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Tex-Mex Beef Skillet with Melty Cheese Topping

  • Author: The Spicy Skillet

Description

A hearty one-pan Tex-Mex dish featuring seasoned ground beef, black beans, corn, and bell peppers smothered in melted cheese. Perfect for weeknight dinners with minimal cleanup!


Ingredients

Scale

For the Crust:

  • For the beef base:
  • 1 lb ground beef (85% lean)
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced (optional)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • For the seasoning:
  • 1 tbsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • For the mix-ins:
  • 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup corn kernels (fresh, frozen, or canned)
  • 1 (10 oz) can diced tomatoes with green chiles (Rotel)
  • For topping:
  • 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1 avocado, sliced (for serving)
  • Sour cream (for serving)

Instructions

1. Prepare the Crust:

  1. 1. Heat olive oil in a large cast-iron or oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned (5-6 minutes), breaking it apart with a spoon.
  2. 2. Add onion, bell pepper, and jalapeño. Cook for 4-5 minutes until vegetables soften. Stir in garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  3. 3. Sprinkle all seasoning ingredients over the beef mixture. Stir well to coat evenly.
  4. 4. Add black beans, corn, and diced tomatoes with their juices. Stir to combine and simmer for 5 minutes to blend flavors.
  5. 5. Preheat broiler to high. Sprinkle cheese evenly over the beef mixture. Broil for 2-3 minutes until cheese is bubbly and lightly browned (watch closely to prevent burning).
  6. 6. Remove from oven and let rest for 2 minutes. Garnish with cilantro and serve hot with avocado slices and sour cream.

Notes

For extra heat, keep jalapeño seeds or add 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper to seasoning. Leftovers keep refrigerated for 3 days. Reheat in microwave or covered skillet with a splash of water.