Description
Southwest ground beef and sweet potato skillet brings zesty Tex-Mex flavors to your dinner table with minimal effort. Hearty protein, colorful vegetables, and bold spices combine in one pan for a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (453 g) ground beef, lean
- 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and diced (about 2 cups)
- 1 (15 oz / 425 g) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (10 oz / 283 g) can diced tomatoes with green chilies (like Rotel)
- ½ cup (118 ml) corn (fresh, frozen, or canned)
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp oregano
- ½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for spice)
- ½ cup (120 g) shredded cheese (cheddar or Mexican blend, optional)
- ¼ cup (15 g) chopped fresh cilantro (for garnish)
- 1 lime, cut into wedges
Instructions
- Beef Preparation: Sizzle ground beef in a spacious skillet over medium flame, breaking it into crumbly texture while rendering fat, then drain excess grease if necessary.
- Aromatic Foundation: Introduce finely chopped onions and minced garlic, sautéing until translucent and fragrant, releasing their robust essence.
- Spice Infusion: Incorporate diced sweet potatoes with a medley of spices – chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes – creating a vibrant southwestern profile. Cover and allow ingredients to meld, stirring periodically until potatoes reach a tender consistency.
- Flavor Layering: Fold in black beans, zesty diced tomatoes with green chilies, and sweet corn kernels. Simmer covered, enabling ingredients to harmonize and sweet potatoes to become completely soft.
- Cheesy Finish: Optional cheese melting stage involves sprinkling desired cheese across the skillet and covering briefly until it transforms into a luxurious, molten topping.
- Presentation: Remove from heat, garnish with fresh cilantro leaves and accompany with bright lime wedges, creating a visually appealing and flavor-packed southwestern-inspired meal.
Notes
- Dice sweet potatoes into uniform, small cubes (about 1/2 inch) to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the dish.
- Drain excess beef fat completely to prevent a greasy final dish and maintain a clean, robust flavor profile.
- Adjust red pepper flakes and chili powder according to personal heat tolerance, tasting and tweaking spice levels as you cook.
- Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a lighter, vegetarian-friendly version without compromising the Southwest flavor palette.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Southwestern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg