One Pan Cheesy Meat & Potato Skillet

Are busy weeknights leaving you searching for a meal that satisfies everyone without creating a mountain of washing up? Do you long for a dish that is wholesome, comforting, and guaranteed to be a family hit without any of the usual fuss? We have certainly been there. That’s why we believe a truly great meal should be as delightful to prepare as it is to devour. Your solution for the weeknight dinner rush is right here: our fabulous One-Pan Cheesy Meat & Potato Skillet. It’s a complete, flavour-filled dinner cooked entirely in one pan, promising maximum enjoyment with minimum clean-up. At Recipestasteful, we love being the secret ingredient for home cooks, and this recipe is a wonderful reflection of that mission.

Why You’ll Adore This Skillet Dinner

We’re confident this recipe will quickly become a household favourite, and for very good reason. It’s more than just a delicious meal; it’s a clever solution for modern family life, embodying everything we love about a great comfort food recipe.

• One-Pan Simplicity: From start to finish, every step happens in a single skillet. This means less time spent at the sink and more time enjoying your evening with loved ones.
• A Hit with Everyone: With its savoury minced beef, fluffy potatoes, and a generous blanket of melted cheese, this dish has a classic flavour profile that even the fussiest eaters will love.
• Ready in a Flash: This hearty and satisfying meal can be on your dinner table in under 45 minutes, making it the ideal choice for those hectic evenings.
• Make It Your Own: We provide a wonderful foundation, but feel free to get creative! You can easily add extra vegetables, try different cheeses, or turn up the heat with a pinch of spice.

Ingredients for Your Cheesy Meat & Potato Skillet

The charm of this skillet dinner is its reliance on simple, wholesome ingredients that you can easily find at your local shop. Together, they create something truly comforting and delicious. Here is what you will need to gather.

• Olive Oil: 1 tablespoon, for sautéing.
• Lean Ground Beef: 500g (about 1 lb). You can also use ground turkey or chicken.
• Onion: 1 medium, finely chopped.
• Garlic: 2 cloves, minced.
• Potatoes: 700g (about 1.5 lbs), peeled and diced into ½-inch cubes. Maris Piper or King Edward potatoes work wonderfully as they hold their shape but become tender.
• Beef Broth: 240ml (1 cup). This helps to cook the potatoes and creates a savoury sauce.
• Worcestershire Sauce: 1 tablespoon, for a deep, umami flavour.
• Dried Herbs: 1 teaspoon of dried oregano and ½ teaspoon of dried thyme.
• Salt and Black Pepper: To taste.
• Cheddar Cheese: 200g, grated. A mature cheddar will give you the best flavour.
• Fresh Parsley: 2 tablespoons, chopped, for garnish (optional).

A Note on Ingredients

We’ve found that the final dish really shines when you use good quality ingredients. Opting for lean minced beef gives the best texture, and when it comes to the cheese, we always suggest grating a block yourself. Pre-grated cheeses often contain anti-caking agents that can hinder that perfectly smooth, gooey melt we’re aiming for.

Step-by-Step Instructions to a Perfect One-Pan Dinner

Are you ready to whip up the ultimate easy weeknight dinner? We’ve laid out the process below in simple, clear steps to guide you towards a bubbling, cheesy skillet masterpiece. It’s practically foolproof!

1. Brown the Mince: In a large, oven-safe skillet or frying pan, warm the olive oil over a medium-high heat. Add the minced beef and cook, using a wooden spoon to break it apart, until it is beautifully browned all over. Carefully drain away any excess fat.
2. Sauté the Aromatics: Add the finely chopped onion to the pan with the beef and continue to cook for another 3-4 minutes, until softened and translucent. Now, stir through the minced garlic and cook for one more minute until you can smell its lovely aroma.
3. Add Potatoes and Liquid: Tip the diced potatoes into the skillet, followed by the beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, dried oregano, and thyme. Give it a good season with salt and pepper, then stir well to ensure everything is evenly combined.
4. Simmer to Perfection: Bring the contents of the pan to a lively simmer. Then, lower the heat to medium-low, pop on a lid, and allow it to cook gently for 15-20 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when a fork slides easily into the potatoes. We recommend stirring it once or twice to make sure nothing catches on the bottom.
5. Get Cheesy: Once the potatoes are perfectly tender and the sauce has thickened nicely, take off the lid. Generously sprinkle the grated cheddar cheese all over the surface of the meat and potato mixture.
6. Melt and Serve: You’ve got two lovely options for melting the cheese. For a simple melt, you can cover the pan again for a couple of minutes. For a truly irresistible golden, bubbly crust, slide the skillet under a preheated hot grill for 2-3 minutes. Just be sure to watch it closely so it doesn’t burn!
7. Garnish and Enjoy: Carefully remove the skillet from the heat – remember the handle will be extremely hot! Let it stand for a moment before scattering over the fresh parsley, if using. Serve immediately, directly from the pan, for that wonderful rustic feel.

