One-Pan Cheesy Meat & Potato Skillet: Easy Weeknight Dinner

Introduction

For those hectic evenings when you crave comfort food without the mess, the One-Pan Cheesy Meat & Potato Skillet is your answer. Hearty, cheesy, and customizable, this dish combines tender potatoes, seasoned ground meat, and melty cheese—all in a single pan. It delivers maximum flavor with minimal cleanup, making it ideal for busy weeknights or feeding a hungry crowd.

Why Try This One-Pan Cheesy Meat & Potato Skillet?

With its rich and satisfying combination of flavors and textures, this skillet dinner is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. The potatoes soak up savory juices from the meat and seasonings, while a generous cheese topping locks in all the goodness. The best part? You won’t be left with a stack of dishes afterward. It’s a one-pan wonder for busy home cooks who want hearty, delicious meals with less fuss.

The Secret to a Flavorful Skillet Dinner

The key to making this dish truly shine lies in browning the meat thoroughly and sautéing the potatoes until they’re golden and tender. Season each component as you go—don’t forget the onions and garlic for depth, and a sprinkle of paprika or Italian herbs to brighten up the flavors. Customize by tossing in your favorite veggies or using different cheeses for a personal touch.

Easy Assembly, Cheesy Goodness

Once your potatoes and meat are perfectly cooked, sprinkle a generous layer of shredded cheese over the top and cover the skillet. The cheese melts into those nooks and crannies, making every bite gooey and delicious. Serve it right from the pan for a rustic, family-friendly dinner.

Serving Suggestions for a Satisfying Skillet Meal

This skillet dish stands alone as a hearty meal, but you can round out dinner with a crisp green salad or steamed vegetables. For extra flair, top with sliced green onions, a dollop of sour cream, or a splash of hot sauce. Leftovers reheat beautifully for easy next-day lunches.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields 4 to 6 hearty servings, making it perfect for families or batch cooking. Each serving typically provides a balanced mix of carbs, protein, and fat, with approximately 400–500 calories, depending on your meat and cheese choices.

One-Pan Cheesy Meat & Potato Skillet (Recap)

Satisfying, flavorful, and ridiculously easy to clean up, this Cheesy Meat & Potato Skillet is your ticket to effortless, crowd-pleasing weeknight dinners.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to instantly create a sorted shopping list for streamlined grocery trips and smarter weeknight meal planning. CookifyAI helps you organize essentials by store section, saving valuable time on busy nights.

Instructions

1. Heat the olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. Add diced potatoes and cook for about 7–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they begin to soften and turn golden.
2. Add the chopped onion (and bell pepper, if using) to the skillet. Sauté for another 3 minutes until the onions are translucent.
3. Push veggies to the skillet’s edge and add ground beef or turkey. Break it up with a spatula and cook until browned, about 5–7 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
4. Stir in garlic, paprika (or Italian seasoning), salt, pepper, and frozen peas if using. Cook everything together for another 2–3 minutes to marry the flavors.
5. Spread the skillet mixture into an even layer. Sprinkle shredded cheese over the top and cover. Let sit off the heat for 2–3 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
6. Top with green onions, sour cream, or hot sauce if desired. Serve directly from the skillet for easy enjoyment.

Weekly Meal Planning

This Cheesy Meat & Potato Skillet is a star player for weekly meal prep! Save and schedule this recipe to your meal plan with CookifyAI for automated shopping lists and streamlined prep.

Planning Benefits:

– Calculates total ingredient quantities for the week
– Groups your shopping list by grocery store section
– Prevents overbuying and forgotten ingredients
– Streamlines meal planning for busy households

Pro tip: When you schedule multiple recipes (like this skillet and a salad that shares ingredients such as onion or cheese) CookifyAI automatically totals what you need—reducing stress and kitchen waste.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes

Enjoy a hassle-free dinner that’s big on flavor and light on cleanup!