With today’s healthy ground beef and potatoes recipe, we’ll show you how to make a delicious, comforting dish from scratch. All it takes is a few ingredients and it’ll be ready in less than an hour.
Is This Ground Beef and Potatoes Healthy?
Yes, our ground beef and potatoes recipe is healthy. Here’s why:
1. Best Type of Ground Beef for This Recipe
Ground beef tends to be very high in fat and calories and is often considered an unhealthy option. But that’s not always true because it depends on the meat to fat ratio.
For instance, we’re using 85% lean ground beef for this recipe, which provides about 243 calories in every 4 oz. If you’re using 75% lean ground beef of the same amount, your calorie consumption will be increased up to 331.
Of course, you can further decrease your fat intake by using ground beef that contains 90% or more lean meat. However, the leaner the meat, the dryer, and less appetizing it tends to be.
2. Carbohydrates are Healthy, Too
This recipe contains two main sources of carbs: potatoes and rice. This means our ground beef and potatoes recipe isn’t low-carb, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less healthy.
Potatoes and rice are relatively low in sugar and, as such, eating in moderation won’t cause a sudden spike in your blood sugar level.
In fact, adding carbs to your diet is a good way to stretch your meals as it helps you stay full for longer. And when you’re feeling full, you won’t be craving other calorie-dense foods like chips or cakes.
Main Ingredients
Here are the main ingredients for today’s ground beef and potatoes recipe:
- Ground beef: As mentioned, we’re using 85% lean ground beef.
- Aromatics: White onions and garlic.
- Vegetables: Tomatoes, carrots, red bell pepper, and potatoes.
- Spices and condiments: Tomato paste, paprika, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, and brown gravy mix.
- Herbs: Dried Bay leaf, fresh thyme, and parsley.
- Liquid: Unsalted chicken broth to cook the beef and potatoes.
- Rice: We’re serving our beef over a bowl of warm, cooked medium-grain rice.
Ground beef is a versatile ingredient that you can be creative with and try out different ways to cook it. If you’re interested, check out our ground beef and broccoli recipe and our ground beef and cabbage recipe.
Types of Potatoes to Use
Here are the common types of potatoes you can use for this recipe:
- Yukon gold potatoes: They’re mildly sweet and absorb flavors well — perfect for today’s recipe. When cooked, they become quite tender but not to the point that they’ll fall apart easily.
- Russet potatoes: These starchy potatoes may be the best for frying, but they’re quite versatile and go well with many dishes.
- French fingerlings: They may cost a few more bucks, but your money will be well-spent. They’re lightly sweet and hold their shape well after cooking — perfect for boiling, baking, or slow-cooking.
How Long Should You Cook Ground Beef?
For this particular recipe, you will cook the ground beef twice:
- First, you’ll sauté it for 3 minutes to brown it slightly and break any large chunks into smaller pieces. Don’t worry about undercooking it now.
- Next, the beef will be simmered in chicken broth for 20 minutes. At this point, the beef should be tender and well-done.
In the end, our ground beef took only 23 minutes to cook; long enough to cook the ground beef and make it safe to eat.
If you’re unsure, use a thermometer and check the temperature of the meat sauce. It should have reached 160°F; if it hasn’t, cook a bit longer.
How to Store and Reheat the Leftover
If you have leftover ground beef, potatoes, and rice, here’s what you should do:
- Divide the food into serving portions and keep each one in an airtight container. It will last for a week in the fridge.
- Use microwave-safe containers so that you don’t have to transfer your food to a new container every time you reheat it.
- Reheat the ground beef and potatoes in the microwave for about 2 minutes.
This ground beef and potatoes recipe is ideal for a whole week’s meal-prep if you’re a busy person.
What to Serve With
For today’s meal, we recommend serving our ground beef and potatoes with a side of beet and feta cheese salad. The salad consists of tender beets, fresh orange, and peppery arugula that will surely pair well with the beef.
We suggest cooking the beets ahead of time as they need to cool down before they can be mixed into the salad. And while you’re at it, you can throw together a low-calorie pitcher of fresh lime juice to wash down your meal.
This drink will help cleanse your palate and freshen your breath.
Take Your Taste Buds on a Culinary Adventure with These Exotic Beef Over Rice Recipes
This ginger beef recipe is a delicious and aromatic dish that's perfect for a special occasion or a weeknight dinner. The tender beef is marinated in a flavorful blend of spices and herbs, then stir-fried with fresh ginger and vegetables to create a dish that's both healthy and satisfying.
This article introduces readers to beef tapa, a traditional Filipino breakfast dish made with thinly sliced beef marinated in a flavorful mixture of soy sauce, vinegar, and spices. It provides a detailed recipe along with serving suggestions and nutritional information.
If you're looking for filling meals that are both delicious and nutritious, take a peek at our beef and rice recipe roundup.
Ground Beef and Potatoes Recipe
This ground beef and potatoes recipe is proof that you don't need many ingredients to make a delicious, homemade meal. Let's check it out.
- by Tuyet Pham, Luna Regina, 2022-10-18
- cook TIME 30 mins
- prep TIME 10 mins
- total TIME 40 mins
- COURSE Main Course
- CUISINE American
- SERVINGS servings
- CALORIES 498 kcal
INGREDIENTS
- 12 oz 85% lean ground beef
- 12 oz potatoes (cut into 1-inch cubes)
- 2 oz onions (finely chopped)
- 4 oz red bell pepper (deseeded, diced)
- 3 oz carrots (finely diced)
- 1/4 cup tomato (deseeded, finely diced)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp brown gravy mix
- 1 tbsp garlic (minced)
- 1 tbsp Hunt's tomato paste
- 2 cup unsalted chicken broth
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp traditional Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp thyme (fresh leaves only)
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley (roughly chopped)
- 3 cups cooked medium-grained rice (from 1 1/2 cups uncooked)
INSTRUCTIONS
Sauté the aromatics: In a cast-iron skillet, add 1 tbsp olive oil, 2 oz chopped onions, and 1 tbsp minced garlic. Cook and stir over medium heat for 2 minutes or until the onions are translucent. Add 1 tbsp tomato paste and stir constantly for 30 seconds to reduce its tartness.
Sauté the vegetables: Add 1/4 cup chopped tomatoes to the same skillet and stir for 1 minute to incorporate with the tomato paste. Then, add 3 oz diced carrots and 4 oz diced red bell peppers. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Cook the beef: Add 12 oz ground beef to the skillet. Stir and break up any large chunks. Add 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 1 tsp thyme, and 1 tbsp brown gravy mix. Mix well and cook for another 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Cook the potatoes: Add 2 cup unsalted chicken broth, 12 oz cubed potatoes, and 1 bay leaf. Turn the heat up to high and bring to a boil for 1 minute. Then, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes. Stir occasionally so that the potatoes are cooked evenly.
Garnish and serve: Once the timer rings, turn off the heat. Sprinkle 2 tbsp freshly chopped parsley on top of the beef and potatoes. Transfer to a deep dish or bowl and serve with 3/4 cup cooked rice per serving.
NUTRITION
Tuyet Pham
Head Chef, Culinary ConsultantLuna Regina
Writer, AuthorNatalie Butler, RD, LD
Nutrition Reviewer- Andie XapDelicious