Description
This hearty one-pot ground beef and potatoes dish is a comforting, flavorful meal perfect for weeknight dinners. Featuring browned ground beef seasoned with aromatic spices, tender diced potatoes, and sautéed onions and garlic, this recipe comes together quickly in a single skillet, making cleanup a breeze. Garnished with fresh parsley or green onions, it's delicious served on its own or alongside a crisp salad or crusty bread.
Ingredients
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 ½ lb ground beef
- 1 lb potatoes, diced (peel if you prefer)
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Spices and Seasonings
- 2 tsp paprika
- ¼ tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp cumin
- Salt & black pepper, to taste
Other Ingredients
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 cup water or beef broth
- Fresh parsley or green onions, for garnish
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef: Heat a large skillet or cast-iron pan over medium-high heat. Add half the butter, then add the ground beef. Cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks to ensure even browning.
- Season and set beef aside: Season the browned beef with salt and pepper, then add dried thyme, oregano, cumin, and paprika. Stir well to combine. Transfer the beef to a bowl and set aside.
- Sauté onions and garlic: In the same pan, add the remaining butter and then the diced onion. Cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute, stirring frequently to avoid burning.
- Cook the potatoes: Add the diced potatoes to the pan and cook for 5–6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they begin to brown and become tender. Cover the pan with a lid to speed up cooking. Pour in the water or beef broth, then cover and let everything simmer for 10–12 minutes, or until the potatoes are fully tender.
- Combine beef and potatoes: Return the cooked ground beef to the skillet with the potatoes and onions. Stir to combine and cook together for another 4 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and everything to heat through.
- Garnish and serve: Remove from heat and garnish with fresh parsley or green onions. Serve hot, either as is or with a simple salad or crusty bread on the side.
Notes
- Peeling the potatoes is optional; leaving the skins on adds texture and nutrients.
- For extra richness, use beef broth instead of water.
- You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for a leaner version.
- Covering the pan during potato cooking speeds up cooking and keeps potatoes moist.
- Adjust spices according to your taste preference or experiment with adding chili powder for some heat.
- This recipe can be doubled easily for more servings.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
