That’s a fantastic, adaptable recipe for a quick and easy one-pan meal! It’s perfect for teaching a 13-year-old the basics of cooking.

This simple and satisfying one-pan meal is a great way to use pantry staples and create a delicious dinner with minimal cleanup. It’s highly customizable, allowing for variations in seasonings, vegetables, and soup choices.

One-Pan Ground Meat and Potato Skillet

Ingredients:

Instructions:

1. Brown the Meat: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground meat, breaking it up with a spoon. Drain any excess grease.
2. Cook the Potatoes: Add the diced potatoes to the skillet with the browned meat. Stir to combine. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork (about 15-20 minutes, depending on the size of the potatoes).
3. Add Soup and Liquid: Once the potatoes are tender, reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the can of cream soup and the milk (or water/sour cream mixture) to the skillet. Stir well to combine.
4. Season: Add your desired seasonings to the mixture. Stir to incorporate the flavors.
5. Simmer: Simmer for a few minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly.
6. Cheese and Serve: Sprinkle the top with shredded cheese. Cover the skillet and let it sit for a minute or two until the cheese melts. Serve hot and enjoy!

Tips and Variations:

• Vegetable Add-ins: Add diced onions, carrots, or bell peppers along with the potatoes for extra flavor and nutrients.
• Seasoning Options: Experiment with different seasonings like chili powder, Cajun seasoning, or a sprinkle of paprika.
• Soup Substitutes: If you don’t have cream soup, you can make a simple white sauce with flour, butter, and milk.
• Leftovers: This dish makes great leftovers! Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
• Meat alternatives: ground sausage, or vegetarian ground meat alternatives work well also.