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Best Easy Ground Beef Skillet in 20 Minutes

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A quick and savory one-pan ground beef and vegetable skillet that comes together in just 20 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights, this recipe uses pantry staples and delivers maximum flavor with minimal effort.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb (450g) ground beef (85/15)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 1 large bell pepper (any color), diced
  • 1 medium zucchini, diced
  • 1 large carrot, peeled and diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1/2 cup (120ml) low-sodium beef broth
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Optional: fresh parsley or grated Parmesan for garnish

Instructions

  1. Prep your vegetables: Dice the onion, bell pepper, zucchini, and carrot into roughly uniform, bite-sized pieces. Mince the garlic.
  2. Brown the ground beef: Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef directly to the dry, hot pan. Break it apart with a wooden spoon into small crumbles. Let it cook undisturbed for about 2 minutes to get a good sear, then stir. Cook until browned and no longer pink. Leave about 1 tablespoon of fat in the pan.
  3. Sauté the aromatics and hardy vegetables: Push the browned beef to one side of the skillet. Add the diced onion, bell pepper, and carrot to the empty space. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion becomes translucent and the vegetables start to soften.
  4. Add the garlic and zucchini: Stir in the minced garlic and diced zucchini. Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently, until the zucchini starts to release moisture.
  5. Create the sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the beef broth and tomato paste until smooth. Pour over the beef and vegetables. Add the Worcestershire sauce and dried Italian seasoning. Stir everything together and let it bubble for about 30 seconds.
  6. Simmer and finish: Reduce heat to medium-low. Let the skillet simmer gently for 2-3 minutes to meld flavors and reduce the sauce. Taste and season with salt and black pepper as needed.
  7. Garnish and serve: Remove from heat. Sprinkle with fresh parsley or grated Parmesan if desired. Serve immediately.

Notes

For best results, don’t overcrowd the pan when browning the beef. Stagger vegetable additions to ensure each retains its texture. Toast the tomato paste for 30 seconds before adding broth to deepen flavor. Deglaze the pan with broth to incorporate browned bits. This recipe is naturally gluten-free and dairy-free (if skipping Parmesan).

Nutrition

Keywords: ground beef skillet, easy weeknight dinner, one-pan meal, ground beef and vegetables, 20-minute dinner, gluten-free, low-carb

Find it online: https://islatable.com/best-easy-ground-beef-skillet-in-20-minutes/