This Mexican Ground Beef and Potatoes recipe is so versatile it can be made for breakfast, lunch, or dinner! You're only a few ingredients away from enjoying this with your family, and trust me, you'll see everyone going for seconds!
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❤️ Why You'll Love This
"You'll love the ground beef potato combination blended with the spices. It's tasty!"
Anytime
Having for dinner or using leftovers for breakfast the following day, this Mexican beef and potato recipe can be enjoyed for any meal!
Family Pleaser
Does anyone else's family love tacos or anything taco-inspired? Yes? I thought so...that's why this Mexican-inspired taco dish with potatoes is one that you'll keep going back to.
Healthy
Ground beef and potatoes can be changed to accommodate specific diet restrictions. It is gluten-free already and can be made dairy-free by omitting the cheese.
Check out the How to Serve and Variations section below for more ideas to amp up this dish!
🥘 Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you will need to make this Mexican Ground Beef and Potatoes skillet recipe:
- Mexican ground beef - you can use my recipe, or, you can use a store-bought taco seasoning or my copycat taco seasoning mix recipe and make basic taco meat according to the recipe instructions.
- Potatoes - any potatoes of your choice will work, I chose russet potatoes to hold up through the cooking process.
- Onion
- Garlic - you could also use garlic powder in a pinch.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Salt and Pepper
- Optional: shredded cheddar cheese
- Optional Garnish: green onions, salsa, cilantro or sour cream
Be sure to see the recipe card below for ingredient quantities and full instructions!
🍽 Equipment
Equipment and tools needed to make this Mexican inspired ground beef and potatoes:
- 12" Skillet
- 4-Quart Saucepan
- Cutting Board
- Chef Knife
- Measuring Cups
- Measure Spoons
- Instant Read Thermometer
🔪 Instructions
Here are the step-by-step instructions for making Mexican Ground Beef and Potatoes:
Boil
Start by adding water and one teaspoon salt to a 4-quart saucepan and bring to a boil.
Add halved potatoes and boil for 10 minutes.
Once cool to the touch, dice potatoes into 3/4" cubes.
Prepare
While the water is boiling and the potatoes are cooking and then cooling, prepare the Mexican Ground Beef.
Once cooked, remove from the pan and keep warm. I like to place it in my microwave or oven to assist with this.
Saute
Preheat your oil in a 12" skillet over medium heat.
Add your onions and potatoes to fry and saute until they are browned, and the potatoes are fork-tender. Stir frequently for about 10-12 minutes.
Combine
Add the Mexican Ground Beef to the potatoes and onion and stir to combine.
Warm over low heat if needed to bring everything to your preferred temperature.
Serve
Season to taste with salt and pepper, and enjoy!
Hint: Serve as a filling for burritos and add cheese, sour cream, and cilantro! Or, serve in a bowl and then add your favorite toppings. Check out the How to Serve section for ideas!
🥗 How To Serve
Here are a few ways to serve Mexican Ground Beef and Potatoes:
- Serve this mixture in a burrito shell and add your favorite taco toppings such as sour cream, shredded cheese, cilantro and avocado.
- Top with your favorite salsa to enhance the Mexican flavors. Try our Roasted Chili Corn Salsa!
- Serve for breakfast, and top with an over easy egg. Use the egg yolk to add creaminess to the dish while adding extra protein!
- If you don't like over-easy eggs feel free to scramble your eggs and serve on the side.
- Drizzle with a little worcestershire sauce
- Try drizzling our Chipotle Lime Crema top for extra creaminess, zest and spice. So good!
- Instead of topping with fresh cilantro, top with fresh green onion to add extra flavor and texture.
- Feel free to add any additions to this such as fresh diced tomatoes, corn, tomato paste, diced bell peppers or any other vegetables you'd like!
📖 Variations
Here are a few ways you can vary or make substitutions to this recipe:
- If you like extra spice you could either add diced green chiles to your ground meat mixture, add fresh sliced jalepenos as a topping or add our homemade chipotle seasoning to your skillet.
- Substitute ground turkey or chicken.
- Choose low-fat options when choosing your cheese, sour cream and lean ground beef to reduce fat in this recipe.
- If creating a burrito, choose a carb concious shell to reduce carb count.
- Top with plain greek yogurt to increase protein and reduce fat. Watch for a carb concious yogurt to reduce carb intake as well.
💭 Top Tips
- Make the Mexican Ground Beef recipe ahead of time! You could create tacos for dinner, and use the leftovers for this Ground Beef and Potatoes Recipe for breakfast the next morning!
- Do not overcook the potatoes. Potatoes vary in type and size. Adjust your boiling times in accordance. After boiling and sauteeing in the pan, check for doneness by piercing with a fork. If it pokes and removes easily they are done.
- When adding spice, start slow and light handed. If you are serving for multiple people consider adding peppers to the individual plate to accommodate multiple palates.
- When reheating leftovers, add a little beef broth for moisture.
❓FAQs
How do I store leftovers?
Be sure to store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Can I freeze leftovers?
I do not recommend freezing leftovers due to them not reheating well. If you make the Mexican Ground Beef and it is kept alone without the potatoes, you could freeze it in an air-tight container for up to 3 months.
How should I re-heat leftovers?
You can safely reheat in the microwave; however, the texture will not be the same, so keep that in mind. When reheating leftovers from the refrigerator, I would suggest for the best result, use a skillet. This helps draw out extra moisture and help re-create a crust to the potatoes.
✔️ More Mexican Recipes
If you are looking for more delicious Mexican-style ground beef recipes, check these out:
- Creamy Beef Taco Soup
- Taco Stuffed Bell Peppers
- Zucchini Ground Beef Taco Casserole
- Quick Stuffed Zucchini Taco Boats
📋 Recipe
Mexican Ground Beef and Potatoes Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 recipe mexican ground beef
- 1.75 pounds potatoes (about 4 medium, halved)
- 1 medium onion (chopped)
- 2 teaspoons garlic (minced)
- 2 tablespoons oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- ½ cup optional cheddar cheese (optional)
- optional garnish: sliced green onions or cilantro, sour cream
Instructions
- Add enough water to cover the potatoes and 1 teaspoon salt to a 4-quart saucepan and bring to a boil. Add potatoes and boil for 10-15 minutes, or until they are just tender.
- Remove potatoes from water and let cool enough to handle. Cut into ¾-inch cubes. (Tip: While the potatoes are cooking and cooling, make the Mexican ground beef. Remove from pan and keep warm.)
- Preheat oil in a 12" skillet over medium heat. Add onions and potatoes and fry saute until they are browned and potatoes are cooked through, stirring frequently about 10 to 12 minutes.
- Add the Mexican ground beef to the potatoes then stir. Warm over low heat if needed. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Notes
- Don't miss all of our helpful hints, substitution ideas, cooking tips, and other delicious recipes that can be found in our post. Check it out!
- SUBSTITUTIONS: Instead of making my Mexican Ground Beef recipe, you can make taco meat using a store-bought packet and add drained diced tomatoes with green chiles.
- TOP TIPS: Cook the potatoes just until they are done, if they get too soft they will turn to mashed potatoes.
- SERVING SUGGESTIONS: Serve in a bowl topped with cheese, sour cream or chipotle crema, and salsa; or, serve as a filling for burritos and add cheese.
Nutrition
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Food Safety
Here are some general food safety guidelines to always be aware of:
- Cook ground beef to a minimum temperature of 160 °F (71 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
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