Description
A hearty and flavorful Easy Ground Beef and Sweet Potato Hash recipe that combines tender sweet potatoes with browned ground beef and aromatic spices, cooked together in a skillet to create a comforting and delicious meal perfect for any time of day.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 1 large sweet potato, diced into 1/2-inch cubes
- 3/4 yellow onion, finely chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, finely chopped (about 1/4-inch pieces)
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
Meat
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20 blend)
Oils and Seasonings
- 4 tbsp olive oil (divided; preferably California Olive Ranch)
- 1 3/4 tsp Morton Kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 3/4 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/4 tsp oregano
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Prepare Mise en Place and Spice Blend: Dice the sweet potato into uniform 1/2-inch cubes to ensure even cooking. Finely chop the yellow onion and green bell pepper into 1/4-inch pieces, and mince the garlic cloves. In a small bowl, combine the salt, black pepper, chili powder, cumin, paprika, smoked paprika, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Preparing all ingredients beforehand helps streamline the cooking process and prevents burning of spices and aromatics.
- Brown the Ground Beef: Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the ground beef and cook undisturbed for 2-3 minutes to develop a crust. Break up the meat with a spoon and continue cooking until no pink remains and the beef is nicely browned, about 5-7 minutes total. Drain excess grease, leaving just enough to coat the pan for flavor and sautéing.
- Build the Flavor Base with Aromatics: Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the skillet with the cooked beef. Add the chopped onion and bell pepper, sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened and aromatic. Push vegetables aside, add the minced garlic to the empty space, and cook for about 30 seconds to release fragrance without burning.
- Add Sweet Potatoes and Season: Add the diced sweet potatoes to the skillet, stirring to combine with the beef and aromatics. Sprinkle the prepared spice blend evenly over all ingredients and stir well to coat. Allow the spices to toast slightly in the residual heat, releasing essential oils and enhancing aroma.
- Cook Until Sweet Potatoes are Tender: Lower heat to medium and cook the hash for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sweet potatoes are fork-tender and edges become slightly caramelized. Scrape up any flavorful browned bits from the bottom during stirring to add depth. Taste and adjust seasoning before serving.
Notes
- Uniformly dice sweet potatoes for even cooking and texture.
- Drain excess grease after browning beef but retain a bit to sauté vegetables for extra flavor.
- Adding garlic separately prevents burning while infusing the oil with aroma.
- Adjust spice levels by increasing or decreasing chili powder and red pepper flakes as preferred.
- This hash can be served alone or with eggs for breakfast or as a main dish for any meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: ground beef hash, sweet potato hash, easy skillet recipe, savory breakfast hash, one pan meal
