Sweet Potato Skillet with Southwest Ground Beef and Peppers
Sweet potato skillet with southwest ground beef and peppers is a one-pan dinner that turns ground beef, cubed sweet potatoes, and bold spices into a filling meal in under 40 minutes.
With ground beef, sweet potatoes, and bell peppers, you get a skillet that's ready for weeknights, game day, or meal prep. Save it for later!
| Prep | Cook | Total | Servings | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 min | 25 min | 40 min | 4 servings | Medium |
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- One skillet only: everything, from the beef to the sweet potatoes, cooks in the same pan, so cleanup takes minutes.
- Ready in under 40 minutes: this moves fast enough for a weeknight but still feels like a real dinner.
- Budget-friendly: ground beef and sweet potatoes are two of the most affordable proteins and vegetables at the grocery store.
- Naturally gluten-free: there's no flour, pasta, or bread involved, just meat, vegetables, and spices.
- Meal-prep ready: it reheats well, so you can portion it into containers for lunches all week.
Southwest Sweet Potato Skillet Ingredients
- Ground beef: the base of the dish; 85% lean gives enough fat to brown well without drowning the pan in grease. Ground turkey works too if you want something lighter.
- Sweet potatoes: diced small, they cook through in minutes and add a soft, slightly sweet contrast to the spiced beef. Butternut squash is a fine swap in fall.
- Bell peppers: red and green together bring color and a little crunch that softens as it cooks. Poblano peppers add more heat if you like.
- Onion and garlic: both build the savory base that the beef and spices sit on top of.
- Chili powder, cumin, and smoked paprika: this is what makes the dish taste southwest instead of just "beef and potatoes." Smoked paprika especially gives it a deeper, almost grilled flavor.
- Diced tomatoes with green chilies: these add moisture and a little tang so the skillet doesn't dry out as it simmers.
- Beef broth: used to soften the sweet potatoes in the pan without boiling them separately.
- Shredded cheddar cheese: melted on top at the end for a gooey finish.
For the Mexican Shredded Beef over at Mexican Shredded Beef, we use similar southwest spicing, so that's worth a look if you want more ideas for this flavor profile. Head to the recipe card below for exact amounts.
Easy Variations
- Swap the protein: ground turkey, chicken, or even the shredded beef from our Mexican Shredded Beef recipe all work in this skillet.
- Use ground turkey for a lighter version: it's leaner and pairs well with the same spice blend, much like our Easy Stuffed Bell Pepper Soup with Ground Turkey.
- Add beans or corn: black beans or frozen corn stirred in during the last few minutes add bulk and a little sweetness.
- Turn up the heat: a diced jalapeño or a pinch of cayenne with the other spices makes it noticeably spicier.
- Try it in a slow cooker: brown the beef first, then add everything else and cook on low for 4 hours instead of simmering on the stove.
How to Make Southwest Sweet Potato Skillet
- Dice the sweet potatoes into even 1/2-inch cubes so they cook at the same rate; smaller, uneven pieces will turn mushy before the bigger ones are done.
- Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it apart with a spoon, until no pink remains, about 6 minutes. Drain excess grease and set the beef aside.
- Soften the vegetables in the same skillet with a little olive oil: onion and bell peppers for about 4 minutes, then garlic for 30 seconds more, until fragrant.
- Simmer the sweet potatoes with beef broth, covered, for 12 to 15 minutes, stirring once or twice, until a fork slides through them easily.
- Stir everything together: return the beef to the pan, add the spices and diced tomatoes with green chilies, and simmer uncovered for 5 minutes so the flavors settle in.
- Finish with cheese: scatter cheddar over the top, cover for 2 to 3 minutes until melted, then garnish with cilantro and a squeeze of lime before serving.
Hella Recipe Team Tips
- Cut the sweet potatoes small: 1/2-inch cubes cook in about 12 minutes; larger chunks can take twice as long and throw off your timing.
- Don't skip draining the beef: too much grease left in the pan will make the finished skillet greasy instead of saucy.
- Taste before adding more salt: the diced tomatoes with green chilies and broth both carry sodium, so season at the end.
- Use a lid for the simmer step: it traps steam and helps the sweet potatoes cook through faster without extra liquid.
- A well-seasoned cast iron skillet gives the beef a better brown than a nonstick pan, though either will work for this southwest ground beef and sweet potato skillet.
What to Serve With It
This skillet is filling on its own, but a few sides make it feel like a bigger spread. A scoop of Creamy Jalapeño Popper Dip with tortilla chips works well as a starter. For a soup-and-skillet combo, try Cheesy Southwestern Chicken Tortilla Soup in smaller portions, or add a cold contrast with Easy Zesty Southwest Chicken Salad Bowl. If you want more sweet potato on the table, Maple Roasted Sweet Potatoes brings a sweeter, caramelized version alongside the spiced one in the skillet.
Storage and Reheating
Leftover southwest ground beef and sweet potato skillet keeps in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days. To freeze, cool it completely and store flat in a freezer bag for up to 3 months, then thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating. Warm it in a skillet over medium heat for 5 to 7 minutes, or microwave in 60-second bursts, stirring between each, until heated through.
Southwest Sweet Potato Skillet FAQ
Can I use chicken instead of ground beef?
Yes, ground chicken or turkey work fine; just cook them a minute or two less since they're leaner and can dry out if overcooked.
Can I make this skillet ahead of time?
You can cook it fully up to 2 days ahead and reheat on the stove or in the microwave before serving; the flavors actually deepen after a day in the fridge.
Do I need a special skillet for this recipe?
A regular large nonstick or stainless skillet works fine, though a cast iron skillet browns the ground beef a little better and holds heat longer during the simmer step.
Sweet Potato Skillet with Southwest Ground Beef and Peppers
Ingredients
Method
- Dice the sweet potatoes: Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into even 1/2-inch cubes. Keeping the pieces the same size helps them cook at the same rate during the simmer step.
- Brown the ground beef: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the ground beef, breaking it apart with a spoon. Cook for about 6 minutes, until no pink remains, then transfer to a plate and drain excess grease from the pan.
- Sauté the onion and peppers: Add olive oil to the same skillet and heat over medium. Add the onion and bell peppers and cook for about 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they soften.
- Add the garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds, just until fragrant. Watch it closely so it doesn't burn.
- Add sweet potatoes and broth: Add the diced sweet potatoes and beef broth to the skillet. Stir to combine, then cover and reduce heat to medium-low.
- Simmer until tender: Let the sweet potatoes simmer, covered, for 12 to 15 minutes, stirring once or twice. They're ready when a fork slides through them easily.
- Season the mixture: Stir in the chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix well so the spices coat the sweet potatoes evenly.
- Combine beef and tomatoes: Return the cooked ground beef to the skillet along with the diced tomatoes with green chilies. Stir everything together and simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes.
- Top with cheese: Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top of the skillet. Cover and let it sit over low heat for 2 to 3 minutes, until melted.
- Garnish and serve: Remove the skillet from the heat and sprinkle with chopped cilantro. Serve hot with lime wedges on the side.
More Recipes You'll Love
- Sweet Potato Burger Bowl (With Ground Beef): another take on ground beef and sweet potatoes, built as a bowl instead of a skillet.
- Viral Ground Beef Sweet Potato Bowl: a popular combination of the same two main ingredients with a different spice mix.
- Ground Beef Meatballs and Rice Bowl: a good option if you want ground beef served over rice instead of sweet potatoes.
- Best Copycat Southwest Eggrolls: a crunchy appetizer with the same southwest spice family, good for serving before this skillet.