Our Top Tips for Skillet Success

We’re committed to helping you make this One-Pan Cheesy Meat & Potato Skillet a roaring success. Here are a few of our favourite tips, straight from our kitchen, to guarantee a perfect result every time you make it.

• Don’t Crowd the Pan: Ensure you use a generously sized skillet (we suggest at least 10-12 inches). This gives your ingredients ample room to cook properly, allowing the mince to brown beautifully instead of steaming, which is vital for building a rich flavour base. The science behind this, the Maillard reaction, is fascinating—BBC Good Food explains it perfectly.
• Cut Potatoes Evenly: Take a moment to chop your potatoes into uniform ½-inch cubes. This simple step is key to ensuring they all cook through at the same pace, preventing any unwelcome hard bits amongst the tender potatoes.
• Taste and Adjust Seasoning: Remember that the saltiness of beef broth can differ between brands. It’s always a wise idea to taste the mixture just before you add the cheese, adjusting the salt and pepper to your liking.
• Let the Cheese Get Bubbly: That final flourish under the grill makes all the difference, creating a golden, slightly crisp cheese topping that is simply divine. It’s this combination of savoury mince and gooey cheese that makes dishes like this so beloved. If you’re a fan, you will absolutely love our Tasty Cheesy Ground Beef Stuffed Crispy Mashed Potatoes too.

Variations and Customisations

One of the true joys of this ground beef skillet recipe is how adaptable it is. We encourage you to use our recipe as a starting point for your own culinary adventures. Here are some of our favourite twists:

• Add More Veggies: Why not boost the nutritional value by adding some chopped bell peppers, mushrooms, or even courgettes at the same time as the onion? A handful of fresh spinach stirred through at the very end will wilt down beautifully, too.
• Spice It Up: If you enjoy a bit of warmth, a pinch of crushed chilli flakes, a few dashes of your favourite hot sauce, or a finely chopped jalapeño added with the garlic will do the trick.
• Change the Meat: This recipe is just as delicious when made with ground turkey, chicken mince, or even crumbled spicy Italian-style sausages.
• Experiment with Cheese: While cheddar is a fantastic choice, don’t hesitate to play around. A blend of Monterey Jack and Red Leicester would be incredibly gooey, while a sprinkle of Parmesan would add a wonderful salty depth.

If hearty beef dishes are a staple in your home, we have plenty more inspiration for you. For another wonderfully simple and satisfying meal, we highly recommend trying Our Ultimate Easy Creamy Garlic Parmesan Beef Rotini Recipe?

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the best type of skillet to use for this One-Pan Cheesy Meat & Potato Skillet?

For this One-Pan Cheesy Meat & Potato Skillet, we find a well-seasoned cast-iron skillet gives the best results. It holds and distributes heat exceptionally well, can go from hob to grill, and creates a superb crust on the mince. That said, any large, deep frying pan that is oven-safe will also work perfectly.

Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

While it’s truly at its best served hot and fresh, you can absolutely get a head start on the prep work. Chopping the onion, garlic, and potatoes in advance (store the potatoes in water to prevent browning) is a great time-saver. You could even brown the mince and onion, let it cool completely, and then store it in the fridge. When dinner time comes, just pick up from the step where you add the potatoes and broth.

How do I store and reheat leftovers?

Should you have any leftovers, they can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. To reheat, we suggest placing a portion in a small pan over a low-medium heat with a splash of broth to bring it back to life. Alternatively, the microwave works well. For an extra treat, you could even add a little more cheese and flash it under the grill.

Is this recipe gluten-free?

Yes, this recipe is inherently gluten-free. Just be sure to double-check that your chosen brand of beef broth and Worcestershire sauce are certified gluten-free, as formulations can occasionally vary.

Conclusion: Your New Go-To Weeknight Wonder

And there you have it – a wonderfully straightforward, hearty, and deeply satisfying One-Pan Cheesy Meat & Potato Skillet that we’re sure will earn a permanent place in your weekly meal plan. It’s the kind of comforting meal that gathers the family around the table, fills the kitchen with a mouth-watering aroma, and, best of all, leaves you with hardly any washing up.

At Recipestasteful, our mission is to provide home cooks like you with recipes that are both impressive and achievable. We love being the secret ingredient that helps you create delicious memories.

So, we invite you to give this recipe a go this week! When you do, please pop back and leave a comment below to let us know how you got on. We always enjoy hearing about your kitchen successes!