One Pan Southwest Beef & Sweet Potato Skillet
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure for more information.
This One-Pan Southwest Beef & Sweet Potato Skillet is a high-protein, high-fiber, flavor-packed meal perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep. As a dietitian, I love crafting recipes that check all the nutrient boxes and this one does just that!
If you love one-pan meals, be sure to check out my Creamy Tuscan Chicken Orzo Skillet!
Quick Look: One Pan Southwest Beef & Sweet Potato Skillet
- 🕒 Total Time: 35 minutes
- 👥 Servings: 4
- 📊 Calories: 353 per serving
SUMMARIZE & SAVE THIS CONTENT ON
Why You'll Love This Easy One Pan Skillet Meal
✔️ High-Protein & Balanced - Lean ground beef provides plenty of protein, while sweet potatoes add fiber and essential vitamins like Vitamin A.
✔️ One-Pan Convenience - Minimal cleanup with few dishes. Can I get an amen?!
✔️ Flavor-Packed - A mix of chili powder, cumin, fire-roasted tomatoes, and optional green chiles brings a delicious smoky, slightly spicy taste. It's giving chili vibes.
Jump to:
Select Ingredients
- Lean Ground Beef - You can swap this out with ground turkey and chicken for a leaner option. You may want to add additional seasonings if you use one of these other meats.
- Sweet Potatoes - 1 large sweet potato will typically yield 2 cups of diced sweet potato.
- Cheddar Cheese - I like this with a melty cheddar cheese but if you want more of a kick, try shredded Pepper Jack!
- Optional - If you like even more flavor, add 4 ounces of canned diced green chiles!
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Recipe Tips & Variations
➡️ Swap the Protein - Easily change it up by using ground turkey or chicken for a lighter option-or go meatless with black beans for a hearty vegetarian version.
➡️ Add More Veggies - Boost the nutrition and color by tossing in bell peppers, spinach, or zucchini. They blend perfectly with the smoky Southwest flavors.
➡️ Perfect for Meal Prep - This skillet reheats beautifully! Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days, then warm them up in a skillet or microwave for a quick, high-protein meal anytime.
How to Make This One Pan Southwest Beef & Sweet Potato Skillet
Step 1: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Cook the diced onion until translucent, then add the ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon. Season with chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
Step 2: In the same skillet, add sweet potatoes, fire-roasted tomatoes, green chiles (optional), water, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. Stir, cover, and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are tender.
Step 3: Return the ground beef mixture to the skillet and stir everything together. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on top, cover the skillet again, and let it cook for another minute or until the cheese is melted.
Step 4: Top with sliced green onions and serve warm. Enjoy!
Recipe FAQs
Yes! You can prep the ingredients in advance, but the skillet is best enjoyed fresh. Store cooked leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days and reheat gently to maintain the texture of the sweet potatoes.
Absolutely. Ground turkey or chicken works well for a lighter option, and black beans make a hearty vegetarian version. If you use a leaner protein, you may want to add additional spices to boost the flavor!
Yes! This one-pan skillet is naturally gluten-free as long as your fire-roasted tomatoes and spices don't contain any additives with gluten.
Get Healthy Dinner Recipes Without the Stress! Check out my Wholesome Meals Made Easy meal planning app for more easy, healthy recipes your whole crew will actually love. It's like having a dietitian in your back pocket - quick, balanced, and family-approved!
More Delicious One Pan Meals
If you tried this One Pan Southwest Beef & Sweet Potato Skillet or any other recipe on my site, please leave a rating and comment below! Thanks for visiting!
One Pan Southwest Beef & Sweet Potato Skillet
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup diced onion
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 5 teaspoons chili powder divided
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon grated garlic
- 2 cups peeled and diced sweet potatoes
- 14.5 ounce can fire roasted diced tomatoes
- 4 ounces canned diced green chiles
- ¼ cup water
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese (or use pepperjack for more kick)
- 2 green onions sliced for garnish
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add in the ground beef and diced onion and crumble the beef with a wooden spoon. (To save time, you can use a second skillet to start step 3 and begin cooking the sweet potato and tomatoes if you prefer.)
- Add in 1 tablespoon of chili powder, 1 teaspoon of cumin, and season with salt and pepper. When the beef is nearly cooked through add in the garlic and cook for another minute. Pour it out onto a plate and wipe out the skillet.
- Add the diced sweet potato, fire roasted tomatoes, green chiles, water, 2 teaspoons of chili powder, 1 teaspoon cumin, salt and pepper to the skillet. Stir everything together and cover it with a lid.
- Lower the heat and let it simmer for about 20 minutes or until the sweet potatoes are tender.
- Add the ground beef mixture in with the sweet potatoes and stir everything together.
- Top with shredded cheese and cover with the lid again for another minute or until the cheese is melted.
- Top with green onions and serve.
This was such a quick and easy dinner that was a hit with everyone. I need high-protein recipes like this before my kids' sports practice, and this one did not disappoint. It wasn't filled with lots of pasta.
I love the beef with the sweet potatoes in this recipe! This also has worked great for meal prepping for me and my family!
Beef with sweet potatoes is a knock out! So yummy!
This is super yummy and my kids devour.