Budget Ground Beef Skillet

Ingredients

• 1 lb 80/20 ground beef
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, drained
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp chili flakes
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• 1 tbsp neutral oil

Steps

1. 1

   1. Heat oil in a large cast-iron or nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and bell pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 4 minutes.

2. 2

   2. Add the garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant, then push the vegetables to the edges and add the ground beef to the center. Break it up with a spatula and cook until browned with no pink remaining, about 6 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.

3. 3

   3. Stir in the tomato paste, smoked paprika, cumin, and chili flakes, coating the meat evenly. Cook for 1 minute to bloom the spices.

4. 4

   4. Add the drained diced tomatoes and Worcestershire sauce. Stir everything together, reduce heat to medium, and simmer uncovered for 8 minutes until the sauce tightens and flavors meld.

5. 5

   5. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Scatter the shredded cheddar over the top, cover the skillet with a lid for 1 minute until the cheese melts, then serve directly from the pan.