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Ground Beef and Sweet Potato Taco Bowls

ByJessica Loizzo Updated on

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These Ground Beef and Sweet Potato Taco Bowls are made with seasoned ground beef, tender sweet potatoes, and all your favorite taco toppings. Everything cooks together in one skillet, making this an easy dinner or lunch that’s ready in about 25 minutes. I love mine with crunchy lettuce, sour cream, and taco sauce, but everyone can build their bowl however they like!

Ground beef sweet potato taco bowls with cheese, lettuce, chips and sour cream in a bowl

How This Recipe Came Together

This recipe actually started with leftovers! I had some Mexican-seasoned ground beef and sweet potato fries in the refrigerator, so I decided to heat them up together for lunch. I added lettuce, pickled red onions, Greek yogurt, and taco sauce that I happened to have on hand, and it was SO good.

I loved the combination enough that I decided to turn it into an actual recipe. Instead of cooking the sweet potatoes separately, I wanted everything to come together in one skillet.

After testing it, I found that giving the diced sweet potatoes a five-minute head start before adding the ground beef worked really well. I also learned that you don’t need a ton of sweet potato. One medium potato is plenty to add a little sweetness without overpowering the seasoned beef.

How to Make Ground Beef and Sweet Potato Taco Bowls

This recipe comes together quickly, and you only need one skillet! Here’s a quick look at how to make it. You’ll find the full recipe with measurements in the recipe card below.

Diced orange sweet potatoes cooking in a skillet on marble countertop, wooden spoon resting in pan.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced sweet potatoes and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they begin to soften.
A pastel green pan on a marble surface contains diced sweet potatoes and ground beef sautéing together, with a wooden spoon resting in the center.
Add the ground beef, breaking apart with a wooden spoon. Cook until browned.
A hand sprinkles mexican spiced into a skillet with diced sweet potatoes and ground beefin a light-colored pot on a marble countertop.
Stir in the mexican spices.
Cubes of sweet potato and ground beef sizzling in a light brown pan with a wooden spatula and a hand pouring liquid into the mixture.
Pour in the water and stir to coat everything in the seasoning. Let it cook for another minute or two, just until the liquid reduces slightly.
A top-down view of a pot with ground meat and orange cubed sweet potatoes cooking on a marble countertop, with a wooden spoon resting inside the pot.
It’s done when the water has mostly evaporated.
Tortilla chips topped with mexican ground beef and sweet potatoes on a white plate, with fresh greens and dips in the background.
Divide the mixture into bowls over chips if desired.
Taco bowl with seasoned ground beef, sweet potatoes, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, shredded cheese, tortilla strips, sour cream, being drizzled with taco sauce.
Enjoy with your favorite toppings!

Make These Taco Bowls Your Own

The toppings are really what make these bowls! I usually keep mine pretty simple with chopped lettuce, sour cream or Greek yogurt, and a generous drizzle of taco sauce. It’s almost like a taco salad, but with warm ground beef and sweet potatoes underneath. I will add chips for crunch if I have them.

If you want to load yours up, here are some other delicious options:

  • Shredded Colby Jack or Monterey Jack cheese
  • Homemade or store-bought pickled red onions – highly recommend adding them.
  • Sliced avocado or guacamole
  • Black beans or corn
  • Crushed tortilla chips
  • Chipotle sauce or salsa

You can also skip the bowl altogether and use the ground beef and sweet potato mixture to fill tacos or quesadillas, or spoon it over rice for a heartier meal. If you’re in the mood for something cheesy, my Cheeseburger Quesadillas are another fun way to use ground beef for dinner.

A Few Tips From My Kitchen

Use lean ground beef. I tested this recipe with 80/20 ground beef and drained some of the grease, but I recommend 90/10. It’s a better fit for this skillet meal and requires less draining.

Don’t cover the skillet. I originally considered covering the sweet potatoes to finish cooking them, but they really don’t need it. Cooking everything uncovered helps the potatoes hold their shape.

Add enough water. I found that about ½ cup of water was just right for distributing the taco seasoning and keeping the ground beef moist without making the mixture too saucy.

Perfect for Lunch or Meal Prep

This is one of those recipes I love having in the refrigerator because it’s just as useful for lunch as it is for dinner.

Make the ground beef and sweet potato mixture ahead of time and refrigerate it separately from your toppings. When you’re ready to eat, heat up a portion, add whatever sounds good, and lunch is done!

I love having easy ground beef recipes like this in my dinner rotation. My Homemade Sloppy Joes are another longtime family favorite that makes great leftovers, especially for lunch the next day.

Taco bowls topped with seasoned beef, sweet potatoes, shredded cheese, sour cream, pico de gallo, greens, and olives on a beige plate with tortilla chips on the side.

Give These Taco Bowls a Try!

Whether you keep things simple like I do or pile on all your favorite taco toppings, I think you’ll love how easy and flavorful these sweet potato taco bowls are. They’re perfect for a quick family dinner, an easy lunch, or prepping a few meals ahead of time.

If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and star rating below, and tell me what toppings you added to your bowl. I always love hearing how you make my recipes your own!

Yield: 5

Ground Beef and Sweet Potato Taco Bowls

Taco bowls topped with ground beef, sweet potatoes, shredded cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, sour cream, and tortilla chips in a bowl with sides of tortilla chips and greens in the background.
No Ratings

These easy Ground Beef and Sweet Potato Taco Bowls are made with seasoned ground beef and tender sweet potatoes, all cooked in one skillet! Add your favorite taco toppings for a delicious, customizable family dinner that's ready in just 25 minutes.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1½ pounds lean ground beef (90/10 recommended)
  • 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and diced into ½-inch cubes (about 1½ cups)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ cup water

the following homemade seasonings:

  • 2¼ teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¾ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon regular or smoked paprika
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

Toppings (as desired)

  • Chopped romaine or iceberg lettuce
  • Shredded Colby Jack or Monterey Jack cheese
  • Pickled red onions, homemade or store-bought
  • Sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
  • Taco sauce
  • Tortilla chips, optional

Instructions

  1. Cook the sweet potatoes. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1½ cups diced sweet potatoes and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they begin to soften.
  2. Add the ground beef and seasoning. Add 1½ pounds ground beef and the mild taco seasoning packet or homemade seasonings listed above. Cook for 5–7 minutes, breaking apart the beef and stirring occasionally, until the beef is fully cooked and the sweet potatoes are fork-tender. Drain excess grease if necessary.
  3. Add the water. Pour in ½ cup water and stir until the beef and sweet potatoes are evenly coated with the seasoning. Continue cooking uncovered for 1–2 minutes, allowing the liquid to reduce slightly while keeping the mixture moist.
  4. Assemble the bowls. Divide the seasoned ground beef and sweet potatoes among five bowls. Add your favorite toppings, using as much or as little of each as you like.
  5. Serve! Enjoy with a fork, scoop with tortilla chips, or crush a few chips over the top for extra crunch.

Notes

Storage: Refrigerate the cooked ground beef and sweet potato mixture in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Store toppings separately.

Reheating: Warm the beef mixture in a skillet with a splash of water or microwave until heated through. Add fresh toppings before serving.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

5

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 373Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 7gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 122mgSodium: 525mgCarbohydrates: 7gFiber: 2gSugar: 2gProtein: 39g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated. Use as an approximation only.

Did you make this recipe?

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© Jessica Loizzo
Cuisine: Mexican / Category: 30-Minute Dinners

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