• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Restless Chipotle

  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • Start Here
    • Ingredients Substitutions
    • Tips for Measuring Ingredients Accurately
  • About
  • Shop
  • Your Recipe Box
  • Meal Plans
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Recipes
  • My Recipes
  • Meal Plans
  • Start Here!
  • Videos
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Recipe Box
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Recipes
  • My Recipes
  • Meal Plans
  • Start Here!
  • Videos
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Recipe Box
×

Home » Recipes » Easy Dinners

Creamy Ground Beef and Potato Skillet Dinner

Published: Mar 10, 2021 Last Updated: Oct 30, 2021 by Marye 1088 words. | About 6 minutes to read this article.

When you need a quick, family friendly, weeknight meal you'll reach for this cheesy, creamy ground beef and potato skillet dinner recipe again and again! Just six ingredients, one skillet, and about 30 minutes is all it takes!
Total time 30 minutes
Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
An iron skillet filled with a cheesy casserole. Text overlay for Pinterest.

There's nothing better than a one pan dinner like this hamburger skillet! You might also like the easy smoked sausage Alfredo recipe!

Title image. A cast iron skillet filled with a creamy beef and potato mixture.
When you need hearty comfort food it's recipes with ground beef and potatoes to the rescue!
Jump to:
  • ❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
  • 🧾 Ingredients
  • 🔪 Instructions
  • 🥫 Storage
  • 💭 Things to know
  • Variations
  • 👩🏻‍🍳 Frequently asked questions
  • 📚 Related recipes
  • Creamy Ground Beef and Potato Skillet Dinner
  • 💬 Comments

❤️ Why you'll love this recipe

  • Takes just 30 minutes
  • 1 pan means easy clean up
  • Creamy and comforting

There's just something about a ground beef skillet dinner that makes us smile! Maybe it's the easy cleanup.

🧾 Ingredients

Six simple ingredients plus the usual suspects: salt, pepper, and a little oil!

image of labeled ingredients for creamy beef skillet dinner
  • Lean ground beef - since this is cooked all in one skillet I don't want to have to deal with a lot of grease. I use 90/10 but you can use whatever blend you like. If you use something with a lot of fat be sure to cook the meat first and pour off the fat before adding the potatoes and onions
  • Potatoes - peeled or not. If I use Yukon Gold sometimes I just wash them really well and leave the peel on. If you want to save a lot of time buy the chopped hash browns from the dairy section of your store.

This is an easy meal to stretch when there is more month than paycheck.

  • No potatoes? Use cauliflower or rice.
  • Cut back on the meat and use more potatoes or rice to fill it out.
  • Add cooked pinto, kidney, or black beans.
  • Use Pepper Jack or any easily melted cheese in place of the Cheddar.
  • Use any creamy soup in place of the cream of mushroom.

🔪 Instructions

Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the green recipe card below.

Step by step images for creamy beef and potato skillet dinner
This family friendly hamburger skillet recipe is quick and easy - perfect comfort food for a weeknight.
  1. Heat about 2 tablespoons of oil in an iron skillet (or any heavy skillet).
  2. Add the potatoes and onions.
  3. Saute until the potatoes begin to get golden but aren't mushy.
  4. Add the meat and cook until it is cooked through and the potatoes are tender.
  5. Mix the milk and soup.
  6. Add half the cheese.
  7. Spoon into the skillet, mixing in the ground beef and potatoes. Top with remaining cheese.
  8. Cover, turn heat off and let the skillet stand, covered, for 5 minutes so the cheese melts.
  9. Serve.

🥫 Storage

This easy ground beef skillet recipe can be stored, tightly covered, in the refrigerator for up to four days if you have leftovers. It doesn't freeze well because of the potatoes - they sometimes get rubbery.

💭 Things to know

This is such a simple dinner but here are some tips to make it even easier.

Expert Tip: Try to get the potatoes all the same size - they'll cook quicker and more evenly.

