Description
Diving into a hearty Loaded Ground Beef and Potatoes Skillet means your dinner table gets a quick, satisfying meal that comes together faster than your favorite playlist. Combining crispy potatoes, seasoned beef, and melty cheese creates a one-pan wonder that’ll have your family racing to the table.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein and Starch:
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 20 small red or gold potatoes
Meaty Additions and Seasonings:
- 4 strips bacon
- 1 tablespoon dry mustard powder
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
Dairy and Garnish:
- 2 cups skim milk
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Green onions
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F to ensure your kitchen is ready for cooking.
- Crisp 4 strips of chopped bacon in a cast iron skillet until golden brown. Transfer bacon to paper towels, reserving drippings.
- Add 1 pound ground beef to the same skillet with bacon drippings. Season with 1 tablespoon dry mustard powder, 1 tablespoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Pour in ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce. Cook until meat loses its pink color.
- Arrange 20 thinly sliced small potatoes in layers over the beef: start with a potato base, add beef, then more potatoes, repeating until all ingredients are used.
- Gently pour 2 cups skim milk across the entire skillet, covering the potato and beef layers evenly.
- Sprinkle 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese over the top, ensuring complete coverage.
- Bake for 45-55 minutes until potatoes turn tender and cheese becomes golden and bubbling.
- Allow the skillet to rest for 5 minutes, preventing potential burns from the hot mixture.
- Garnish with reserved crispy bacon pieces and chopped green onions before serving.
Notes
- Bacon selection matters, so choose thick-cut bacon for maximum flavor and crispiness.
- Cast iron skillet delivers the best results, creating deeper caramelization and richer taste throughout the dish.
- Slice potatoes uniformly to ensure even cooking and consistent texture across the entire skillet.
- For a lighter version, swap ground beef for ground turkey and use reduced-fat cheese to cut calories without sacrificing flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes - 1 hour
- Category: One-Skillet
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 475 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.4 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg