Stovetop Harissa Beef and Sweet Potato Skillet

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Spicy harissa paste melds with tender ground beef and sweet potatoes in a quick skillet dish bursting with North African flavors. This African-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs ground beef, harissa paste, sweet potato for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 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.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 20 min Serves 4 African cuisine 480 cal/serving
Build a week of meals around this recipe → Shop this recipe on Instacart → Shop equipment ↓

Ingredients

Nonstick skillets worth buying → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide

Affiliate disclosure: AislePrompt may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through Amazon links, at no additional cost to you. See our policy →

Equipment for this recipe

Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.

More Cookware & pots → Shop all kitchen tools →

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 medium diced yellow onion and 2 minced garlic cloves, sautéing for 3 minutes until softened and fragrant.
  2. Step 2: Add 1 large peeled and diced sweet potato (1/2-inch cubes) to the skillet and cook for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally until the edges begin to brown.
  3. Step 3: Stir in 1 lb ground beef, breaking it apart with a spatula. Cook for 5 minutes until beef is browned and no longer pink.
  4. Step 4: Mix in 2 tbsp harissa paste, 1 tsp cumin powder, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Stir well and cook for another 4 minutes until the sweet potatoes are tender and flavors meld.
  5. Step 5: Remove from heat and sprinkle 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro over the skillet before serving.

Related recipes