This Cheesy Tex-Mex Ground Beef Sweet Potato Skillet brings the bold, comforting flavors of the Southwest to your dinner table all in one pan. With tender diced sweet potatoes, juicy seasoned ground beef, melty cheddar cheese, and the zesty kick of green chilies, every bite is a warm, satisfying explosion of flavor.
This dish is perfect for busy weeknights when you want something quick, hearty, and sure to please the whole family. Plus, it’s naturally gluten-free, requires minimal cleanup, and can be easily customized with toppings like sour cream, avocado, or jalapeños for extra flair.
Full Recipe:
Ingredients:
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1 lb ground beef
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2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
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1 tablespoon olive oil
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1/2 cup onion, chopped
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1 red bell pepper, chopped
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1 can (10 oz) diced tomatoes with green chilies
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1 teaspoon chili powder
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1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
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1/2 teaspoon paprika
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Salt and pepper to taste
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1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
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Fresh cilantro for garnish
Directions:
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Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
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Add chopped onion and bell pepper. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened.
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Add ground beef to the skillet and cook until browned. Drain excess grease.
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Stir in diced sweet potatoes, tomatoes with green chilies, and spices.
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Cover and simmer on medium-low heat for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sweet potatoes are tender.
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Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the skillet. Cover again and cook for 2-3 more minutes until cheese is melted.
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Garnish with fresh cilantro before serving.
Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cooking Time: 25 minutes | Total Time: 35 minutes
Kcal: 430 kcal | Servings: 4 servings
A Flavor-Packed One-Pan Wonder for Busy Weeknights
When it comes to flavorful, comforting meals that satisfy the whole family and don’t leave your kitchen in a mess, one-skillet dinners are a true gift. Among the best of them is the Cheesy Tex-Mex Ground Beef Sweet Potato Skillet—a dish that’s bold, hearty, and impossibly easy to make. It’s the kind of meal that delivers rich, layered taste with minimal effort, thanks to pantry staples and a few fresh ingredients. Whether you’re looking for a gluten-free weeknight winner or a crowd-pleaser for a casual get-together, this dish deserves a spot in your regular rotation.
The Magic of the Sweet Potato and Ground Beef Combo
One of the most unique and delightful features of this recipe is the sweet potato and ground beef pairing. Sweet potatoes bring a natural sweetness and smooth texture to the dish, contrasting beautifully with the savory, slightly spicy ground beef. That balance between sweet and savory is what makes this skillet truly crave-worthy.
Sweet potatoes also bring a nutritional edge, being rich in fiber, beta carotene, vitamin C, potassium, and antioxidants. They’re naturally gluten-free and lower on the glycemic index than regular white potatoes, making this meal friendly for those watching their blood sugar or following a gluten-free diet. The ground beef adds protein and richness that turns this into a satisfying main course.
Tex-Mex Flavor You’ll Fall in Love With
The flavor profile of this dish leans heavily on the classic Tex-Mex palette: smoky spices, a hint of heat, and of course, melty cheese. Chili powder, cumin, and paprika are the key players in the spice blend, adding warmth and depth without overwhelming heat making it great for families or anyone with a milder palate.
You also get the bright, zesty flavor of diced tomatoes with green chilies, which introduces a little tang and subtle spice that lifts the entire skillet. The final touch cheddar cheese melts into the beef and vegetables, binding everything together and giving you that classic cheesy finish that takes the dish from great to unforgettable.
One Skillet = Less Stress and Cleanup
The beauty of a skillet meal lies not just in its taste but in its simplicity and convenience. You brown the beef, cook down the veggies, and simmer it all in the same pan, which means less cleanup and more time enjoying your evening. There’s no need to juggle multiple pots or preheat the oven this is a stovetop classic that comes together in about 30 minutes.
This is especially helpful for those busy evenings when you want a homemade meal without spending hours in the kitchen. It’s also ideal for meal prep make a batch, and you’ve got a couple of servings ready to go for lunch or dinner the next day.
Customization Ideas: Make It Yours
While the base recipe is a flavor-packed success, it’s also incredibly versatile. You can easily adapt this skillet to match your dietary needs or personal preferences. Here are some quick ideas:
- Add More Veggies: Mix in chopped spinach, zucchini, or corn for added color and nutrients.
- Spice It Up: Use jalapeños or a hotter chili blend if you like it fiery.
- Make It Dairy-Free: Swap the cheddar for a plant-based cheese or simply omit it altogether.
- Go Paleo: Use grass-fed beef, avoid dairy, and skip the beans or corn if you add them.
- Add Beans: A can of black beans or pinto beans will add fiber and make it even heartier.
The dish is a great base for creativity, and you can turn it into a burrito filling, taco stuffing, or even a nacho topping with a few tweaks.
Why This Dish Works for So Many Diets
One of the reasons this skillet is so popular is that it works well with a variety of lifestyles and diets. It’s naturally gluten-free, and can be made low-carb or dairy-free with minor adjustments. It also works well for paleo eaters if cheese is omitted, and the use of sweet potatoes offers a healthier carbohydrate alternative that doesn’t spike blood sugar the way refined grains might.
It’s filling and comforting without being heavy, and because it’s a balanced mix of protein, healthy carbs, and fats, it keeps you full and energized for hours.
Perfect for Leftovers and Meal Prep
This skillet doesn’t just shine fresh off the stove it stores and reheats beautifully. That makes it a smart choice for meal prepping, whether you’re packing lunches or planning ahead for busy evenings. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3–4 days, and simply reheat in a microwave or on the stovetop with a splash of water to loosen things up.
You can even make a double batch and freeze half for a future meal. Just leave out the cheese before freezing, then add it when you reheat for best texture and flavor.
Serving Suggestions
This dish is delicious on its own, but if you want to build it into a bigger meal or present it in new ways, here are some serving suggestions:
- Serve it over rice or quinoa for a more substantial meal.
- Spoon it into taco shells or tortillas for Tex-Mex wraps.
- Top with avocado slices, sour cream, or a squeeze of lime.
- Make it a bowl meal with chopped lettuce, guacamole, and corn chips.
- Use it as a filling for stuffed bell peppers.
Crowd-Pleasing and Family-Friendly
Kids love it because it’s cheesy and not too spicy. Adults love it because it’s flavorful and satisfying. This dish is also budget-friendly, using affordable ingredients that go a long way. With ground beef and sweet potatoes as staples in many households, it’s likely you already have most of what you need to make it.
It’s also a great way to get picky eaters to eat more vegetables especially if you sneak in extras like chopped zucchini or spinach into the mix. Even better, it’s done in one skillet, so there’s less convincing needed when it comes time to do dishes.
Conclusion: A Go-To Recipe for Every Home Cook
The Cheesy Tex-Mex Ground Beef Sweet Potato Skillet is more than just a quick and easy dinner it’s a delicious, flexible, and family-friendly dish that makes healthy eating exciting. With just one skillet and a short ingredient list, you get bold flavors, satisfying texture, and minimal cleanup. It’s a recipe you’ll come back to again and again because it hits that perfect sweet spot: comforting, nourishing, and full of flavor.
Whether you’re short on time, trying to eat healthier, or just craving a cozy one-pan meal, this skillet brings everything to the table. Add it to your meal plan this week and discover why this dish has quickly become a favorite in kitchens everywhere.