Amazing Ground Beef and Potato Hash Skillet

You know those nights, right? The ones where you’re absolutely starving but the thought of pulling out five different pots seems like too much effort. Well, trust me, I have the answer for those days, and it’s hearty, totally satisfying comfort food. My go-to savior is this amazing Ground Beef and Potato Hash Skillet. It’s seriously simple—everything cooks in one pan, and it’s ready before you can even decide what movie to watch!

I remember the first time I created my Ground Beef and Potato Hash Skillet. It was one of those late evenings when I came home from work, exhausted and hungry. I had some ground beef in the fridge and a bunch of leftover vegetables that needed to be used. As I threw everything into one skillet, the colors and aromas filled my kitchen, instantly lifting my spirits. When I sat down with my family, the camaraderie of sharing that meal reminded me that healthy eating doesn’t have to be complicated. We laughed, shared stories, and devoured the dish, which ended up becoming a weekly staple at our dinner table.

Why This Ground Beef and Potato Hash Skillet Works for Busy Cooks

Honestly, this recipe sings right along with your hectic schedule. We engineered this particular beef and potato recipe to cut down on cleanup without sacrificing flavor, which is a huge win in my book!

Here’s why I keep coming back to this skillet hash:

• It’s lightning fast! We’re talking less than 40 minutes total, which is perfect for any weeknight.

• It checks the box for cozy comfort food, making it a great option for breakfast for dinner anytime.
• Seriously, just one large skillet means cleanup is a breeze. You can check out some other quick ideas right here: easy weeknight meals.

Essential Ingredients for Your Ground Beef and Potato Hash Skillet

When you’re aiming for something quick, you need ingredients you can usually grab without a special trip. These items form the backbone of a really soulful, filling beef and potato recipe. If you want to make sure your pantry is stocked for hits like this, check out my list of essential pantry items!

Main Ingredients for the Ground Beef and Potato Hash Skillet

For the main event, we keep it straightforward. Don’t skip seasoning the meat well; that’s where a lot of the flavor really pops.

• One pound of lean ground beef (90/10 is great, but if yours is fattier, just drain it well later!)
• We need 3 medium potatoes, remember to dice these up into neat, 1/2-inch cubes.
• The dry flavor boosters: 1.5 teaspoons each of coarse kosher salt and black pepper, plus 1 teaspoon each of garlic powder, smoked paprika, and Worcestershire sauce.
• Just a half cup of beef broth or water keeps everything moist while the potatoes soften up.
• And of course, 4 to 6 eggs if you want that runny yolk moment!

Optional Items for Serving the Ground Beef and Potato Hash Skillet

These little extras just elevate the whole dish, especially if you’re serving it for breakfast for dinner.

• A sprinkle of fresh parsley or some sliced green onions adds a nice color contrast.
• Hot sauce—you know I have to mention it!
• If you’re looking for a base to catch all those delicious juices, serve it right over some crisp, fresh lettuce.

Step-by-Step Instructions for the Ground Beef and Potato Hash Skillet

Okay, don’t panic about the steps! This whole process moves really fast because we’re using one hot skillet, which builds flavor quickly. Before you start, make sure those potatoes are diced up into nice, even 1/2-inch cubes—consistency is key here so they all cook at the same rate. I promise, after you nail this the first time, you’ll feel like a total pro at making a foolproof skillet hash. For an extra reliable guide, you can always check out the team over at Busy Cooks for how they handle their hash, but trust my methods!

Browning the Seasoned Ground Beef

First things first, get that large skillet hot! Toss in your ground beef and all those wonderful seasonings—salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and that dash of Worcestershire sauce. You’ll need to break that meat apart with your wooden spoon while it cooks. Keep stirring it for about 8 to 10 minutes until there is absolutely no pink left. Listen, if you used beef that wasn’t super lean, just quickly scoop the cooked meat out using a slotted spoon into a separate bowl and toss away that greasy mess left in the pan. We want flavor, not grease!

Cooking the Potatoes for the Skillet Hash

Now, use that same skillet—yes, we’re capitalizing on all those meaty bits left behind! Dump in your 1/2-inch potato cubes. This is the sneaky part: let them sit for about 5 minutes without messing with them too much. Why? Because we want them to get a little crispy golden skin on the bottom before we stir them! After that initial rest, stir them every little bit for about another 5 minutes until they start to soften up.

