One-Pan Cheesy Meat & Potato Skillet – Easy Weeknight Dinner with Ground Beef, Potatoes & Melted Cheese
Samantha
This One-Pan Cheesy Meat & Potato Skillet brings together lean ground beef, crispy golden potatoes, and gooey melted cheese—all cooked in a single skillet for easy cleanup. It’s a hearty, high-protein dinner that’s kid-friendly, meal-prep ready, and perfect for busy weeknights. With just a handful of pantry staples, you’ll have a budget-friendly comfort meal that’s ready in under 40 minutes.
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 30 minutes mins
Total Time 40 minutes mins
Course Dinner
Cuisine American Comfort Food
Servings 4 servings
Calories 470 kcal
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 4 medium potatoes diced small
- 1 yellow onion diced
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: green onions parsley, hot sauce for topping
Prep the Potatoes: Dice your potatoes into small, even cubes for quick cooking.
Sauté the Potatoes: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add potatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, for 10–12 minutes until golden and tender. Season with salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika.
Add Onion and Ground Beef: Push potatoes to the side. Add diced onion and ground beef. Cook until beef is browned and cooked through, breaking it up with a spatula.
Combine and Crisp: Stir everything together and spread evenly in the skillet. Press down slightly to crisp the bottom layer for 3–4 minutes.
Top with Cheese: Sprinkle cheese over the top. Cover and let melt, or broil for 2–3 minutes if using an oven-safe pan.
Garnish and Serve: Top with chopped green onions or parsley. Serve hot!
Secret Tips for the Best One-Pan Cheesy Meat & Potato Skillet
1. Brown the beef deeply: Don’t rush this step. Let your ground beef develop a deep golden crust in the skillet before stirring. That browned flavor adds serious depth to this easy one-pan dinner and takes your skillet meal to the next level.
2. Parboil your potatoes: If you’re in a hurry on a weeknight, partially boiling the potatoes before adding them to the skillet will speed up the cooking process. It also ensures tender insides and crispy outsides—exactly what you want in a cheesy meat and potato skillet recipe.
3. Use a blend of cheeses: For gooey, melty perfection, combine shredded cheddar with a bit of mozzarella or Monterey Jack. This not only improves meltability but adds layers of flavor to your cheesy ground beef and potato skillet.
4. Don’t skip the lid: Once the cheese goes on, cover the skillet and let the steam help melt the cheese evenly across the top. It’s the secret to getting that creamy, comforting finish without burning the bottom.
5. Add veggies for balance: Toss in bell peppers, mushrooms, or even baby spinach toward the end of cooking. It’s a great way to sneak in nutrients and create a more balanced one-pan meal without sacrificing flavor or texture.
6. Season in layers: Season the ground beef, then again when you add the potatoes, and once more before adding cheese. Building flavor in stages is key to making a cheesy meat & potato dinner that’s anything but bland.
7. Let it rest before serving: Once your skillet is off the heat, let it sit for 3–5 minutes before digging in. This helps the cheese set slightly and allows flavors to meld, making each bite of this ground beef and potato skillet dinner even more satisfying.Keyword cheesy potato beef skillet, easy weeknight beef skillet, family friendly one skillet dinner, gluten free cheesy skillet, ground beef skillet dinner, high protein meat and potato meal, one-pan cheesy meat potato skillet, skillet dinner for meal prep
