Description

This Easy One-Pan Creamy Meat & Potato Skillet is a quick and comforting meal perfect for busy weeknights. Using simple, affordable ingredients like ground meat, diced potatoes, and a creamy soup base, this dish combines rich flavors with satisfying textures all cooked in one skillet for easy cleanup.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

1 pound ground meat (beef, turkey, chicken, or pork)
12 small potatoes, diced (about ½-inch pieces)
1 can cream soup (mushroom, chicken, or celery)
¾ cup cold milk
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Optional Additions

Shredded cheese, as desired
Fresh herbs for garnish
Frozen vegetables for extra nutrition

Instructions

Brown the Ground Meat: Heat a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground meat and cook, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon or spatula. Season generously with salt and pepper while cooking. Continue until the meat is fully browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Avoid overcrowding the pan; cook in batches if necessary for better browning.
Add the Diced Potatoes: Add the diced potatoes directly to the pan with the cooked meat. Stir well to combine and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to help potatoes absorb meat flavors and begin softening.
Create the Creamy Base: Add the can of cream soup and the cold milk to the skillet. Stir until well combined, making sure the mixture is creamy but not too thick. Adjust thickness by adding more milk if needed, or letting it simmer uncovered a few extra minutes if too thin.
Simmer Until Potatoes are Tender: Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and let the skillet simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Ensure potatoes are fork-tender by testing with a fork. If sticking occurs, add a splash of milk or water and lower heat slightly.
Add Final Touches and Serve: Taste and adjust salt and pepper seasoning. If desired, sprinkle shredded cheese over the top and allow it to melt. Add frozen vegetables during the last 3-4 minutes of cooking for added nutrition. Garnish with fresh herbs before serving hot.

Notes

Use uniform, small potato pieces (about ½-inch) for even cooking.
If your skillet is not large enough, brown meat in batches to improve texture.
You can substitute different types of ground meat based on preference.
Frozen vegetables added near the end boost nutrition and color.
Adjust consistency of creamy base by varying milk quantity.
Make sure potatoes are fork-tender before serving for best texture.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Keywords: one-pan skillet, creamy meat and potatoes, easy dinner, quick weeknight meal, ground meat recipe, comfort food, creamy potato skillet