Easy Ground Beef and Potatoes Skillet is a delicious yet simple meal made from staple pantry ingredients. This cheesy homemade dinner is quick enough for a weeknight meal and packed full of amazing flavors your family will request time and time again.
Simple Ground Beef Skillet Recipe
Easy skillet meals are always such a hit with my family. This is one they particularly love. It's such a simple ground beef recipe with ingredients you probably have at home.
My mother-in-law used to make something similar to this. It was beef patties and sliced onions. I simplified it and added cheese to the mix.
Such humble ingredients combine together for a delicious meal your family will ask for this ground beef and potatoes skillet again and again.
Ingredients
- Ground Beef
- Onions
- Garlic
- Potatoes
- Heavy Cream or Milk
- Salt & Pepper
- Cheese (of course)
How to make Cheesy Hamburger and Potatoes Skillet Recipe
- First dice your onions or use some from the frozen or produce sections of the grocery store.
- Next slice potatoes really thin. We like to leave the peel on, but you can certainly peel them first. I use a mandoline to get a really nice thin cut.
- Get a nice seasoned cast iron skillet or your use your favorite skillet that has a lid. I use a 12 inch seasoned cast iron skillet. Cook hamburger meat along with salt and pepper until nicely browned and done. Do not drain the grease for this recipe. It helps cook the potatoes and gives the dish tons of flavor.
- Add in fresh garlic and onions. You can also use jarred minced garlic or garlic powder if you don't have fresh.
- Place sliced potatoes and cream in and stir it all really well.
- Put on the lid and cook for 20 minutes. Then give it a good stir and mix everything up and move those on the bottom up and give the others time to cook and brown up a bit on the bottom.
- Place on the lid and cook for 15 more minutes. Check to potatoes to be sure they are done (fork tender). If not, cook another 10 minutes or until potatoes are completely cooked.
- Once the potatoes are done, sprinkle the cheese on top and put the lid back on. Cook for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
- Sprinkle with parsley and serve!
Tips for Beef and Potatoes Success
Tips
- Make sure not to drain your drippings. You need to grease to cook and season the potatoes.
- I like to use Russet potatoes, you can also use Yukon gold or a Red potato if that is what you have on hand. Keep it simple and use items you have.
- Slice the potatoes really thin so they will cook nicely in this short amount of time.
- If things start to stick badly when simmering, add a little beef or chicken stock or even water. You will notice them sticking a touch and that is okay. I don't usually do not need to add any liquid. There is enough moisture oil from the hamburger meat and the cream.
More Easy Family Friendly Meals
- Lemon Chicken and Potatoes Skillet
- Cheesy Unstuffed Pepper Skillet
- Creamy Spaghetti Sausage
- Creamy Italian Sausage Tortellini Skillet
- Cheesy Hamburger Skillet (Homemade Hamburger Helper)
- Ground Beef Doritos Casserole
- Ground Beef and Sausage Rice
Easy Ground Beef and Potatoes Skillet
Easy Ground Beef and Potatoes Skillet is a delicious yet simple meal made from staple pantry ingredients. This cheesy homemade dinner is quick enough for a weeknight meal and packed full of amazing flavors your family will request time and time again.
Ingredients
- 1 to 1.5 pounds ground beef
- salt, to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
- ½ cup yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves fresh garlic, minced or 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 6 to 8 medium potatoes, thinly sliced
- 1 cup heavy cream or milk
- 2 cups of shredded colby jack cheese
Instructions
- In a large skillet, with lid, add in ground beef and crumble with spatula. Season with salt and pepper. Cook and crumble ground beef until done or browned. Do not drain fat off after cooking.
- Add in diced onion and fresh garlic and stir.
- Next add in thinly sliced potatoes.
- Pour in heavy cream or milk and stir to combine.
- Cover with lid and cook on medium low heat for 15 minutes. Then remove lid and stir well.
- Place lid back on and cook for another 20 minutes. Check potatoes to see if they are done (tender when pierced with a fork). If not repeat another 10 minutes and check. Cook until potatoes are done.
- Once potatoes are fork tender, sprinkle cheese on top. Place the lid on skillet and cook for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.
- Garnish with parsley or sliced green onion and serve.
✱ Nikki's Tips
- Make sure not to drain your drippings. You need to grease to cook and season the potatoes.
- I like to use Russet potatoes, you can also use Yukon gold or a Red potato if that is what you have on hand. Keep it simple and use items you have.
- Slice the potatoes really thin so they will cook nicely in this short amount of time.
