High Protein Ground Beef Potatoes (Printable)

Savory ground beef and golden potatoes cooked together for a hearty, nutritious meal packed with protein.

# What You Need:

→ Main Ingredients

01 - 2 pounds ground beef, 80/20 blend
02 - 3 medium russet potatoes, peeled and diced into 1-inch cubes
03 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Seasonings & Sauces

05 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
06 - 1/2 teaspoon paprika
07 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
08 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
10 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
11 - 1/2 cup beef broth

→ Garnish

12 - Fresh parsley, chopped

# Directions:

01 - Wash, peel, and dice potatoes into uniform 1-inch cubes. Rinse in cold water to remove excess starch, then pat completely dry with paper towels.
02 - Heat olive oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add potatoes in a single layer and cook for 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden-brown on multiple sides and tender when pierced. Remove potatoes and set aside.
03 - In the same pan, add ground beef. Break up with a wooden spoon and cook over medium-high heat for 5–7 minutes until browned and no longer pink with an internal temperature of 160°F. Drain excess fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the pan.
04 - Push beef to one side of the pan. Add onion to the empty space and cook for 3–4 minutes until translucent. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Mix onion and garlic into the beef.
05 - Sprinkle paprika, oregano, salt, and black pepper over the mixture. Stir to combine evenly. Add tomato paste and cook for 1–2 minutes, stirring until it becomes brick red and slightly caramelized.
06 - Pour in beef broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Return potatoes to the pan, gently folding into the beef mixture. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 10–15 minutes until potatoes are fork-tender. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Remove from heat and let stand for 2–3 minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's done in under an hour but tastes like you've been cooking all afternoon.
  • One pan means one cleanup, which is basically a gift to yourself on a busy night.
  • Each bite packs 36 grams of protein, so you can actually feel full and energized afterward.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the potatoes—starch makes them stick together and prevents that beautiful golden crust.
  • The 80/20 beef blend is specific because leaner beef can dry out, while fattier blends leave grease pooling on top.
03 -
  • Those browned bits on the bottom of the pan (called fond) are flavor concentrate—always deglaze them with your liquid and scrape them up with a spoon.
  • Letting everything rest for a few minutes at the end lets the sauce set slightly and makes serving cleaner and more satisfying.
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