Description
This Cheesy Beef & Sweet Potato Skillet pairs caramelized sweet potatoes with savory seasoned ground beef, black beans, and melty cheddar. Finished with a zesty yogurt-lime drizzle, fresh tomatoes, and scallions, it’s a cozy, high-protein one-pan dinner ready in about 40 minutes.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
- 1 pound lean ground beef (90/10)
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt, plus more to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup low-sodium beef broth (or water)
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 large tomato, diced
- 3 scallions, thinly sliced
- Fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)
- Yogurt-Lime Drizzle: 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt + zest and juice of 1/2 lime + pinch of salt
Instructions
Crisp the sweet potatoes
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a 12-inch cast-iron or oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add sweet potato cubes and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and almost tender, 8–10 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
Brown the beef
Add remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up, until browned and no longer pink, 4–5 minutes. Spoon off excess fat if needed.
Sauté the aromatics
Stir in onion, bell pepper, and garlic; cook 3 minutes. Add tomato paste and cook 1 minute.
Season & simmer
Stir in chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Pour in beef broth to deglaze, scraping up browned bits. Simmer 2 minutes.
Bring it together
Return sweet potatoes to the skillet with black beans. Fold gently to combine and adjust seasoning.
Melt the cheese
Sprinkle cheddar over the skillet. Cover on low 2–3 minutes until melted (or broil 1 minute, watching closely).
Finish & serve
Mix yogurt with lime zest, lime juice, and a pinch of salt. Drizzle over the skillet and top with diced tomato, scallions, and cilantro. Serve hot.
Notes
Dice sweet potatoes evenly for fast, even cooking. Season in layers for the best flavor. For make-ahead, cook through before adding cheese; reheat, then add cheese and toppings just before serving. Swap ground turkey for a lighter twist.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: One-Pan Skillet
- Cuisine: American-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 16g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Protein: 29g
Keywords: beef and sweet potato skillet, one pan dinner, ground beef recipe, cheesy skillet, healthy weeknight dinner