Combining and Finishing the Ground Beef and Potato Hash Skillet

Time to bring it all back together! Return your browned beef to the skillet with the potatoes. Pour in that half-cup of broth or water—that steam does wonders for fully cooking the potatoes. Stir everything nicely and let it simmer for about 8 minutes until those potatoes are fork-tender. If you’re going the egg route—which you totally should—make little spaces, crack your eggs right into those wells, cover the pan, and let them poach for just 3 minutes until they look done to your preference. This whole cooking sequence is detailed perfectly in this guide on making foolproof dinners.

Tips for the Perfect Ground Beef and Potato Hash Skillet

Look, cooking is fun, but nobody wants soggy potatoes when they are counting on a crispy, satisfying hash! Making this ground beef and potato recipe absolutely spot-on is all about managing the moisture and heat. If you focus on these couple of things, your texture will go from good to restaurant-quality every single time. For more tips on elevating your simple meals, check out my guide on what makes perfect dinner ideas.

Potato Selection and Preparation for your beef and potato recipe

This is where most people mess up their perfect skillet hash. If you use Russets, you end up with fluffier insides—which is great—but they release a ton of starch, which can lead to a gummy texture if you stir them too much. My favorites are Yukon Golds or even those little red potatoes. They hold their shape way better!

The absolute key is the initial browning phase where you let them sit untouched. That developing crust traps the moisture inside so when you add the broth later, you are steaming them tender, not boiling them into oblivion. Don’t cheat the no-stir time!

Maximizing Flavor in this skillet hash

The seasoning we put on the beef is just the start. Since potatoes are pretty neutral, they need help absorbing flavor from the meat drippings and the broth, so make sure you bring that broth to a simmer *before* you add it to the pan.

For a little bright contrast (which is crucial when dealing with rich beef), something acidic really wakes up the whole dish. A quick dash of apple cider vinegar right at the very end, or even a generous squeeze of fresh lemon juice, cuts through the richness perfectly. If you aren’t worried about keeping things strictly low-carb, a tiny spoonful of Dijon mustard whisked into the beef broth before you pour it in does the same trick. Wow, it adds such depth!

Ingredient Substitutions for Your Ground Beef and Potato Hash Skillet

Life happens, right? You go to make this perfect Ground Beef and Potato Hash Skillet and realize you’re fresh out of ground beef, or maybe you just fancy a change of pace. Don’t you worry one bit—this is a recipe built for flexibility, making it perfect for those simple pantry meals when you need to clear out the fridge!

The core structure of this hash—the tender potatoes cooked alongside browned meat—is incredibly forgiving. If you need to pivot, I have a couple of easy swaps that keep the flavor profile just as comforting. If you’re looking for other ways to stretch ingredients, check out my guide to 5-ingredient dinner ideas!

Swapping Out the Meat

Ground beef gives you that classic, hearty flavor that just screams comfort. But if you’re out, ground turkey or chicken works just fine structurally. You might need to add a little extra smoked paprika or a dashed more Worcestershire sauce because poultry tends to be milder than beef.

Now, if you happen to have some leftover smoked sausage or Italian sausage hanging around? Toss that in! Sausage brings its own fat and seasoning, so be sure to omit the extra salt and pepper listed in the main recipe and definitely drain any excess grease before adding the potatoes back in. That’s an excellent way to turn this into a slightly different, but equally delicious, beef and potato recipe.

Potato Alternatives for Your Skillet Hash

The notes mentioned that you could sub in sweet potatoes, and I highly encourage this if you’re looking for a slightly sweeter undertone to your hash. The sweet potatoes will generally cook a bit faster than regular white potatoes, so keep an eye on them when they’re simmering with the broth!

If you’re doing a low-carb version—because we all sneak in a keto night now and then—you can totally ditch the potatoes! A fantastic substitute is diced cauliflower or cubed butternut squash. Cauliflower needs less cooking time—maybe just 5 minutes less than the potatoes—so remember to add it after you’ve browned the meat. It soaks up all those savory spices like a dream, making it a fantastic base for an easy breakfast for dinner!

Serving Suggestions for this simple pantry meals dish

We’ve made this easy Ground Beef and Potato Hash Skillet, but setting it up right makes it a true feast, whether you’re eating it for lunch or having the best breakfast for dinner of the week. Since this is one of my favorite simple pantry meals, I like to keep the toppings easy and quick, too!

If you aren’t using the optional eggs, the hash is really begging for something creamy on top. A dollop of sour cream or plain Greek yogurt (if you aren’t strictly keto) goes perfectly on top of the warm, savory mixture. It melts just slightly and adds a wonderful tang.

