to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the skillet.
• Switch to plant-based alternatives like ground turkey, chicken, or plant-based crumbles for different dietary preferences.
• Enhance flavor by adding fresh herbs like parsley, thyme, or rosemary during the final seasoning stage for extra depth and aroma.

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 400
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 20 g
• Saturated Fat: 8 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 35 g
• Fiber: 4 g
• Protein: 25 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg