Easy 30 Minute Southwestern Beef Skillet
The ultimate comfort food, our Easy 30 Minute Southwestern Beef Skillet combines rich flavors with hearty ingredients for a delicious weeknight dinner. Packed with ground beef, black beans, and gooey cheddar cheese, it's a simple yet satisfying dish that your family will love. Make it tonight for a quick and easy meal!
Equipment
- Pot
- Colander
- Large Oven-Safe Skillet
Ingredients
- ½ pound small-sized pasta shells cooked according to package directions
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef I used 85% lean
- 1 medium/large sweet Vidalia onion diced small
- 3 to 4 cloves garlic finely pressed or minced
- 1 15-ounce can black beans drained and rinsed
- 1 15-ounce can petite diced tomatoes do not drain
- 1 4-ounce can diced green chiles do not drain
- ½ cup thinly sliced green onions with 2 tablespoons reserved for garnishing
- 1 1-ounce packet taco seasoning I used medium heat, reduced sodium
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper or to taste
- 8 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese grated (grate your own because pre-grated cheese in bags doesn’t melt as well)
- 1 jalapeno pepper sliced into thin rounds for garnishing optional
- 2 to 3 tablespoons fresh cilantro finely minced for garnishing
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions, drain, and set pasta aside.
- Preheat broiler to high.
- To a very large oven-safe skillet, add the olive oil, ground beef, onions, and cook over medium-high heat to brown the beef, crumbling it with a spatula as it cooks and stirring frequently to ensure even cooking. Cook for about 5 to 7 minutes or as necessary until beef is cooked through and onions are soft.
- Add the garlic and cook for about 1 minute, or until fragrant; stir frequently.
- Add the black beans, tomatoes, green chiles, green onions, taco seasoning, pepper, and stir to combine.
- Add the pasta and stir to combine.
- Evenly sprinkle with the cheese, optionally add jalapeno slices, and place skillet under the broiler until the cheese has melted and is bubbling, about 1 to 2 minutes. If desired, allow cheese to brown slightly, or to taste. Keep a very careful eye on your skillet and the cheese because broilers can burn things in a matter of seconds.
- Evenly sprinkle with the reserved 2 tablespoons green onions, cilantro, and serve immediately.
Notes
- Storage: Recipe is best warm and fresh, but will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for 4 months.