Tex Mex Cheesy Potato & Beef Skillet (with Easy Pico de Gallo)
This Tex Mex Cheesy Potato & Beef Skillet is an easy, budget-friendly one-pan dinner loaded with seasoned ground beef, tender potatoes, hearty black beans, and plenty of melted Colby Jack cheese. Finished with a fresh homemade pico de gallo, it's a satisfying weeknight meal that's packed with bold Tex-Mex flavor and comes together in about 40 minutes.
Equipment
- Large skillet
- Wooden spoon or spatula
- Chef’s Knife
- Cutting Board
- Measuring Spoons
- Measuring cup
- Can Opener
- Colander
- Medium mixing bowl
- Citrus Juicer (Optional)
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon olive oil pantry staple
- 1 pound ground beef $6.99
- 4 medium russet potatoes .49 cents
- 1/2 white onion .50 cents
- 4 cloves garlic minced (.15 cents)
- 2 teaspoons paprika pantry staple
- 1 teaspoon onion powder pantry staple
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder pantry staple
- 1 cup water
- 1 15 ounce can of black beans drained (.88 cents)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cups shredded colby jack cheese $ 1.99
Easy pico de gallo
- 5 Roma tomatoes diced ($1.89)
- 1/2 bunch cilantro chopped (.50 cents)
- 1/4 white onion diced
- Juice of one lime .30 cents
- 1 clove garlic minced (.10 cents)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil pantry staple
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat add olive oil, ground beef, and break it up into bite size chunks. Add the peeled and diced potatoes and onion. Season with salt and pepper.
- Cook for 8-10 minutes, then add fresh garlic and seasonings with 1 cup of water and increase the heat to medium-high.
- Once the water has evaporated (about 8 minutes; the potatoes should be fork tender), add the beans and continue to cook 3-4 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Taste for seasoning and sprinkle with 2 cups of shredded colby jack cheese. Turn off the heat.
- While the cheese melts, make your easy pico de gallo.
- In a medium sized bowl add the diced tomato and onion. (I don’t mind the seeds, so I keep them in.)
- Chop the cilantro and fresh garlic. Add to the bowl.
- Add the juice of one lime and the olive oil. Mix to combine. Serve with the cheesy skillet!