Zesty Ground Beef & Bell Pepper Skillet
This Zesty Ground Beef & Bell Pepper Skillet is a flavorful and easy-to-make one-pan meal, perfect for a quick weeknight dinner. Lean ground beef is cooked with a colorful array of bell peppers, zucchini, and diced tomatoes, seasoned with Italian spices for a vibrant and satisfying dish.
Equipment
- Large skillet or Dutch oven
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb lean ground beef 90/10 or 93/7
- 1 yellow onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 red bell pepper cored and chopped
- 1 green bell pepper cored and chopped
- 1 medium zucchini quartered lengthwise and sliced
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes undrained
- 1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika optional
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes for a gentle kick
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 4 cups fresh spinach roughly chopped
Optional Garnishes
- fresh parsley
- shredded Parmesan cheese
- fresh lemon juice a squeeze of
Instructions
Cooking Steps
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned, then drain excess grease.
- Add chopped onion to the skillet, cook until softened, then stir in minced garlic and cook for one minute until fragrant.
- Stir in bell peppers and zucchini, cooking for 5-7 minutes until tender-crisp.
- Pour in diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, optional smoked paprika, and red pepper flakes. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5-8 minutes to meld flavors and thicken the sauce.
- Stir in fresh spinach until completely wilted, about 1-2 minutes.
- Season generously with salt and pepper, then remove from heat and serve hot. Garnish with parsley, Parmesan, or lemon juice if desired.
Notes
For a spicier dish, increase the red pepper flakes. This skillet meal is also great served over rice, quinoa, or with a side of crusty bread for soaking up the delicious sauce.