OMG. You are so going to love this healthy ground beef recipe, it is spicy, full of flavor and delicious. Like seriously, if you’re eating clean and kinda getting bored with the same old, same old – make this super easy ground beef dinner skillet. It is so good.
Maybe you’re in the same situation as I was a few weeks ago: sitting there wondering: “What can I make with ground beef, other than meatballs?”
Scratch, scratch: “I don’t know.” Well, I did some research and some experimentation and this is it. I found it. This is a healthy dinner idea with ground beef, quinoa and beans that you can make in one pan in 20-30 minutes. You can also easily meal prep this because it makes a lot. Like 3-4 servings, well if you’re the only one eating this.
Lucky for me, my toddler hates, I repeat, HATES anything with rice or quinoa or beef (well except lasagna). My husband is very resistant to the idea of eating anything healthy, even with beef, he likes his pizza. That leaves me. And me, well, I don’t like to share food. This means I could spice this ground beef skillet anyway I want, I can add vegetables to it and actually enjoy it without someone calling mint an evil weed or pretending to be throwing up. No, no. This delicious dinner is only for me and I’m done with making dinner for 3 entire days. Everyone else: Save yourself. Self-care completed.
Meal Prep Option
You don’t need to do anything special to meal prep this for dinner. All you do is cook the ground beef according to the instructions below and then separate everything into 3 containers. Not really that hard.
Options & Substitutions
- I used lean ground beef in this recipe, but you can use any type of ground meat here.
- Another option is to use rice or bulgur instead of quinoa.
- You can use other vegetables as well – maybe zucchini, broccoli, eggplant.
- I used roasted red peppers, but if you don’t have any – use fresh bell peppers or no peppers at all.
Keto? Vegan? Paleo? Well Maybe You Can…
This recipe with ground beef is gluten-free and dairy-free. Good enough for me, but if you’re eating paleo, keto or even vegan you can totally also make this with some adjustments:
- Paleo option: don’t add quinoa and beans, instead you can maybe add broccoli or green beans. Maybe also cauliflower rice or zucchini would work.
- Keto Option: Again, don’t add the beans or quinoa, leave out the carrot and serve with salad, zoodles or cauliflower rice.
- Vegan Option: As I mentioned, you can even leave the meat out and add more beans and quinoa to make this recipe vegan. That’s how I’ve been usually making this in the past.
Serve this healthy ground beef skillet with some salad and garlic sauce like I did here and you’ll be the happiest person you know.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Ingredients
- 10 oz lean ground beef (300g)
- 1 cup quinoa, cooked
- 1 cup black beans, canned, rinsed & drained
- 2 roasted red peppers
- 1 carrot
- 1/3 cup mint leaves
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp coriander
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp dry mint
- 1 Tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 scallions, chopped
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Prepare by chopping all the vegetables, rinsing and draining the beans.
- In a large skillet crumble ground beef, cover with a lid and cook at medium heat until no longer pink. I added a little bit of water since I wasn't using a non-stick pan, but you might not need to do that. Once the meat is no longer pink, take the lid off and add olive oil, 1 garlic clove, cumin, dry mint, coriander and chili powder, add a few good pinches of salt. Stir and let the beef cook like this for 2-3 more minutes.
- Mix in the roasted bell peppers, scallions. Then add the quinoa, black beans and carrots and mix it all together.
- Stir in the tomato paste, add the fresh mint and garlic and let cook like this for 3-4 more minutes. Add salt if needed, turn off the heat, serve like this or with a little salad and enjoy!
- To make this dish even better you can also serve it with a salad and a garlic sauce, simply follow the instructions here.
Notes
Optionally you can cook the quinoa right in the pan. Simply wash a few times, then add it after you've crumbled the ground beef, let cook and proceed as described.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
3Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 478Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 84mgSodium: 633mgCarbohydrates: 39gFiber: 10gSugar: 7gProtein: 36g
Related
FAQs
On most stove tops, browning a pound of ground beef takes approximately 7 to 10 minutes. Remember, it's important to continue stirring and breaking the pieces into the same size with the wooden spoon or heatproof spatula so the ground beef cooks evenly.
