When life gets hectic, what’s the first thing I reach for? Ground beef, hands down! It’s the ultimate lifesaver for whipping up satisfying meals without breaking the bank. That’s exactly why I’m so excited about this Easy Ground Beef and Bean Skillet Lasagna. It’s a total game-changer for busy weeknights because it’s a hearty, flavorful one-skillet wonder that tastes like pure comfort. Seriously, who doesn’t love lasagna without all the layered fuss? As a recipe developer, I’m all about making delicious home cooking accessible, and this dish truly embodies the spirit of simple ground beef recipes at home.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Ground Beef and Bean Skillet Lasagna
Trust me, this recipe is a winner for so many reasons. It’s:
- Super Speedy: Seriously, dinner on the table in about an hour, including bake time! Perfect for those crazy weeknights.
- Crazy Easy: One skillet for most of the cooking? Yes, please! Less cleanup is always a win.
- Packed with Flavor: All those yummy spices, salsa, and melted cheese? It’s a flavor explosion that your whole family will rave about.
- Family Approved: It’s hearty, comforting, and has all those classic lasagna vibes, but way simpler. Everyone loves it!
- Budget-Friendly: Ground beef and pantry staples make this a super affordable meal that still feels special.
Gather Your Ingredients for Simple Ground Beef Recipes At Home
Alright, let’s get our kitchen prepped! Having everything ready to go makes this so much smoother. Here’s what you’ll need for this fantastic skillet lasagna. Remember, the star is that yummy ground beef!
For the Skillet Mixture
- 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil (plus a little extra for greasing)
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 1 bell pepper, seeds and ribs removed, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 lb. ground beef (85% lean is perfect here!)
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 Tbsp. chili powder
- 1 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
- 1 Tbsp. ground cumin
- 1 (15-oz.) can black beans, drained
- 1 (15-oz.) jar salsa (medium heat is great, but use your favorite!)
- 1/4 c. water
For Assembly
- 6 flour tortillas (about 8-inch ones work best)
- 8 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (divided, so about half goes in, half on top!)
- 8 oz. pepper Jack cheese, shredded (also divided)
- 1 (14.75-oz.) can creamed corn (yep, creamed corn! It’s a secret weapon!)
For Serving (Optional but Recommended!)
- Sour cream
- Chopped tomatoes
- Chopped fresh cilantro
- Extra chopped onion
Essential Equipment for Your Simple Ground Beef Recipes At Home
Now, let’s talk gear! You really don’t need a fancy setup for this recipe. Just a few basics will get you all set:
- A big skillet: You’ll do most of the cooking right in here, so make sure it’s a good size.
- A baking dish: A standard 9×13 inch one is perfect for this lasagna.
- A trusty wooden spoon: Great for stirring and breaking up that ground beef without scratching your pan.
Step-by-Step Guide to Making Easy Ground Beef Dinner
Alright, let’s get cooking! Making this skillet lasagna is really straightforward, and honestly, spending a little time now means a huge payoff later. You’ve got this!
Preheating and Dish Preparation
First things first, let’s get that oven nice and hot. Preheat it to 400°F (200°C). While it’s warming up, grab your 9×13 inch baking dish and give it a quick little grease with some of that vegetable oil. This little step is key to making sure nothing sticks!
Building the Flavorful Skillet Mixture
Now for the heart of the dish! Grab your biggest skillet and place it over medium-high heat. Add that 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil. Toss in your chopped onion and bell pepper, and let them soften up for about 7 minutes, giving them a stir now and then. Next, add your chopped garlic – oh, that smell! Cook it for just about a minute until it’s fragrant. Now, for the star: the ground beef! Crumble it into the skillet and season it well with salt and pepper. Cook it, breaking it all up with your wooden spoon, until it’s no longer pink, which usually takes about 6 minutes. Don’t forget to drain off any extra fat – nobody needs that extra grease! Stir in the chili powder, flour, and cumin. Let it cook for another minute, just to get all toasty and fragrant. Then, pour in the drained black beans, your lovely jar of salsa, and that 1/4 cup of water. Scrape up any yummy browned bits from the bottom of the pan – trust me, all that flavor is where it’s at! Let it bubble and warm through for about 2 to 3 minutes. Once it’s all combined and smelling amazing, take it off the heat. You’ve just created the foundation for some seriously delicious gluten-free dinners, even though this one has tortillas!
Assembling Your Skillet Lasagna
Time to layer this beauty! Spread just a little bit of that beef mixture on the bottom of your prepared baking dish. Now, lay down 2 of your flour tortillas. Sprinkle about a quarter of your cheddar and a quarter of your pepper Jack cheese right over them. Then comes about half of the creamed corn, followed by half of the rest of your beef mixture. Repeat that layer one more time with 2 more tortillas, more cheese, then the rest of the creamed corn and beef mixture. Finally, pop the last 2 tortillas on top, and cover everything with the remaining cheddar and pepper Jack cheese. It’s going to look amazing!
Baking and Resting the Lasagna
Into the preheated oven it goes! Bake it for about 30 minutes, or until those cheeses are totally melted and you see the filling bubbling up around the edges. This is important: once you pull it out, let it hang out for about 10 minutes. This resting time lets everything settle and makes it so much easier to serve without it falling apart.