  • Make it super fast by using pre-cooked hashbrown potatoes. They're usually available near the eggs in the dairy section.
  • Use a bag of frozen onion and pepper mix to cut down on prep time.
  • This does not freeze well.
  • Serve with a salad for a quick meal. If you happen to have some dinner rolls in the freezer all the better.

Variations

Variety is the spice of life, right?

  • Add chopped chiles or jalapenos for a little kick.
  • Substitute different cheeses for the Cheddar.
  • Use cauliflower for the potatoes to save on calories and carbs.
  • Add a pinch of garlic powder.
  • Leftover pot roast works well in this recipe as a substitute for the meat in this recipe.
  • You can use non-dairy milk products like coconut, oat, or cashew milk. Just make sure it's not the sweetened kind.
  • Add some diced carrots in with the potatoes and ground beef.
Close up of creamy beef and potato skillet dinner on a plate
Easy ground beef skillet dinner is done in 30 minutes.

👩🏻‍🍳 Frequently asked questions

Here are the questions I am most frequently asked about this recipe.

Can you cook ground beef and vegetables together?

Yes! Just make sure everything is thoroughly cooked before serving.

How do you fry ground beef so it is well browned and not dry?

The leaner the meat the drier it will be after cooking. 85/25 is usually a good compromise.

Can I use ground chicken or turkey in this recipe?

Sure! You can use all chicken or turkey if you want - or you can mix it with the ground beef to help cut down on fat.

📚 Related recipes

Love this creamy ground beef and potato skillet dinner? Me, too! Here are some more of our favorites -

  • Bourbon Chicken has a crispy coating and a sweet-spicy-tangy sauce clings to it, creating a symphony of flavor!
  • Burrito Casserole is an easy make-ahead recipe with lots of Tex-Mex flavor - gooey cheese and seasoned beef. 
  • King Ranch Chicken  is super quick and easy. Chicken, Ro*Tel, and onion are mixed with a creamy sauce and layered with corn tortillas and cheese.
Back to school cookbook cover.

Enjoy 30 quick weeknight dinner recipes!

Get the Cookbook!
A wooden spoon serving a cheesy casserole from a skillet.
4.71 from 77 votes

Creamy Ground Beef and Potato Skillet Dinner

Print Pin Recipe Save Go to Collections
Prevent your screen from going dark
When you need a quick, family friendly, weeknight meal you'll reach for this cheesy, creamy ground beef and potato skillet dinner recipe again and again! Just six ingredients, one skillet, and about 30 minutes is all it takes!
Course Main Dish (Quick and Easy)
Cuisine American - Vintage
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings:6
Calories:511
Author:Marye Audet-White
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Equipment Needed

  • Iron Skillet

Ingredients

  • 5 potatoes, peeled and diced
  • ½ cup onion , chopped
  • 1 pound ground beef, extra lean
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • 14.5 ounces cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
  • ⅔ cup milk
  • 2 cups Cheddar Cheese, or Pepper Jack - shredded

I earn a commission from Instacart from qualifying purchases.

Instructions

  • Heat about 2 tablespoons of oil in the iron skillet.
  • Add the potatoes and onions.
  • Saute until the potatoes begin to get golden but aren't mushy.
  • Add the ground beef.
  • Cook, stirring often, until beef is cooked through and potatoes are tender.
  • Mix the milk and cream of mushroom soup, whisking until smooth.
  • Add half the cheese to the milk mixture.
  • Stir well and spoon into the skillet.
  • Stir and simmer until the cheese melts and the sauce is covering all the meat and potatoes.
  • If the mixture in the skillet looks too thick I'll add about ¼ cup more milk or water to loosen it up.
  • Sprinkle with remaining cheese and cover.
  • Turn heat off and let the skillet stand, covered, for 5 minutes so the cheese melts.
  • Serve.

