Beef taco skillet
Ground beef, beans and corn make a skillet dinner with a light cheddar topping.
Serving illustration.
Ground beef, beans and corn make a skillet dinner with a light cheddar topping. This version is written for two people, with ingredient quantities that you can scale using the recipe card. Read the whole method before heating your pan so you can prepare the ingredients in the order they are used. Cooking times are estimates and should be checked against the doneness cues in the instructions.
What makes this dinner work
The beans add texture alongside the ground beef without requiring a separate pot. Drain them well so they do not add excess liquid to the skillet.
Melt the cheese over low heat at the end. The filling should stay moist enough to spoon into a bowl rather than become a dry layer on the bottom of the pan.
Before you start
Use a wide skillet for easy stirring. This is a filling rather than a complete taco kit; choose any tortillas or side separately.
Measure the sauce ingredients and prepare the vegetables before handling any raw meat or seafood. Keep the ingredient list beside you: changes in thickness, pan size and stove output can affect the cooking time. When multiplying servings, a second pan or separate batches may work better than crowding everything into the original pan.
Cooking and handling notes
For this ground-beef recipe, cook the beef to 160°F (71°C), checking with a food thermometer.
The CDC guidance linked below covers keeping hands and surfaces clean, separating raw foods and refrigerating perishable food promptly. Check ingredient labels for allergies, including wheat, dairy, eggs, soy, peanuts and seafood where relevant.
Beef taco skillet
Prep and cooking times are estimates.
Ingredients
How to make it
- Brown the beefAdd ground beef to a large skillet over medium heat and break it into small pieces. Cook thoroughly, checking with a thermometer that the beef reaches 160°F (71°C). Drain excess fat carefully if needed.
- Soften the pepperAdd diced pepper to the cooked beef and stir for about 3–4 minutes. Add cumin and paprika and stir briefly.
- Add beans and cornStir in beans, corn, tomatoes and water. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook until corn is cooked according to its package and the mixture is hot throughout.
- Melt the cheeseReduce heat to low, sprinkle cheddar over the top and cover briefly until melted. If the mixture is sticking, loosen it with a small splash of water first.
- ServeDivide into bowls and finish with lime. Add rice or tortillas if you like; those optional sides are not included in the ingredient amounts.
Make it work for you
The beans add texture alongside the ground beef without requiring a separate pot. Drain them well so they do not add excess liquid to the skillet. Melt the cheese over low heat at the end. The filling should stay moist enough to spoon into a bowl rather than become a dry layer on the bottom of the pan.
Sources & editorial notes
Follow ingredient labels and the cooking guidance below. Food-safety references are listed for further reading.
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