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
Instructions
- Heat the pan and coat with oil. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. ...
- Add the meat to the hot pan and break into large pieces. Add the meat to the center of the hot pan. ...
- Break meat into smaller pieces, season, and brown. ...
- Finish browning.
Use a marinade: Marinate the ground beef in a flavorful liquid such as Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, or red wine before cooking. Add a flavorful liquid: Add a small amount of beef broth, tomato sauce, or red wine to the ground beef while it cooks to add extra flavor.
What oil do you use to cook ground beef? ›
If you are cooking very lean ground beef, heat a tablespoon or two of vegetable oil or extra virgin olive oil to the skillet. Add onions or other chopped seasoning vegetables about 2 to 3 minutes before the beef is ready, or cook them separately. When the pan is hot, add about 1 to 1 1/2 pounds of ground beef.
How long can ground beef stay in the fridge? ›
How long does it take to cook ground beef in a skillet? ›
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 seasoning for beef? ›
Spices like onion and garlic, with their inherent pungency, are some of the first that come to mind when it's time to season beef. They are savory and strong, and also easy to come by! Black Pepper goes wonderfully with beef, with its slightly hot bite and the piney aroma. Cayenne is a terrific spice to use with beef.
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.
Should I cook ground beef with butter or oil? ›
Most beef doesn't have enough fat that would render quickly, particularly when you are sauteing. The addition of oil helps the heat transfer happen evenly and since it's hot, the Maillard Reaction gets a nice jump start. The addition of butter also flavors the beef and also helps other herbs to season the meat.
Should you season ground beef before or after cooking? ›
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.
Do you cook onions before or after ground beef? ›
Always brown the beef first, and generate as much darkness on both the bottom of the pan and the beef as you dare! That is where the flavour is. Add the onion after removing the beef, preferably with a slotted spoon so as to cook the onions in any beef fat, add a small dash of oil if needed.
Ground beef can be frozen indefinitely, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. However, it is recommended to use ground beef within four months of freezing, as the quality of the meat will begin to deteriorate over time. Ground beef that has been frozen for too long may not be as flavorful.
Can you put ground beef in a Ziploc bag in the fridge? ›
It can be refrigerated or frozen in its original packaging if the meat will be used soon. If refrigerated, keep at 40 °F or below and use within one or two days. For longer freezer storage, wrap in heavy-duty plastic wrap, aluminum foil, freezer paper, or plastic bags made for freezing.
Can I eat 5 day old leftovers? ›
Leftovers can be kept for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. After that, the risk of food poisoning goes up. If you don't think you'll be able to eat leftovers within four days, freeze them right away. Frozen leftovers will stay safe for a long time.
Do you cook ground beef in an oil 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.
How to cook ground beef perfectly? ›
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat until hot.
- Add the ground beef and, using a spatula, press the beef into an even, flat layer in the pan, almost like you're making a big hamburger.
- Let it cook untouched for 4 minutes. ...
- Start to break apart the meat, flipping it over.
Most beef doesn't have enough fat that would render quickly, particularly when you are sauteing. The addition of oil helps the heat transfer happen evenly and since it's hot, the Maillard Reaction gets a nice jump start. The addition of butter also flavors the beef and also helps other herbs to season the meat.
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.
