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30-Minute Vegetable and Ground Beef Skillet

30-Minute 8-Ingredient Vegetable and Ground Beef Skillet. This nutritious recipe contains a variety of fresh vegetables and grass-fed ground beef.  Make it on any busy weeknight for a nourishing meal!

Close up of a cast iron skillet with ground beef and vegetables inside sitting on a wooden backdrop with a golden napkin.

This quick and easy Vegetable and Ground Beef Skillet is one of those easy recipes I make over and over without getting tired of it.

Remarkably versatile, you can incorporate any vegetables you love as well as almost all protein sources.

All you need is a large skillet and 30 minutes of time and you’re looking at a stellar healthy dinner recipe that can be whipped up any night of the week.

You can easily double or triple the recipe to make it as a meal prep recipe to eat throughout the week. In fact, we do this in my own household on a nearly weekly basis to cover lunches and dinners.

It is an all-around clean meal that fits many dietary restrictions, such as paleo, keto, low-carb, low-FODMAP and AIP.

Easy and nutritious, this feel-good meal will leave you feeling energized.

If you’re following a lower calorie diet, this is an ideal recipe to ensure you’re getting plenty of protein, fiber, and fat to maximize your nutrition.

Bowl of beef and vegetables with a skillet of beef and vegetables in the background.

Let’s discuss the healthy ingredients to make this quick weeknight meal.

Ingredients for Vegetable and Ground Beef Skillet:

Avocado Oil: Used to cook the vegetables and beef, we need a high temperature cooking oil. I like using avocado oil because it has a high smoke point (ideal for sauteing), and a neutral flavor. You can also use olive oil if you prefer.

Vegetables: Carrots, broccoli, fresh zucchini, yellow squash, and radishes. I love that this combination of vegetables makes for a belly-friendly nutritious meal. If you aren’t sensitive to onions and garlic, add 1 cup of chopped onion and 4 to 5 cloves of garlic.

Ground Beef: The star of this recipe is one pound of ground beef. I use 80/20 grass-fed ground beef, because much of the flavor in this meal comes from the fat content of the beef. You can easily use lean beef if you prefer. If you do so, I recommend adding additional seasonings (see recommendations below).

There are infinite ways you can change up this recipe to make it your own!

Recipe Adaptations:

  • You can use any ground meat, such as ground turkey, ground chicken, ground pork, or ground bison. Elk and deer are great options too! Pick your favorite animal protein.
  • Use any of your favorite seasonal vegetables. Cauliflower, sweet potatoes, green beans, butternut squash, onions, garlic, Swiss chard, spinach, turmeric, bok choy, kale, brussels sprouts, bell pepper etc. would be lovely.
  • Add any of your favorite dried herbs and spices such as Italian seasoning, Cajun seasoning, chili powder, or lemon pepper.
  • If you use lean ground beef, increase the amount of seasoning you use. Add ground ginger, onion powder, garlic powder, fresh onion or fresh garlic, hot sauce, various sauces like pesto sauce or tomato sauce, soy sauce, etc.
Skillet of beef and vegetables on a white background.

Special Diets:

This recipe covers so many dietary bases. It is paleo friendly, low carb, keto, low-FODMAP, AIP, and whole30.

This ground beef skillet is perfect for those who follow a ketogenic diet, as it contains a high amount of protein and a hearty portion of healthy fat while maintaining a lower carbohydrate count.

In addition, this skillet is AIP-friendly (Autoimmune Protocol) for those with autoimmune disease looking to control or lower their inflammation.

For those of you who have difficulty with GI issues and digestion, this meal is Low-FODMAP (contains only a small amount of fermentable carbohydrates) so it’s an easier one to digest and won’t cause gut flare ups.

Ground beef skillet recipes are one of those easy one-pot meals that covers all the nutrient bases that can easily become a family favorite.

How to Make Vegetable and Ground Beef Skillet:

Heat avocado oil in a large (12-inch) cast iron skillet to medium heat. Add the carrots, broccoli florets, and radishes and stir well. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables begin to soften, about 5 minutes.

broccoli, carrots, and radishes in a cast iron skillet, sautéing.

Scoot the vegetables to one side of the cast iron skillet and add the ground beef. Flatten the beef against the skillet, creating a beef layer. Sprinkle with sea salt and ground ginger.

Ground beef in a skillet with vegetables.

Allow beef to brown 2 minutes, then flip to the other side and continue browning another 2 minutes. Break the beef up into chunks with a spatula and stir into the vegetables so that everything is combined.

ground beef broken into chunks with vegetables in a skillet.

Add the zucchini squash and yellow squash and cover. Cook, stirring occasionally, until beef is cooked through and vegetables have reached desired done-ness, about 5 minutes. Taste the vegetable and ground beef skillet for flavor and season to taste with sea salt.

Horizontal photo of finished ground beef and vegetable skillet. Ready to serve.

Remove the lid and continue cooking and stirring occasionally until much of the liquid has evaporated, about 3 to 5 minutes.

Serve in bowls and enjoy! 

I often eat this recipe with steamed brown rice. You can serve it with any additional side dishes you enjoy, such as cauliflower rice. Sprinkle on some grated cheddar cheese (or cheese of choice) if you’d like!

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.

Tips and Tricks:

  • Make this in a large (12-inch) cast iron skillet or wok so that all ingredients fit in a single pan.
  • This is an awesome meal prep recipe – make the whole thing up to 4 days ahead of time and eat on it throughout the week.
  • To keep the preparation time low, start by chopping the carrots, broccoli, and radishes and get them sauteing. While the hearty vegetables are cooking, chop the zucchini and yellow squash. This makes for a great cooking flow. 

