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Ground Beef and Potato Skillet

March 21, 2026 by Julie - The Recipe Life Leave a Comment

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Hearty fried potatoes and beef, seasoned and topped with cheese and green onions, are the main ingredients in this Ground Beef and Potato Skillet recipe. It’s an easy meal idea with classic tastes that leaves you feeling satisfied and full.

The skillet ready to serve.

This is a simple meal idea for when you have a pound of ground beef, some potatoes, cheese, and a hungry family. It comes together well and makes a warm, hearty meal. Plus, it’s gluten-free and simple to make dairy-free. With whole foods like these, it definitly guilt-free, too.

Overview of a serving of this simple but delicious ground beef and potato skillet recipe.

This beef skillet is easy to customize with your favorite seasonings and toppings, leaving you with endless options. As a simplton, I enjoy the falvors of beef. My kids, however, like to add hot sauce to everything, this included. Sour cream is also adds a creaminess that is really good. Scrambing eggs in the dish after the vegetables are tender is delicious and adds extra protien. Or, even topping the beef and potato skillet with an over-easy egg will instantly bring on breakfast and brunch vibes. Don’t be afraid to add your favorite seasonings and toppings. This ground beef and potato skillet is easy to make your own!

How to make a Ground Beef and Potato Skillet

With about 25-30 minutes, this is a one-skillet meal that feeds the family. Prepare the potatoes, then fry, brown, and enjoy! Once you master balancing the potatoes and beef, this beef-and-potato skillet meal will be part of your family’s diet. It’s an easy way to eat wholesome foods!

The beef skillet with fried potatoes, red peppers, cheese, and green onions.

Ingredients for a Beef and Potato Skillet

  • 1 Tablespoon oil, avocado
  • 1 pound potatoes, about 2 medium potatoes, diced 1/2 inch or smaller, russet
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 1 bell pepper, diced
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 2 green onions, chopped
Ingredients to this Ground Beef and Potato Skillet recipe: one pound lean ground beef, diced potatoes, red bell pepper, sweet onion, shredded cheddar cheese, green onions, oil, garlic, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.

Optional toppings

  • sour cream
  • hot sauce
  • sunny side up egg
  • avocado

Instructions for Ground Beef and Potato Skillet

First, heat up a large skillet(4-5Q skillet) over medium heat and add the oil.

Then, once the skillet is hot, evenly spread the diced potatoes in it. Let them cook undisturbed for about 3 minutes, or until they are nicely browned. Now stir the potatoes and cook them again undisturbed for another 3 minutes. At this point, they should be browned but not completely done.

Two pounds of diced potatoes in a hot, oiled stainless steel skillet.
Tossed once browned potatoes in a hot skillet.

Next, move the potatoes to one side of the skillet, then add the ground beef and diced onions to the other side. Season the beef with the salt and pepper. Then brown the ground beef until it is no longer pink, breaking it into a crumble as it cooks. It’s ok if some of the beef mixes with the potatoes, but try to keep them mostly separate. If needed, after the beef is browned, spoon off the excess grease.

Ground beef added to the one side of the skillet and potatoes cooking on the other.
Salt and pepper on the browning ground beef and potatoes.
Browned ground beef and potatoes in a large skillet.

Then, once the beef is browned, mix the beef and potatoes and season them with the bell pepper, paprika, and garlic. Stir and let everything cook until the potatoes are fork-tender and the pepper is softened, about 3-5 mins.

Onions, garlic, and red peppers added to the cooking beef and potatoes.
The completely cooked beef, potatoes, and pepper skillet.

After everything is cooked, remove the skillet from the heat. Then add the cheese on top and let it melt. Finally, garnish with the diced green onions and other desired toppings. Serve warm. Enjoy!

Shredded cheddar cheese and chopped green onions added to the beef skillet.
Complete meal of ground beef and potato skillet with onions and peppers.

Storing leftover Ground Beef and Potatoes Skillet

Store this meat-and-potatoes skillet in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Then reheat it on the stove, in the microwave, or in the oven until warmed through.

Delicious hearty ground beef and potatoes for a warm meal idea.

Things to Remember for Fried Skillet Meal:

There might be some sticking, but don’t become discouraged. First, make sure your skillet is hot before adding the oil. Do the water test if using stainless steel. Second, non-stick skillets are easier for beginner chefs with this recipe. Finally, the beef drippings will help the potatoes release once everything gets cooking.

Customize the dish! This ground beef and potatoes skillet starts simple(which I love), but then the sky’s the limit. Try different seasonings and toppings. Cooking isn’t boring; you just need to explore!

Don’t add sour cream and avocado topping until right before serving. Reheating these can be tricky. Add toppings to individual servings to make storing and reheating leftovers easier.

A wooden spatula in the potato and beef skillet.

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The skillet ready to serve.

Ground Beef and Potato Skillet

In just under 30 minutes, you can whip up this delicious Ground Beef and Potato Skillet—an easy, one-pan meal that’s sure to delight the whole family! Bursting with wholesome ingredients, protein, and timeless flavors, it offers a mouthwatering twist on fried potatoes! Enjoy!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Course Dinner, lunch
Cuisine American
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Tablespoon oil avocado
  • 1 pound potatoes, about 2 medium potatoes Russet, diced to under 1/2 inch
  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • 1 medium sweet onion diced
  • 1 red bell pepper diced
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 2 green onions chopped

Instructions
 

  • Heat up a large skillet(4-5Q skillet) over medium heat and add the oil.
  • Once the skillet is hot, evenly spread the diced potatoes in it. Let them cook undisturbed for about 3 minutes, or until they are nicely browned. Now stir the potatoes and cook them again undisturbed for another 3 minutes. At this point, they should be browned but not completely done.
  • Move the potatoes to one side of the skillet, then add the ground beef and diced onions to the other side. Season the beef with the salt and pepper. Then brown the ground beef until it is no longer pink, breaking it into a crumble as it cooks. It's ok if some of the beef mixes with the potatoes, but try to keep them mostly separate. If needed, after the beef is browned, spoon off the excess grease.
  • Once the beef is browned, mix the beef and potatoes and season them with the bell pepper, paprika, and garlic. Stir and let everything cook until the potatoes are fork-tender and the pepper is softened, about 3-5 mins.
  • After everything is cooked, remove the skillet from the heat. Then add the cheese on top and let it melt. Finally, garnish with the diced green onions and other desired toppings. Serve warm. Enjoy!
Keyword Ground Beef and Potato Skillet

Filed Under: Beef, Food & Recipes, Main Dish, Seasonal Favorites Tagged With: easy main, easy meal, kid-friendly, main dish

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