Go Back

Easy One-Pan Creamy Meat and Potato Skillet

A cozy and delicious one-pan meal featuring golden potatoes, savory meat, and a silky cream sauce, ready in under 30 minutes.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 500
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 pound ground beef, turkey, or sausage (for richer flavor, use pork sausage) Swap for plant-based crumbles for a vegetarian version.
  • 1.5 pounds baby potatoes, halved or quartered if large Red or Yukon Gold work well.
  • 1 medium onion, thinly sliced Shallots add a subtler sweetness.
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream or half-and-half For lighter version, use whole milk with a tablespoon of flour.
  • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar or Gruyere
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil or unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme Or a few sprigs of fresh thyme.
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • Optional: chopped parsley or chives for garnish, a squeeze of lemon for brightness.

Method
 

Cooking
  1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add olive oil or butter; when it shimmers, add the potatoes.
  2. Season with a pinch of salt and let them brown undisturbed for 6–8 minutes until the undersides are golden and slightly crisp.
  3. Push potatoes to the edge and add the sliced onion to the center. Cook 2–3 minutes until translucent, then add garlic and cook another 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Move onions and potatoes to one side and add the ground meat to the pan. Break it up with a spoon and let it brown without stirring too often.
  5. Sprinkle smoked paprika and thyme over the meat as it cooks.
  6. Once the meat is cooked through and the potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork, pour in the broth and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
  7. Stir in the cream and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Allow it to thicken slightly, about 2–3 minutes.
  8. Remove from heat and stir in shredded cheese until melted and silky. Taste and adjust salt and pepper.
  9. Finish with a sprinkle of chopped parsley or chives for a fresh contrast.

Notes

If you’d like more greens, stir in a handful of spinach at the end. For extra tang, fold in a tablespoon of Dijon mustard to the cream before adding.