Making it a Full Meal Plate

The recipe already mentioned serving the hash over lettuce, and I stand by that! A bed of crisp butter lettuce or romaine gives you a fantastic contrast in temperature and texture—hot, salty hash on cool, crunchy greens. It feels lighter but is still incredibly filling.

If you are really hungry or serving up a crowd, you can bulk this up without messing with the main star. A side of simple steamed or quickly roasted green beans dressed with a little salt and lemon juice is amazing. Or, if you have a few extra minutes, whipping up a batch of homemade salsa is a game-changer!

The Breakfast for Dinner Vibe

For that true breakfast for dinner mood, a few slices of avocado on the side bring healthy fats and creamy texture. Seriously, avocado fixes everything, right?

Also, don’t forget the toast! If you aren’t cutting carbs, serving this alongside thick slices of buttery Texas toast or sourdough makes it feel like a massive diner breakfast. If you are sticking to low-carb, a quick pan-sear of a low-carb bread alternative works wonders. For more dinner inspirations that keep you moving fast, take a look at my guide to 20-minute dinner ideas.

No matter how you serve it, the intense savory flavor from that seasoned beef and the tender texture of the potatoes mean this humble beef and potato recipe always tastes like a winner!

Storage and Reheating Instructions for Leftover Ground Beef and Potato Hash Skillet

Even though this hash is so good you’ll want to eat it all in one go, leftovers are fantastic! When you’re done, let whatever is left cool down for just a minute, then scoop it into an airtight container before it hits the fridge. This keeps it fresh for about three to four days, which is perfect for grabbing a quick lunch later in the week.

Now, when it comes time to reheat your Ground Beef and Potato Hash Skillet, please, please skip the microwave if you can! Microwaving potatoes always makes them sad and rubbery. The absolute best way to bring back that crispy texture is to throw the leftovers right back into that large skillet over medium heat. Add just a tiny splash of water or broth, cover it for three minutes, and then uncover it for another minute to crisp up those potatoes again. It’s almost as good as fresh, I promise! If you need more tips on keeping your weeknight meals tasty for longer, check out my tricks for maintaining that crispy, juicy texture.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Ground Beef and Potato Hash Skillet

I know that when you’re looking at a recipe, sometimes all the little details still leave you with a burning question! We put this hash together to be super adaptable, but let’s tackle a few things I hear often about making this the perfect beef and potato recipe.

We want everyone to succeed, especially when planning for that glorious breakfast for dinner night. If you’re looking for more ways to make easy meals shine, check out my ideas for a quick breakfast casserole for variety!

Can I use frozen potatoes instead of fresh in this skillet hash?

Oh, you certainly can try, but I have to warn you—frozen potatoes are tricky in a skillet hash because they are already partially cooked with a lot of surface moisture. If you use them, drain them really well first! The main issue is they will steam instead of crisp up when you first put them in the pan. You will definitely lose that signature crispy-on-the-outside, fluffy-on-the-inside texture we are aiming for in this skillet hash.

Is this a good beef and potato recipe for meal prepping?

Absolutely! This is a phenomenal beef and potato recipe for making ahead. I usually cook the entire thing through, eggs included, and let it cool. Store it in the fridge in an airtight container. It reheats wonderfully, though for the best texture, I still recommend reheating it in a skillet over medium heat rather than the microwave, just like I mentioned before. It keeps great for three days!

How do I make this recipe keto-friendly if I need to skip the potatoes?

If you need to skip the potatoes to keep things strictly low-carb or keto-friendly, you have great options! Remember I mentioned cauliflower as a substitute? That’s your best bet for keeping that hearty texture. Cut the cauliflower **very** small, maybe even smaller than the 1/2-inch potato dice, and cook it until it browns nicely before adding the beef back in. It mimics the density of the potato hash perfectly while staying keto-friendly!

Share Your Ground Beef and Potato Hash Skillet Creations

Whew! Now that your Ground Beef and Potato Hash Skillet is made and you’ve probably tasted it—which I hope you loved—I really want to hear what you thought! Cooking is all about sharing the victories, big or small, so don’t be shy!

Did you make it for a fantastic breakfast for dinner night? Did you try skipping the potatoes and using cauliflower instead? Tell me everything! Slide down to the comments section just below this text and leave a quick star rating. Seriously, those ratings help other busy home cooks decide if they should try this beef and potato recipe next.

And hey, if you went all out with the toppings or snap a picture of your perfectly fried eggs sitting atop that savory hash, tag me on social media! I absolutely adore seeing how you turn these simple pantry meals into your family’s new favorite. You can browse all my other favorite satisfying dishes right over here at the main recipe hub. Happy cooking, everyone!