One-Pan Cheesy Meat & Potato Skillet Recipe

Introduction

This One-Pan Cheesy Meat & Potato Skillet Recipe delivers irresistible flavor and all-in-one convenience, making it the ideal solution for busy weeknights or satisfying hungry crowds. With golden potatoes, flavorful ground meat, and a bubbly blanket of melted cheese, this hearty skillet will quickly become a staple at your dinner table. Cleanup is a breeze, and every bite brings you comforting, home-cooked satisfaction.

Why You’ll Love This One-Pan Cheesy Meat & Potato Skillet

This recipe is more than just easy; it’s a perfect crowd pleaser. The combination of seasoned ground meat, tender potatoes, sautéed onions, and gooey melted cheese provides all the flavors of a classic casserole—with just one pan and no extra fuss. It’s a balanced, filling meal that’s ready in under an hour, perfect for families, weeknight dinners, or even a casual get-together.

Building Layers of Comfort

This dish excels thanks to its layered approach: potatoes crisped to golden perfection, followed by savory, seasoned meat, all blanketed with rich cheese. Feel free to add chopped bell peppers, frozen peas, or swap ground beef for ground turkey or chicken for a lighter option. The result is a customizable, comforting meal that always hits the mark.

Effortless One-Pan Cooking

Start by browning your ground meat and onions directly in your skillet—no need for extra bowls or pans. Once the potatoes get added and start turning tender, everything cooks together, so the flavors blend perfectly. With just a handful of steps and straightforward ingredients, this skillet meal comes together with minimal effort and maximum flavor.

Serving Suggestions for Cheesy Meat & Potato Skillet

Serve this hearty skillet straight from the pan for a rustic touch. Pair with a simple green salad or steamed green beans for a satisfying, well-rounded plate. For a fresh kick, sprinkle on chopped parsley or chives just before serving, or a dollop of sour cream for added creaminess.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields about 4 hearty servings. Each serving typically contains around 450 to 500 calories, depending on your meat and cheese choices. It balances protein, carbohydrates, and fats—making it a filling and energetically balanced dinner option.

One-Pan Cheesy Meat & Potato Skillet (Recap)

Everything you love about home-cooked comfort food, simplified into a single skillet. The harmony of browned meat, golden potatoes, and bubbling cheese makes this dish a regular request for family meals or friendly gatherings.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to instantly create a streamlined shopping list—organized by store section for maximum efficiency and less stress during your grocery run.

Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add the diced potatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, for 8-10 minutes until golden and just tender. Transfer potatoes to a plate and set aside.
2. In the same skillet, add ground meat and onion. Cook, breaking meat apart, until browned and onion is softened, about 5-6 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
3. Add garlic, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Stir and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
4. Return potatoes to the skillet and stir to combine. Pour in milk and mix well; this helps keep everything moist and creamy.
5. Sprinkle shredded cheese evenly over the top. Cover the skillet with a lid or foil and reduce heat to low. Let it cook for 5-7 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.
6. If desired, garnish with chopped chives, parsley, or your choice of additional veggies before serving.

Weekly Meal Planning

This one-pan skillet shines as a weekly meal prep solution—it reheats beautifully and can provide satisfying leftovers for lunch or another dinner. Save and schedule this recipe to drag-and-drop dinner plans throughout the week and automatically generate a combined ingredient list for all your meals.

Planning Benefits:

• Automatically totals ingredient amounts across your whole meal plan
• Organizes your list by produce, dairy, meats, and more—no more zig-zagging the store
• Reduces duplicate purchases and forgotten staples
• Streamlines prep and helps you stick to your meal planning goals

Pro tip: Plan this recipe for a busy day, and it’ll keep your cook time (and effort) to the minimum. Drag and drop recipes for your week and see how CookifyAI tracks all quantities so you only buy and prep what you need.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes