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20-Minute Southwest Ground Beef Skillet

A quick, flavorful, and hearty one-pan meal packed with ground beef, black beans, sweet corn, and savory diced tomatoes. Perfectly seasoned with taco spices and ready in just 20 minutes. Serve it over rice, stuffed into warm tortillas, or scooped up with crispy tortilla chips.

20-Minute Southwest Ground Beef Skillet
Prep 5 min Cook 15 min Total 20 min Level Beginner
Serves 4

Ingredients

Main

  • 1 lb lean ground beef (85/15)
  • 2 tablespoons taco seasoning — or 1 store-bought packet
  • 15 oz black beans — canned, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup sweet corn — frozen or canned (drained)
  • 10 oz diced tomatoes with green chiles — undrained (e.g., Rotel)
  • 0.25 cup water or beef broth

Optional Garnishes & Serving

  • 0.5 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese (optional) — for topping
  • 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro (optional) — chopped
  • 1 batch cooked rice, warm tortillas, or tortilla chips (optional) — for serving

Instructions

  1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, breaking it apart with a spatula or wooden spoon. Cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes.

    ~7 min
    Drain any excess grease from the skillet before moving to the next step if you are using a fattier blend of ground beef.

  2. Sprinkle the taco seasoning evenly over the cooked beef and stir to combine. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.

    ~1 min

  3. Add the drained black beans, corn, undrained diced tomatoes with green chiles, and water (or broth). Stir well to combine all ingredients.

    ~2 min
    Using the liquid from the tomatoes helps create a light sauce without needing extra thickeners.

  4. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low and let it cook for 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the liquid to slightly reduce.

    ~5 min

  5. Remove from heat. If using cheese, sprinkle it over the top and cover the skillet with a lid for 1-2 minutes until melted. Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro.

    ~2 min
Nutrition
360
Calories
30
Protein (g)
25
Carbs (g)
16
Fat (g)
6
Sat. Fat (g)
7
Fiber (g)
3
Sugar (g)
750
Sodium (mg)
75
Cholesterol (mg)
Equipment
  • large skillet
  • spatula or wooden spoon
  • can opener
  • colander
Tips & Storage
  • For extra veggies, sauté diced bell peppers and onions before browning the beef.
  • Serve versatility: Scoop it over a bowl of white or brown rice, use it as a filling for tacos or burritos with flour tortillas, or use it as a hearty dip with salty tortilla chips.
  • Swap ground beef for ground turkey or chicken for a lighter variation.
  • Storage: Store leftover skillet mixture in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop until warmed through. Can also be frozen for up to 3 months.
Tags
20-minute meal black beans comfort food corn easy dinner family friendly gluten_free ground beef mildly spicy nut_free one-pan quick meal savory skillet southwest stovetop taco seasoning tex-mex tomatoes weeknight dinner

🤖 This recipe was created with AI assistance. If you spot a mistake or something that doesn't look right, please report it.

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