One-Pan Spiced Ground Beef and Sweet Potato Skillet

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-27 · Updated 2026-04-27

A hearty one-pan meal combining ground beef with tender sweet potatoes and warming spices, perfect for a quick and satisfying dinner. This Latin American-inspired meal-prep recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs ground beef, sweet potato, olive oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 2 medium (about 1 lb), peeled and diced into 1/2-inch cubes sweet potato
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium, diced yellow onion
• 3, minced garlic cloves
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 cup, chopped fresh cilantro
• 1, cut into wedges lime

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add 1 diced yellow onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes until translucent and fragrant.
2. Step 2: Add 3 minced garlic cloves and cook for 30 seconds until aromatic, then stir in 1 lb ground beef. Cook over medium-high heat for 6-7 minutes, breaking up the beef with a spatula until browned and cooked through.
3. Step 3: Stir in 2 medium diced sweet potatoes, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1/2 tsp chili powder, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Mix well to coat the sweet potatoes and beef with the spices.
4. Step 4: Cover the skillet and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook for 12-15 minutes, stirring once halfway through, until the sweet potatoes are tender and slightly caramelized at the edges.
5. Step 5: Remove from heat and stir in 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro. Serve with lime wedges on the side to squeeze over the skillet for brightness.