Serving Your Delicious Skillet Meal
Now for the best part! Drizzle a generous swirl of sour cream over the top. Add your optional toppings like chopped tomatoes, fresh cilantro, or a little extra chopped onion. Dig in and enjoy!
Tips for Success with Simple Ground Beef Recipes At Home
You know, the beauty of ground beef recipes is how forgiving they are! But a few little tricks can really elevate your dish. For this skillet lasagna, make sure you’re not overcrowding the pan when you cook the beef – give it some space so it browns nicely instead of steaming. If you really want to spice things up, add a pinch of cayenne with the chili powder or use a hotter salsa. And remember that creamed corn? Don’t skip it! It adds this amazing subtle sweetness and creamy texture that just ties everything together beautifully. If you ever want more tips on making things like chicken shine, I’ve got some tips over here that might help too!
Frequently Asked Questions About This Ground Beef Recipe
Got questions? I’ve got answers! Here are a few things folks often ask about making this hearty skillet meal:
Can I make this easy ground beef dinner ahead of time?
You totally can! You can assemble the whole lasagna (before baking) and keep it covered in the fridge for up to a day. Just add a few extra minutes to the baking time since it’ll be cold. Or, you can cook the beef mixture and store it separately, then assemble and bake when you’re ready for a super-fast dinner!
What if I don’t have black beans?
No worries at all! This recipe is pretty flexible. You could easily swap out the black beans for kidney beans, pinto beans, or even some corn if you have that on hand instead. Just make sure they’re drained and rinsed, just like the black beans. It’ll still be delish!
How can I adjust the spice level of this skillet meal?
It’s super easy to tweak the heat! For a milder version, use a mild salsa and maybe cut back on the chili powder a bit. If you’re a heat-seeker like me, go for a hot salsa and feel free to add a pinch of cayenne pepper or some red pepper flakes along with the chili powder. You can always add a dollop of hot sauce when serving, too!
Nutritional Information Estimate
Okay, so while this Easy Ground Beef and Bean Skillet Lasagna is ridiculously tasty and packed with good stuff, all those delicious ingredients can vary slightly depending on *exactly* what you use. So, think of these numbers as a friendly ballpark estimate per serving:
Calories: Around 500-600 kcal
Fat: Roughly 25-35g
Protein: About 25-35g
Carbohydrates: Around 40-50g
Remember, things like the leanness of your ground beef, the specific salsa you choose, and how much cheese you pile on can all nudge these numbers a bit. It’s always good to double-check your favorite brands if you’re tracking things closely!
Share Your Simple Ground Beef Recipes At Home Creations!
I absolutely LOVE hearing from you all! Did you whip up this skillet lasagna? Tell me all about it in the comments below – I’m dying to know how it turned out and if you added any fun twists! Your experiences help everyone in our community feel more confident in their own kitchens. As Megan Lawrence, I’m passionate about empowering you to cook delicious, simple meals! If you have any specific questions, you can always reach out via our contact page, and feel free to check out my colleague Jennifer Taylor’s recipes too!
Easy Ground Beef and Bean Skillet Lasagna
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly grease a 13×9 inch baking dish with oil.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat 1 Tbsp. oil. Add the chopped onion and bell pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 7 minutes. Add the chopped garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute more.
- Add the ground beef to the skillet. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until the beef is no longer pink, about 6 minutes. Drain off any excess fat.
- Stir in the chili powder, flour, and cumin. Cook, stirring, until the meat is coated and fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the black beans, salsa, and 1/4 cup water. Cook, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet, until the beans and salsa are combined and warmed through, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Spread a small amount of the beef mixture on the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Top with 2 tortillas. Sprinkle with one-quarter of the cheddar and one-quarter of the pepper Jack cheese. Top with half of the creamed corn and half of the remaining beef mixture. Add another 2 tortillas, one-quarter of the cheddar and one-quarter of the pepper Jack cheese, then the remaining creamed corn and beef mixture. Finish with the remaining 2 tortillas, cheddar, and pepper Jack cheese.
- Bake the lasagna until the cheeses have melted and the filling is bubbling, about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let stand for about 10 minutes.
- Drizzle with sour cream. Top with extra chopped onion, tomatoes, and cilantro before serving.
Notes
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Bella Simmons is an accomplished culinary content creator who specializes in transforming classic comfort dishes into fresh, approachable recipes for the modern home cook. Known for her warm teaching voice, dependable techniques, and flavor-forward approach, Bella has become a trusted resource for readers who want meals that are both memorable and manageable. Her mission is simple: to help home cooks feel confident, inspired, and excited every time they step into the kitchen.
Bella’s career began in local bakeries and small café kitchens, where she developed a deep appreciation for homemade food and the emotional connection people share with recipes passed down through generations. After honing her craft in pastry work and savory cooking, she transitioned into food media and recipe writing, eager to reach more cooks than she ever could from behind a bakery counter. Her early success writing for digital food platforms and community cookbooks opened the door to larger opportunities, allowing her to merge her passion for storytelling with her culinary expertise.
Over the years, Bella has collaborated with food brands, kitchenware companies, and cooking educators to develop trusted recipes, step-by-step tutorials, and educational culinary resources. Her work has been shared across online cooking communities and featured in recipe roundups for its clarity, creativity, and consistently delicious results. Bella is especially known for her approachable technique breakdowns—helping readers understand why a recipe works, not just how to make it.