What is the best way to cook ground beef? ›
Cast iron and stainless steel are the best choices for getting that beautiful, brown sear. Once the pan is hot, add the meat, and use a spatula to break it up into pieces. Let the meat brown without touching for about five minutes. This gives the meat more contact with the pan, and thus, a better sear.
How do you cook ground beef without drying it out? ›
Salt draws out moisture, drying the meat and creating steam while it cooks, preventing it from browning properly. Season the meat towards the end. Don't overcook the meat. For tender and moist ground hamburger, cook until no pink remains, and promptly remove from heat once it's done.
How do you make ground beef taste good? ›
Cooked ground beef really doesn't have any real taste so it is necessary to season it up. You can use just salt and pepper or you can add virtually anything to it like jalapenos, peppers, onions, etc. Try using fresh onion rather than powder.
Do you put water in the pan when cooking ground beef? ›
The point on adding some water to your ground beef so that the seasoning can be more juicier. If you dont add a little water especially if you are using a taco seasoning packet your ground beef will be very dry.
Do you need to add oil to the pan when cooking ground beef? ›
Choose the right pan
If you're working with a nonstick pan, you may not need to add any additional oil. The natural fat from the ground beef will help the meat brown and prevent it from sticking. If you prefer, you can add 2 teaspoons of olive oil to the pan before adding the beef.
What is the secret to moist ground beef? ›
According to the magazine's food experimenters, the baking soda treatment will definitely keep the meat tender and juicy when cooked. I'd heard my own dad make mention of this “secret” treatment with steaks, but it also sounded like a genius way to optimize the taste and texture of ground beef.
Is it better to cook ground beef with butter or oil? ›
The oil helps prevent the ground beef from sticking and scorching in the pan, especially if you are using a stainless steel skillet. Use a little extra oil if you're cooking lean beef.
What can I add to ground beef for flavor? ›
11 Seasonings That Work Well With Ground Beef
- Always include salt and pepper. ...
- Add a bit of smoked paprika. ...
- Choose from different types of onion powder. ...
- Give it a noticeable garlic flavor. ...
- Complete with Italian herbs. ...
- Consider a curry blend. ...
- Spice it up with cayenne pepper. ...
- Mustard powder adds a unique tang.
When the oil is hot, add the ground beef, breaking it into large pieces with a wooden spoon. Let the beef sear for a few minutes without moving it around. Once the beef has browned, break it into smaller pieces with a wooden spoon as it continues to cook until done.
Season the Ground Beef
When it comes to seasoning your ground beef, wait until after it has been browned and drained. Adding salt to raw ground beef pulls out moisture, drying the meat out and creating steam while it cooks, which prevents it from browning properly.
What is the best seasoning for beef? ›
Because of beef's hearty, robust nature, flavor-forward spices like garlic and onion or herbs like rosemary and oregano are the best choices for an unforgettable beef dinner.
What does adding milk to ground beef do? ›
The calcium-rich properties of milk react with enzymes in the meat to gently soften the proteins. Whole milk (not reduced fat), buttermilk, and yogurt all get the job done – with a special nod to buttermilk and yogurt for their optimal tenderizing acidity levels.
What brings out beef flavor? ›
Beef tastes great when seasoned with oregano, rosemary, sage, garlic or a combination of these seasonings. Poultry gets an added burst of flavor with spices like paprika, lemongrass and saffron. Fish can be made more flavorful with dry mustard powder, thyme and turmeric.
How do you know when ground beef is done? ›
Because doneness and safety cannot be judged by color, it is very important to use a food thermometer when cooking ground beef. To be sure all harmful bacteria are destroyed, cook all ground beef products to an internal temperature of 160 °F throughout. Ground beef can be pink inside after it is safely cooked.
How do you know when ground beef is done on the stove? ›
Cook ground beef to an internal temperature of 160 °F as measured with a food thermometer. The color of cooked ground beef can be quite variable. At 160 °F, a safely cooked patty may look brown, pink, or some variation of brown or pink.
What is the minimum cooking time for ground beef? ›
Cooking of Ground Beef
The FDA Food Code says that restaurants should cook ground beef to 155°F for 15 seconds. But CDC and USDA say that consumers should cook ground beef to 160°F. The guidance for consumers is different because it is simpler to meet one standard (temperature) than two (temperature and time).
