High Protein Ground Beef (Printable)
A protein-packed meal featuring lean beef, tender potatoes, and fresh vegetables in a hearty dish.
# What You'll Need:
→ Proteins
01 - 1.1 lb lean ground beef (at least 90% lean)
→ Vegetables
02 - 1.3 lb russet potatoes, diced into 1 cm cubes
03 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 medium carrots, diced
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 3.5 oz baby spinach, roughly chopped
07 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)
→ Pantry & Seasonings
08 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
09 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
10 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
11 - ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
12 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt (adjust to taste)
13 - ½ cup low-sodium beef broth
→ Optional
14 - ½ cup shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese (optional, for topping)
# How To Make It:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and carrots; sauté for 3–4 minutes until softened.
02 - Add garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Increase heat to medium-high and add ground beef. Cook, breaking up with a spatula, until browned and cooked through, about 6–8 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
04 - Stir in potatoes, smoked paprika, thyme, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring to coat.
05 - Pour in beef broth. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 18–20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are tender.
06 - Stir in baby spinach and cook for 1–2 minutes until wilted.
07 - Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
08 - Sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese, cover, and let cheese melt for 2 minutes before serving.
09 - Garnish with fresh parsley and serve hot.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- One pan means almost zero cleanup which I appreciate on busy weeknights
- The potatoes become incredibly tender while soaking up all that beefy flavor
- Thirty three grams of protein per serving keeps me satisfied for hours
02 -
- Cutting potatoes into uniform 1 centimeter cubes ensures they all finish cooking at the same time
- Resist the urge to lift the lid too often while simmering as escaping steam extends the cooking time
03 -
- Pre diced potatoes from the grocery store work in a pinch but fresh cut ones have better texture
- Letting the skillet rest covered for 5 minutes off the heat allows flavors to meld further