- If things start to stick badly when simmering, add a little beef or chicken stock or even water. You will notice them sticking a touch and that is okay. I don't usually do not need to add any liquid. There is enough moisture oil from the hamburger meat and the cream.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 1 serving Calories: 627 kcal Carbohydrates: 42 g Protein: 36 g Fat: 35 g Saturated Fat: 18 g Polyunsaturated Fat: 13 g Trans Fat: 1 g Cholesterol: 138 mg Sodium: 364 mg Fiber: 4 g Sugar: 4 g
Nutrition Disclaimer
Soulfully Made is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Paula Campbell says
The recipe was really easy to fix. The potatoes didn’t take nearly as long as expected. However, it was delicious! We will definitely be making this again.
Nikki Lee says
I am so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for stopping by to let us know! We appreciate it!
Mariah says
If you wanna turn this into a shepherds pie pan meal, add corn and Worcestershire sauce , it is very delicious and a splash of beef broth or water helps with not sticking
Lyndie says
I added Worcestershire sauce to the beef/onion mix. It got a little burnt even though I cooked it on low instead of medium low. I would recommend stirring at 15, 10, and 10 minutes. Overall 👍! I will definitely make it again with a few of my own additions - paprika, mushrooms, maybe bacon on top.
Nikki Lee says
I am so glad you liked it. Add a little beef broth, water, or more cream if you start to see it stick. It can do this if you use really lean beef sometimes. There are other factors sometimes potatoes soak in the moisture faster than others. Stirring does help as well. Those all sound like delicious add-ins!
Robyn Wright says
Great easy recipe! I just made it tonight and I shared it with a few friends as well who are always looking for easy family meals. Thank you!
Nikki Lee says
Thank you, Robyn! I am so glad you enjoyed it. It is one of my family's favorites. I appreciate you sharing the recipe with your friends! I hope they try it and love it too!
Cassandra Groves says
Amazing! Easy! I sliced THIN - so ready for cheese after the first 15 minutes. Thanks for recipe!
Nikki Lee says
I am so glad you loved it! This one is on our meal rotation. Easy and the family really loves it too!
Paula says
I made this tonight and we loved it! I didn't have Colby Jack cheese so I used shredded cheddar and it came out good.
Nikki Lee says
I am so glad you all loved it, Paula!
Jeanne says
My sister made this recipe today, and there way too many potatoes for the pan we used, which was very large. What is a "medium" potatoe? What kind of potatoes? My sister sliced 7 large russet potatoes, and it was way too much for the pan, which was large and deep, so I had to fry the extra amount, and they started to discolor. It took much longer to cook than 20 minutes, probabl closer to an hour. Perhaps it would be better to say 4-5 cups of sliced potatoes or define how big "medium" is.
Nikki Lee says
Jeanne, a medium potato is usually 6-8 ounces and is 2 to 3 inches in diameter. One potato usually yields about 3/4 a cup sliced potatoes. You really can use any potato in this recipe, but in the recipe card notes, it specifies I have used russet, Yukon, and red potatoes for this recipe. I use a 12-inch skillet. Also, per the recipe, the cooking time is 40 minutes in total (but also until fork tender). Sometimes you may need a little extra cook time based on the water content in the potato which can vary even in a specific type of potato, thus why adding the direction to check with a fork until tender. Hope this helps and please let me know if you have any other questions.
Morgan Black says
An easier way to do this recipe is to simply grab a bag of frozen potatoes O'Brian. add the cream as directed but I add Worcestershire, and beef bullion to the ground meat...also turns out well with turkey.
Nikki Lee says
Nice shortcut idea when you don't want to add fresh!
Ashley says
Why did my potatoes and meat burn to the bottom the first 15 mins ?
Nikki Lee says
There may not have been enough grease in the ground beef or the skillet may have been up too high, all stovetops run a little different. Try lowering your setting. You can add a little beef or chicken stock if you have an issue. Make sure you don't drain the grease off of the meat.
Amy Nash says
Hit the spot! My entire family enjoyed this meal and there wasn't a spoonful left by the end! Plus, it was super easy to throw together!
Kathleen Pope says
Loved your tip about slicing the potatoes really thin (we keep the skins on too), they cook quickly and are tender every time. A delicious dinner!
JENNIFER STEWART says
I always loved this when my mom made it for dinner because there was always leftovers so I could eat it for breakfast. This recipe reminds me of my moms because she used colby jack instead of cheddar as well!
Shel says
Thank you, Nikki! Very easy to make for a novice cook like me! And... the best part? Very tasty! Looking forward to leftovers for lunch tomorrow!
Nikki Lee says
Thank you Shel! My family loves this one too! Enjoy those leftovers!
Julia says
This is my kind of meal! Looks delicious.
Nikki - Soulfully Made says
Thank you so much! My family loves it and it's such an easy weeknight meal!
Debbie says
I made this for dinner tonight. It was very good, my family liked it. It was easy too!
Nikki - Soulfully Made says
Thank you Debbie! I am so glad the family enjoyed it!