Description
A fast, one-pan weeknight dinner featuring browned ground beef, diced tomatoes, and vegetables in a savory sauce. It’s budget-friendly, flexible with ingredients, and ready in about 20 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 pounds ground beef (80/20 lean-to-fat ratio)
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon oil (olive or vegetable)
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
- 1 cup beef broth (low-sodium)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 cup frozen peas
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prep ingredients: Chop onion, dice pepper, and mince garlic. Measure spices.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and break into crumbles. Brown for 5-7 minutes until no pink remains. Drain excess grease if necessary, leaving about a tablespoon.
- Push beef to the side. Add onion and bell pepper to the empty space. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
- Mix beef and veggies back together. Stir in tomato paste, Italian seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute to toast the paste.
- Pour in diced tomatoes (with juice) and beef broth. Stir to combine.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes to thicken sauce and meld flavors. Add frozen peas or corn in the last 2 minutes if using.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, or a splash of vinegar if needed.
- Serve immediately over rice, mashed potatoes, or crusty bread.
Notes
Do not rush the browning of the beef to ensure flavor development. Use low-sodium broth to control salt levels. If the sauce is too watery, simmer uncovered longer. This recipe is highly flexible; swap vegetables based on preference or dietary needs.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of the skillet m
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 15
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 25
Keywords: ground beef, skillet dinner, quick meals, weeknight dinner, one pan meal, easy recipes, family dinner, budget friendly