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Southwest Ground Beef and Sweet Potato Skillet

A hearty one-pan meal combining seasoned ground beef with sweet potatoes, black beans, and corn in bold Southwest spices.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Tex-Mex
Calories: 380

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 pound ground beef 85% lean
  • 2 medium sweet potatoes peeled and diced
  • 1 medium yellow onion diced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 can (15 oz) black beans drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup corn kernels fresh, frozen, or canned
  • 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
  • 0.5 cup beef broth
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
Seasonings
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 0.5 teaspoon salt
  • 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
Optional Toppings
  • shredded cheese
  • sour cream
  • fresh cilantro
  • sliced avocado
  • lime wedges

Equipment

  • Large skillet
  • Wooden spoon
  • Cutting board
  • Knife

Method
 

  1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add diced sweet potatoes and cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they begin to soften and develop golden edges. Remove sweet potatoes from skillet and set aside.
  2. In the same skillet, add ground beef and cook over medium-high heat, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, until browned and no longer pink, about 6-8 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the pan.
  3. Add diced onion to the browned beef and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened and translucent. Add minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Sprinkle chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and black pepper over the beef mixture. Stir well to coat the meat and onions evenly with the spices, cooking for 1 minute to toast the spices.
  5. Return the cooked sweet potatoes to the skillet. Add black beans, corn kernels, tomato sauce, and beef broth. Stir everything together to combine thoroughly.
  6. Reduce heat to medium-low and let the mixture simmer for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sweet potatoes are completely tender and the sauce has thickened slightly.
  7. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Remove from heat and let rest for 2-3 minutes before serving.
  8. Serve hot with your choice of toppings such as shredded cheese, sour cream, fresh cilantro, avocado slices, or a squeeze of fresh lime juice.

Notes

This skillet meal stores well in airtight containers for up to 4 days. Reheat with a splash of broth to restore moisture. Perfect for meal prep or quick weeknight dinners.