Nutritional Information:

If you turn this skillet into 4 servings, each serving contains 284 calories, 16 grams of fat, 9 grams of total carbohydrates and 25 grams of protein. I typically eat 1/3 to half of the batch in one meal.

This low-carb recipe is an amazing source of fresh veggies, comes together quickly, and the whole family will surely love it.

If you’re looking for more quick, easy, healthy dinner recipes, also try out these reader favorites!

More Healthy Dinner Recipes:

Put this healthy ground beef recipe on repeat!

Close up of a cast iron skillet with ground beef and vegetables inside sitting on a wooden backdrop with a golden napkin.

Vegetable and Ground Beef Skillet

This Vegetable and Ground Beef Skillet is a timeless classic for those who love their meat and veggies! Versatile, nourishing, and so easy to prepare! An easy low-carb, anti-inflammatory dinner recipe that can be made any night of the week!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
4 Servings

Ingredients

  • 1 Tbsp avocado oil, or olive oil
  • 2 large carrots, peeled and chopped
  • 1 large crown broccoli, chopped*
  • 6 radishes, chopped
  • 1 pound grass-fed ground beef
  • 1 tsp sea salt, to taste
  • 2 tsp ground ginger, optional
  • 1 medium zucchini squash, chopped
  • 1 large yellow squash, chopped

Instructions

  • Heat avocado oil in a large (12-inch) cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add the carrots, broccoli, and radishes and stir well. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables begin to soften, about 5 minutes.
    broccoli, carrots, and radishes in a cast iron skillet, sautéing.
  • Scoot the vegetables to one side of the cast iron skillet and add the ground beef. Flatten the beef against the skillet, creating a beef layer. Sprinkle with sea salt and ground ginger.
    Ground beef in a skillet with vegetables.
  • Allow beef to brown 2 minutes, then flip to the other side and continue browning another 2 minutes. Break the beef up into chunks with a spatula and stir into the vegetables so that everything is combined.
    ground beef broken into chunks with vegetables in a skillet.
  • Add the zucchini squash and yellow squash and cover. Cook, stirring occasionally, until beef is cooked through and vegetables have reached desired done-ness, about 5 minutes. Taste the vegetable and ground beef skillet for flavor and season to taste with sea salt.
    Skillet of beef and vegetables on a white background.
  • Remove the lid and continue cooking and stirring occasionally until much of the liquid has evaporated, about 3 to 5 minutes.
  • Serve in bowls and enjoy!

Video

Notes

*If you're sensitive to broccoli, use one bunch of broccolini instead. I've found broccoli can be difficult to digest, whereas broccolini is easier on the GI.
If you aren't sensitive to onion and garlic, add 1 cup of chopped yellow or red onion and 3 to 5 cloves of garlic. You can also add garlic powder or onion powder.

Nutrition

Serving: 1(of 4)Calories: 284kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 25gFat: 16gSugar: 3g
Course: Beef Main Dishes
Cuisine: American
Keyword: aip, ground beef and vegetable skillet, healthy dinner recipes, healthy ground beef recipes, keto, low-carb, low-fodmap, paleo, vegetable and ground beef skillet, whole30
Servings: 4 Servings
Calories: 284kcal
Author: Julia

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission off items you purchase at no additional cost to you.

I originally shared this recipe on August 13, 2018. I updated the photographs and added some additional information, but the recipe itself remains the same.

30-Minute Vegetable and Ground Beef Skillet - keto, whole30, paleo, Low-FODMAP
Recipe Rating




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stumbit

Thursday 21st of March 2024

Plenty of fresh vegetables with grounded beef itself is an appetizing picture for sure. Excellent low calorie dinner choice. As it is mentioned,adding avocado oil may give extra punch to the taste.

Julia

Friday 22nd of March 2024

Thanks for the sweet words! Happy you enjoy the recipe :)

Jess

Wednesday 17th of August 2022

This is a regular for our family! I use carrots and sweet potatoes interchangably depending on what I have on hand. Recently, I have been using carrots as called for in the recipe and baking a sweet potato for my picky eaters as a side dish.

Julia

Thursday 18th of August 2022

Love that! So happy you and your family enjoy it, Jess! Thanks so much for the sweet words and the feedback! xoxo

Heidi

Tuesday 28th of June 2022

Made the ground beef & veggie dish. It was so yummy!

Julia

Thursday 30th of June 2022

So happy you enjoyed it, Heidi! Thank you for reporting back!

Margaret

Saturday 12th of March 2022

I made something just like this a few days ago and hadn't even seen your recipe yet! It was easy, nutritous and yummy, as you and others here describe. I wondered why I always thought I needed rice, noodles and/or tomato sauce or cream of mushroom soup to enjoy ground beef and veggies as I do with this meal in a bowl! Spices are good to add. I have a freezer full of ground beef so will be making more of these. Your recipe gives me additional ideas, so I'm glad I found this. The one I made the other day has provided my main meals for three days straight! I recommend that others try it; you'll like it.

Julia

Sunday 13th of March 2022

I'm so happy to hear you enjoy the concept, Margaret! I love recipes like this too...just so satisfying :)

Janet Smith

Tuesday 19th of January 2021

Recipes look delicious!

Julia

Wednesday 20th of January 2021

Thanks so much, Janet!

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