Description
A hearty and flavorful Ground Beef Sweet Potato Skillet featuring tender sweet potatoes, savory ground beef, vibrant bell peppers, and fresh spinach, seasoned with smoked paprika, cumin, and chili powder. This one-pan dish is a comforting and nutritious meal perfect for any day of the week.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein & 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 & Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Oils & Garnishes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Optional: avocado slices and chopped fresh cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- Heat oil: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat to prepare for sautéing the aromatics.
- Sauté aromatics: Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet and cook until translucent, about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally to release their flavors.
- Cook ground beef: Increase heat to medium-high, add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up into small pieces to ensure even cooking throughout.
- Drain fat: Carefully drain any excess fat from the skillet to reduce greasiness and improve the dish’s texture.
- Set aside beef: Remove the cooked ground beef mixture from the skillet and set aside temporarily to cook the vegetables.
- Add remaining oil: In the same skillet, add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil to prepare for cooking the sweet potatoes.
- Cook sweet potatoes: Add the diced sweet potatoes to the skillet and cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes until they start to soften, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking or burning.
- Add bell pepper: Stir in the chopped red bell pepper and continue cooking for another 3 to 4 minutes until the pepper softens and releases its sweetness.
- Return beef to skillet: Add the browned ground beef back into the skillet with the vegetables.
- Season skillet: Sprinkle in smoked paprika, ground cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper; stir well to evenly coat the ingredients with the spices.
- Add spinach: Reduce heat to low, fold in fresh spinach leaves, and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until the spinach wilts and blends into the mixture.
- Garnish and serve: Remove skillet from heat and optionally garnish with avocado slices and fresh chopped cilantro before serving hot.
Notes
- Drain the fat thoroughly after browning the beef to keep the dish light but flavorful.
- Sweet potatoes should be diced evenly for uniform cooking.
- Adjust spices according to your preferred heat level.
- For extra nutrition, you can add other vegetables like zucchini or mushrooms.
- This dish reheats well and can be enjoyed as leftovers.
