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Easy One-Pan 20-Minute Ground Beef Taco Skillet

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A quick and easy one-pan taco skillet recipe featuring seasoned ground beef, veggies, and melty cheddar cheese, perfect for busy weeknights and casual dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20 lean-to-fat ratio recommended)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 cup black beans, drained and rinsed (optional)
  • 1 cup frozen corn kernels
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup water or beef broth
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • A handful fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)
  • Flour or corn tortillas for serving (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prep your ingredients – Dice the onion and red bell pepper, mince the garlic, and drain the black beans and corn if using frozen. This should take about 5 minutes.
  2. Heat your skillet – Place your skillet over medium-high heat and let it warm up for a minute or two.
  3. Cook the ground beef – Add the ground beef to the hot skillet. Break it up with your spatula and cook until it’s mostly browned, about 5-6 minutes.
  4. Drain excess fat – If there’s a lot of grease, carefully pour it out or blot it with paper towels.
  5. Add onions, peppers, and garlic – Toss in diced onion and bell pepper, and minced garlic. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until veggies soften and the onion turns translucent.
  6. Mix in tomato paste and spices – Stir in the tomato paste, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Cook for another minute until fragrant.
  7. Add beans, corn, and liquid – Pour in the black beans, corn kernels, and water or broth. Stir to combine everything well. Let it simmer gently for 4-5 minutes so the flavors marry and the mixture thickens slightly.
  8. Top with cheese – Sprinkle shredded cheddar over the top. Cover the skillet with a lid or foil for 2-3 minutes to melt the cheese perfectly.
  9. Garnish and serve – Remove from heat, sprinkle fresh cilantro on top, and serve with warm tortillas or your favorite sides.

Notes

If the mixture looks too dry during simmering, add a splash more broth. If it’s too wet, cook uncovered a little longer to reduce the liquid. For a leaner option, substitute ground turkey or chicken. For vegetarian, use plant-based ground meat or extra beans. To keep it dairy-free, skip the cheese or use a vegan alternative.

Nutrition

Keywords: ground beef taco skillet, quick dinner, one-pan meal, taco recipe, easy dinner, weeknight meal, Mexican skillet

Find it online: https://snappyspoon.com/easy-one-pan-20-minute-ground-beef-taco-skillet-recipe-for-quick-dinners/