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Taco Beef and Potato Skillet

written by Ashley Fehr

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5 from 4 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 6 servings

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Last updated on April 11, 2022

An easy, one skillet Mexican dish that the whole family will love! Made easier with frozen hashbrown potatoes and packed with hidden veggies!

taco beef and potato skillet in cast iron skillet on white background

I’m all about shortcuts these days.

There was a time, before I was a working, blogging, single mom of a 2 year old 5 days a week, that I would have been too sophisticated for shortcuts.

close up of wooden spoon scooping taco beef and potato skillet

In my husband’s busy season, he is usually gone before our daughter wakes up in the morning and home after she gets to bed, Monday to Friday. It’s not ideal, that’s for sure, but it also means he got to spend 6 months as a stay at home dad, and that more than makes up for his time away. Since I also work, things can get pretty hectic during the week.

In my previous life, I would have been way too classy to pick up a bag of frozen hashbrowns at the grocery store.

wooden spoon scooping taco beef and hashbrown skillet topped with cheese

How things change.

I still love the idea of making absolutely everything from scratch. But there are times when something’s got to give, and I sure don’t want it to be my sanity.

So I cook simple, one-pot meals and use shortcuts now and then. But I have a feeling that I’m not the only one, so here it is!

Variations on this Taco Beef and Potato Skillet:

  • Substitute canned or frozen veggies for the carrots, onion and pepper. Add in different ones if you have them in your fridge!
  • Swap the ground beef for beans if you are vegetarian or just don’t have ground beef on hand.
  • Swap the hashbrowns for tater tots if those are more readily available.
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Taco Beef and Potato Skillet

written by Ashley Fehr

5 from 4 votes
An easy, one skillet Mexican dish that the whole family will love! Made easier with frozen hashbrown potatoes and packed with hidden veggies!
Review
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Cuisine American
Course Main Course
Servings 6 servings
Calories 486cal

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp canola oil
  • 4 cups frozen hasbrowns cubed or shredded, thawed
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 2 medium carrots shredded
  • 1 medium onion diced
  • 1 sweet pepper diced
  • 2 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 tsp chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp oregano
  • 1/2 tsp paprika
  • 1 cup plain tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup prepared salsa
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

  • In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium high heat. Add the hasbrowns and cook until crispy and browned, stirring only as necessary (don’t stir too much or they’ll get mushy!). Remove from the skillet and keep warm.
  • In the same skillet, cook ground beef, carrots, onion, pepper, cumin, salt, garlic powder, chili powder, oregano and paprika until beef is browned, about 5-8 minutes. Stir in tomato sauce and salsa.
  • Top with hashbrowns and cheese, cover and heat over medium heat until cheese is melted.
  • Optional: top with green onions and serve with more salsa.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 486cal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 83mg | Sodium: 1043mg | Potassium: 997mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 4950IU | Vitamin C: 42.7mg | Calcium: 263mg | Iron: 4.4mg

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Meet Ashley

My name is Ashley Fehr and I love creating easy meals my family loves. I also like to do things my way, which means improvising and breaking the rules when necessary. Here you will find creative twists on old favorites and some of my favorite family recipes, passed down from generations!

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Comments

  1. Christine says

    Wow this was so easy to make and turned out so good!! My whole family loved it! Thanks for the recipe!!

    Reply

  2. Trish says

    This was so quick, easy AND tasty! It will definitely be in our normal menu rotation. Thank you so much!

    Reply

  3. Karen says

    Made this last night and it was a huge hit with the family. I used homemade enchilada sauce for the meat and it was really good. This will be a regular in our family menu! Thanks for posting.

    Reply

  4. Brendan says

    Made it – loved it. Thank you!

    Actually had no cheese so put a dollop of sour cream and salsa and some diced fresh tomatoes on top of each serving and it was great!

    Reply

  7. Denise | Sweet Peas & Saffron says

    I am single momming it this week, and wow, I don’t know how you ladies do it, it’s exhausting…(and I”m only on day 2 so far!) This looks like the perfect kind of simple, tasty meal that is necessary when you are alone with a toddler. Looks delicious!

    Reply

  8. Jess @ On Sugar Mountain says

    I’ve been there. I know as a college student who blogged I had to take shortcuts for dinner otherwise I ended up with ramen. I love the shortcuts you took here though! Delicious and flavorful and easy – all the things I want in a weeknight meal!

    Reply

    • Ashley says

      Thanks Jess! It’s hard! I LOVE making things from scratch, but I’ve just got no time for that lately. Hopefully sometime soon! Like when I have a newborn baby in 2 months… cause that’ll happen… lol

      Reply

  11. Danielle says

    I feel busy, but you definitely have me beat! I’m all about one pot dishes or shortcuts when it comes to dinner. Love how easy this dish is to whip up and it looks delicious too!

    Reply

    • Ashley says

      Thanks Danielle! I’m definitely looking forward to mat leave, because even if I’m tired I can at least stay in pj’s and drink coffee all day. Lol

      Reply

  12. Nora @ Savory Nothings says

    Oh I know that too well! Before our daughter was born I was all about cooking elaborate meals and making everything from scratch (and cloth diapering) – and now I realize that I have to make some things in life as easy as possible to get everything else done! I’m all about the easy one-pot family meals too these days, thanks for sharing another delicious recipe fitting the bill!

    Reply

    • Ashley says

      Thanks Nora! My point of view has definitely changed! I look forward to someday having time for homemade pasta again.

      Reply

  17. Gayle @ Pumpkin N Spice says

    I love finding shortcuts for dinner, Ashley! I love taking my time to cook on the weekends, but during the week, I want something fast and easy. This skillet dish looks incredible! Frozen hash browns are one of my favorite quick ingredients to use, so this looks like it’s right up my alley!

    Reply

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