Pan frying beef with potatoes is the ultimate hearty and comforting one-pan meal. By cooking the potatoes and beef together, you get delicious caramelization and crispiness, while infusing maximum flavor. With just a handful of ingredients, this dish comes together in under 30 minutes, making it perfect for a weeknight dinner.
In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn expert tips and techniques for pan frying flavorful, tender beef and crispy golden potatoes every time.
Benefits of Pan Frying Beef and Potatoes
There are many advantages to cooking beef and potatoes together in one skillet
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Saves time – No need to dirty multiple pans or spend time cooking components separately. Just throw everything in one pan and you have a complete meal.
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Intensifies flavor – The beef juices and seasonings get absorbed by the potatoes as everything cooks together This ramps up the overall flavor,
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Achieves crispy brown bits – The fond (brown bits) that stick to the bottom of the pan add incredible depth of flavor. Deglazing the pan to incorporate these is a must!
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It’s simple – With minimal ingredients and easy one-pan cooking, this meal comes together with ease on busy weeknights.
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Comfort food appeal – Pan fried beef and potatoes deliver ultimate comfort food satisfaction.
Shopping List for Pan Fried Beef and Potatoes
The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity. You don’t need a lot of fancy ingredients – just high quality beef and potatoes along with a few seasonings.
Here’s what you’ll need to make pan fried beef with potatoes for 4 servings:
- 1 1⁄2 pounds beef sirloin or flank steak
- 1 1⁄2 pounds russet or Yukon gold potatoes (about 3 medium)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil or butter, divided
- 1⁄4 cup chopped onion (optional)
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme or rosemary
- Salt and pepper
- 1⁄4 cup beef broth or wine
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these simple steps for perfect pan fried beef with potatoes every time:
1. Prep the Potatoes
Peel and cut the potatoes into 1-inch cubes (any smaller and they’ll disintegrate). Place in a bowl of cold water to prevent browning.
Tip: Soaking the potatoes in salted ice water for 30 minutes helps season and crisp them up.
2. Pat Beef Dry
Pat the beef dry with paper towels. Season generously with salt and pepper on both sides.
3. Heat Skillet and Brown Beef
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large cast iron or nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. When oil shimmers, add beef in a single layer without crowding. Cook 3-4 minutes per side until well browned. Transfer to a plate.
4. Fry the Potatoes
Dry potatoes and add 2 tablespoons oil to skillet. Fry potatoes 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden brown and fork tender.
Tip: For extra crispy potatoes, parboil them before frying.
5. Finish Cooking the Beef
Reduce heat to medium and return beef to skillet. Add onions, if using, and scatter thyme on top. Cook 1-2 minutes, flipping beef halfway, until beef reaches desired doneness.
6. Make Pan Sauce
Remove beef to serving platter and cover to keep warm. Add broth and simmer, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Pour sauce over beef and potatoes.
7. Season and Serve
Season with extra salt, pepper, and thyme. Garnish with parsley if desired. Enjoy this satisfying one-pan meal!
Tips for Perfect Pan Fried Beef and Potatoes
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Use a heavy pan like cast iron or carbon steel to achieve a nice sear on the beef. Nonstick skillets don’t brown as well.
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Pat beef completely dry before seasoning and searing. This helps achieve a caramelized crust.
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Don’t overcrowd beef in the pan. Cook in batches if needed to properly brown beef.
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Fry potatoes until deeply golden brown. Parboiling speeds up the process.
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Make a simple pan sauce to pour over finished dish. Deglaze pan with broth, wine, or water.
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Let beef rest 5 minutes before slicing for juicier results.
Flavor Variations
While the classic thyme and garlic version is delicious, don’t be afraid to switch up the flavors:
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Southwest: Cumin, oregano, jalapeño, cilantro
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Italian: Rosemary, basil, red pepper flakes, Parmesan
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Asian: Soy sauce, ginger, sesame oil, scallions
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Greek: Oregano, lemon juice, feta cheese
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cajun: Smoked paprika, cayenne, bell peppers, parsley
The possibilities are endless! Use your favorite seasoning combo to make this comforting classic dish your own.
FAQs
What cut of beef is best? Look for tender, thinner cuts like sirloin, flank steak, or flat iron steak. Avoid thick steaks like ribeye which take too long to cook through.
Can I use chicken or pork? Absolutely! Follow same instructions, just adjust cook times as needed. Pork tenderloin and boneless chicken thighs work great.
What potatoes should I use? Starchy potatoes like russets and Yukon golds get beautifully crispy. New potatoes also work well. Avoid waxier potatoes like red or purple.
How long does it take? From start to finish, expect this meal to come together in 30 minutes or less, perfect for weeknight dinners.
Can I prepare ahead? Yes! Potatoes and beef can be cut up to 1 day ahead. Season beef just before cooking.
Make Weeknight Dinners Simple
Pan frying beef with potatoes makes for an easy, budget-friendly meal that feels like a hearty, slow-cooked comfort food. With flavorful, tender beef and crispy potatoes all made in one skillet, it’s sure to become a regular in your dinner rotation. Experiment with different seasonings so you never get bored of this satisfying one-pan wonder.
Why You’ll Love This Ground Beef Potato Skillet
Simple ingredients – This ground beef dinner uses simple and affordable ingredients, many that you may already have or that are easy to grab at the grocery store.
Meat and potatoes – If you’re a meat and potatoes person, I know you’ll love this recipe. Think of it as upgraded meat and potatoes thanks to the Mexican spices blend, cheese, and a few flavorful veggies thrown into the mix.
Versatile – Not only can the veggies used in the recipe be swapped with others you may have on hand or prefer, but you can also serve this skillet dinner in multiple ways. See serving suggestions below.
Ground beef – Use lean ground beef. 90/10% or slightly leaner is best so that it doesn’t get too greasy.
Potatoes – Yukon gold potatoes are great because they have a creamy texture and you don’t have to peel them.
Onion, red bell pepper– The aromatics that give the skillet dinner lots of flavor. Green bell pepper or any color can be used. Yellow or white onion both work well.
Diced green chiles – If you like spicy food use hot green chiles, otherwise stick to using a can of mild diced green chiles.
Chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, smoked paprika – This flavorful Mexican spice blend is smoky, earthy, garlicy, and has that distinct chile flavor.
Cilantro – The fresh, slightly citrusy flavor of cilantro brings this recipe to life. If you don’t like cilantro, omit it.
Cheese – You can use any cheese you want, but I recommend cheddar, colby jack, monterey jack, or pepper jack cheese.
More Ground Beef Dinner Recipes
If you’ve got ground beef then I’ve got some great recipes for you!
Craving more southwest inspired meals? This southwest ground beef sweet potato skillet is a reader favorite and one of my favorites too! Ground beef taco casserole and tamale pie are also great options for easy weeknight meals.
When you want a cozy meal on a cold night you can’t go wrong with this cheeseburger soup or shepherd’s pie.