Notes

Tips
This is such a simple dinner but here are some tips to make it even easier.
  • Make it super fast by using pre-cooked hashbrown potatoes. They're usually available near the eggs in the dairy section.
  • Use a bag of frozen onion and pepper mix to cut down on prep time.
  • Try to get the potatoes all the same size - they'll cook quicker and more evenly.
  • This does not freeze well.
  • Serve with a salad for a quick meal. If you happen to have some dinner rolls in the freezer all the better.
Variations
Variety is the spice of life, right?
  • Add chopped chiles or jalapenos for a little kick.
  • Substitute different cheeses for the Cheddar.
  • Use cauliflower for the potatoes to save on calories and carbs.
  • Add a pinch of garlic powder.
  • Leftover pot roast works well in this recipe as a substitute for the meat in this recipe.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 511kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 99mg | Sodium: 994mg | Potassium: 1116mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 421IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 375mg | Iron: 8mg

Sign up for the emails and never miss another recipe!!

    We'll never share your email or send you spam. Pinkie swear.

    First published February 24, 2020. Last updated March 10, 2021 for better instructions and readability.

    More Easy Family Dinner Recipes

    • Honey Garlic Meatballs
    • One Pot Taco Spaghetti Recipe
    • Garlic Bread Casserole
    • Cheap Mexican Dinner Ideas
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    About Marye

    With a 40 year focus on the importance of family and a passion for southern comfort food, Marye Audet-White is an expert in melding the two together effortlessly. Marye's a NY Times Bestselling author with 10 cookbooks under her belt and her recipes have been featured in Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Today, House Beautiful, Texas Living, Food & Wine, and many more.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Novice Cook

      August 11, 2022 at 9:33 pm

      Used Cream of Celery instead and it didn't turn out as I hoped

      Reply
    2. Novice Cook

      August 11, 2022 at 8:12 pm

      How much baby potatoes should I sub for the regular sized potatoes.

      Reply
      • Marye

        August 12, 2022 at 5:31 pm

        It depends on the size. Maybe 4?

    3. Jon

      March 08, 2022 at 6:53 pm

      5 stars
      This was a big hit at our house.

      Reply
    4. james

      February 06, 2022 at 3:07 pm

      Very nice article. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
    5. imsen

      February 04, 2022 at 8:07 am

      5 stars
      Love this recipe! This was very tasty!

      Quick and Easy Family Recipes

      Reply
    6. Loretta Rogers

      May 20, 2021 at 1:45 pm

      could I add some frozen broccoli also?

      Reply
      • Marye

        May 21, 2021 at 11:18 am

        Sure!

    7. Brandy

      March 26, 2021 at 3:06 pm

      Can i use frozen hashbrowns for this recipe?

      Reply
      • Marye

        March 26, 2021 at 4:20 pm

        Sure!

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Love it? Give it 5 stars!




    Primary Sidebar

    Marye Audet-White, founder of Restless Chipotle Media

    Hey Y'all, I'm Marye.

    NY Times bestselling author. Written over 10 cookbooks. Mom of 8 kids. Homeschooling mom for 22 years. Army veteran. Nothing fazes me & together we're going to get the kind of meals on your table that you (and your family) have been dreaming of. 

    More about me →

    ❤️Valentine's Day

    • Red Velvet Puppy Chow for Valentine's Day
    • 50 Red Velvet Recipes for Every Occasion
    • Red Velvet Bundt Cake
    • 10 Best Chocolate Gifts

    👑 Reader Favorites

    • Crispy Fried Potatoes
    • English Muffin Bread Recipe
    • No Fail Amish White Bread
    • Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

    Love Bread?

    Be sure to visit my new blog, Breadcrumbs in the Butter. Just bread recipes!

    Logo for breadcrumbs in the butter blog.

    Valentine's Day Dessert Ideas

    (Just click on the button at the bottom of each page to see the recipe)

    Valentine's Day Dessert Ideas

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • About Marye Audet-White
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility Policy
    MaryeAudet Whiteandherchildren Dec

    Featured in:

    Companies that Marye Audet-White and Restless Chipotle have been affiliated with.

    Contact Marye

    • Contact
    Marye Audet-White, founder of Restless Chipotle Media

    Copyright ©2006 - 2023 Restless Chipotle Media, LLC