Tex-Mex Ground Beef

There are many reasons to love this one-pan ground beef recipe. It's bold and flavorful and uses bright pops of acid to make the resulting dish comforting but not too heavy. The umami is strong in this dish thanks to ground beef and green olives, and canned tomatoes and red wine vinegar brighten it up.

Tex-Mex Ground Beef is fantastic over rice, which is a favorite way to serve. Plus, it's a great way to use up leftover rice.

It also answers the question of what the hell do I do with ground beef that isn’t:

1) a hamburger

2) meatballs

3) tacos.

While those entrees are great dinner options, they tend to suck the most well-intentioned and creative cook into a ground beef rut. The one where you stare cluelessly at a package of ground beef, not wanting to repeat the uninspired rotation of recipe stand-bys you usually rely on due to A) sheer laziness, B) hanger, C) impaired brain function after a long day.

This easy Ground Beef Skillet pairs well with Instant Pot Basmati Rice and Instant Pot Spanish Rice. And if you want to add a condiment to the mix, this Cucumber Pico de Gallo adds freshness and crispness.

Ingredients

If you're going to transform ground beef from unexciting to HELLO! you are going to need the following ingredients. This is one unforgettably flavorful ground beef skillet recipe that you can easily adapt to suit your tastes and whatever you have on hand.

• Ground beef - The star of the dish! I usually opt for either 80/20 (80% lean, 20% fat) or 85/15 (85% lean, 15% fat). Just make sure you strain off the excess grease after browning. Even though beef is in the name of this skillet recipe, I see no reason why you can't make it with ground chicken, ground pork, or even ground turkey.
• Veggies - Including garlic cloves, yellow onion, and green bell pepper. You'll want to finely mince the garlic and give the onion and bell pepper a fine dice. Red, white, or yellow onion is just fine here. Or feel free to use red, yellow, or orange bell pepper instead of green. You can use poblano or jalapeno instead of green bell pepper if you'd like a spicier outcome.
• Diced tomatoes in a can - I like to use fire-roasted tomatoes.
• Red wine vinegar - Adds a lovely hit of acidity to brighten things up.
• Seasonings - Dried oregano and ground cumin are a must for me, and I also like to add a little heat with a pinch or two of cayenne pepper. And, of course, salt and pepper at the end of cooking, to taste. Alternatively you, you could also use a taco seasoning, like this homemade (and low sodium) taco seasoning.
• Sliced green olives - Buy 'em pre-sliced or slice 'em yourself, but they really elevate this dish with their salty, briny pops of flavor. You could also replace the green olives with black olives, in equal amounts.
• Rice, for serving (optional) - Pair with leftover rice or whip up a batch while the ground beef cooks. This is optional, but a favorite serving method. You could also pair it with pasta.

Spicy Tex-Mex Beef Skillet Variations

The obvious variation here is to make this ground beef skillet recipe SPICY. Here are some suggestions to add some heat.

• Use jalapenos, thai chilis, or a bit of habanero to add fire! Add a modest amount to start as fresh peppers can be unpredictable!
• Use canned diced jalapenos or green chilis.
• Sprinkle in some cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, or hot Hungarian paprika.
• Add your favorite hot sauce to the mix.

How to Make Tex-Mex Ground Beef - Directions

Or, if you’re using leftover rice, see recipe card on how to achieve crispy rice.

1. Step 1: Make the rice. Get the rice cooking, according to the package instructions.
2. Step 2: Cook the vegetables. Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, and bell pepper, and cook for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Step 3: Cook the ground beef. Add the beef to the skillet and increase heat to medium-high. Use a wooden spoon to break up the ground beef up into small chunks as it cooks. Continue cooking until the meat is fully browned. Strain off excess grease.
4. Step 3: Add ingredients. Add the petite diced tomatoes with their juices, sliced green olives, oregano, cumin, 2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar, and cayenne pepper to the skillet. Continue cooking, stirring frequently, over medium-high heat until the liquid has reduced.
5. Step 4: Cook. Reduce the heat to low. Add in the remaining tablespoon of red wine vinegar and the sliced green olives, a few pinches of salt and black pepper and stir. Give it a taste and adjust the seasonings to your taste.
6. Step 5: Serve. Serve immediately over rice and enjoy!

Get ready to liven up your dinnertime with a steaming hot pan of Tex-Mex flavors. This Tex-Mex Ground Beef Skillet recipe was adapted from Good Housekeeping’s Quick Sauteed Cuban Beef.

More Easy Tex-Mex Inspired Dinner Recipes

If you tried this easy ground beef skillet recipe (or any other recipe on Midwexican), please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it turned out in the 📝 comments below!