Mexican-Inspired Ground Beef and Cauliflower with spinach, bell pepper, onion and garlic. This easy low carb dinner recipe is perfect for anyone looking for a nutritious low-carb meal or lovers of ground beef and cauliflower recipes.
Quick and easy skillet recipes are a sure-fire way to get in a plethora of nutrients with very little prep time or effort.
This low-fuss Mexican Ground Beef and Cauliflower Skillet recipe is easy to toss together at a moment’s notice and takes right around 30 minutes to 40 minutes to make.
Ideal for those who like to keep weeknight meals clean and easy, this healthy dinner recipe is a great way to get in plenty of protein, micronutrients, and fiber.
If you follow a ketogenic diet or low-carb diet, one-pan dinner recipes like this are gold because they are so versatile and simple to prepare.
For instance, you can easily shower the final result with grated cheese and enjoy it in a big bowl with guacamole or diced avocado, sour cream, and salsa. If there are any picky eaters in the family, a sprinkle of cheese will do the trick!
You can also serve it up with additional sides like Mexican Rice, steamed brown rice or black beans. Use any leftovers for tacos, why not?
Feel free to double or triple the recipe if you’re feeding a big family or if you want leftovers for work lunches or weeknight dinners.
Modeled after my 30-Minute Vegetable and Ground Beef Skillet, this simpler version boasts a Mexican twist for an easy weeknight meal.
I’ve noticed a lot of the ground beef and cauliflower recipes on the internet include heavy whipping cream (or heavy cream) and I wanted to offer a recipe that is naturally dairy-free.
Of course you can add dairy to your heart’s delight, but for those who don’t eat dairy, this great recipe is one that the whole family can enjoy.
Let’s discuss the healthy ingredients in this healthy ground beef and cauliflower skillet.
Ingredients for Ground Beef and Cauliflower:
Ground Beef: Pick your favorite ground beef for this easy ground beef and cauliflower recipe. I like using grass-fed ground beef with 80/20 fat content because it is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids.
You can use lean ground beef such as 90/10 if you prefer less fat. Do note that the fat brings a great deal of flavor to the recipe but if you’re adding cheese, lean ground beef is a great option.
Fresh Cauliflower: One of the stars of the show! Pick up a small to medium head of cauliflower and chop it into florets.
I like chopping the cauliflower into small florets because it cooks faster and is easier to fit in your mouth.
Yellow Onion and Garlic: Fresh yellow onion and garlic provide a big boost of flavor that makes this meal so enticing.
Red Bell Pepper: Bell peppers provide a little sweetness and the slightest smoky flavor, helping to round out the flavor profile.
Baby Spinach (Optional): For a big boost of nutrients, I add baby spinach. If you aren’t a fan of spinach you can replace it with a different leafy green like kale or chard or omit it altogether.
Chili Powder and Sea Salt: Seasoning this healthy dinner recipe with chili powder and sea salt gives it a Mexican-flair, reminiscent of ground beef taco meat.
Water, Beef Broth, Or Tomato Sauce: Pick a liquid depending on what you have on hand and what you enjoy to make a little sauce. I use water or broth, but tomato sauce or water mixed with a couple tablespoons of tomato paste works great too.
Looking for ways you can change up this recipe? Here are some ideas.
Optional Additions:
- Add 1 to 2 chopped ripe tomatoes if you’re a tomato lover.
- For spicy ground beef, add 1 to 2 chopped jalapenos, leaving the seeds in.
- Cheese lovers, sprinkle grated cheese over everything once it has finished cooking. Cheddar cheese, Jack cheese, and Colby Jack cheese are lovely here.
- Serve with any side dishes such as zucchini noodles, steamed rice, and/or roasted or sauteed vegetables.
- Add sliced avocado, sour cream, and/or salsa on top to create a supremely amazing bowl of bliss.
- Serve with chopped green onions on top.
Recipe Adaptations:
- To save time, use frozen cauliflower rice instead of chopping a head of cauliflower. You will need about 3 to 4 cups worth of riced cauliflower if you go this route.
- Use a food processor to chop up the cauliflower into your desired sized chunks.
- Replace the fresh garlic with 2 teaspoons of garlic powder.
- Use ground chicken, ground pork, Italian sausage, or ground turkey in place of the ground beef.
- Toss in some extra veggies like zucchini, corn, fresh tomato, extra garlic cloves etc.
- Boost the flavor by adding 1 to 3 tablespoons of coconut aminos or soy sauce.
Now that we’ve covered the simple ingredients list, let’s make this easy skillet meal!
How to Make Mexican Ground Beef and Cauliflower Skillet:
Heat the avocado oil (or olive oil) over medium-high heat in a large skillet (I recommend using a 12 inch large non-stick skillet with a deep lip).
Add the yellow onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until it begins to soften, about 5 minutes.
Make room in the center of the pan for the ground beef then place the ground beef onto the skillet and brown for 2-3 minutes per side before breaking it up into smaller chunks using a spatula.
Mix in the chopped cauliflower, chopped red bell pepper, garlic, chili powder and sea salt until well-combined.
Add in the water (or broth or tomato sauce) and baby spinach, cover the skillet and reduce to medium heat. Cook for 5 minutes, or until the spinach has wilted.
Give everything a big stir and continue cooking until much of the liquid has evaporated and the cauliflower has reached your desired level of doneness, about 5 to 8 minutes.
Taste the recipe for flavor and add more sea salt, black pepper, chili powder, or lime juice to your personal taste.
Serve this main dish in big bowls with any additional side dishes such as rice, beans, avocado slices, and more. If you do cheese, sprinkle the ground beef and cauliflower recipe with grated cheddar cheese or jack cheese.
You can even use this recipe for ground beef tacos using corn tortillas, low-carb tortillas, or grain-free tortillas.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
The recipe tastes even better the next day, making this tasty recipe a new favorite meal prep option for busy weeknights.
Can I Turn This Into A Casserole?:
Yes! Feel free to make this easy recipe a cheesy ground beef casserole by transferring the meat mixture to a baking dish or casserole dish. Note: prior to doing so, you can add a little cream cheese or heavy cream for a creamy consistency.
Spread the meat mixture into an even layer then sprinkle liberally with your favorite cheese. Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit until the cheese has melted, about 8 to 10 minutes.
And that’s it! the ultimate comfort food that the entire family can enjoy for a simple weeknight dinner.
The next time you’re craving a low-carb bowl meal, whip up this tasty beef recipe!
If you love ground beef and cauliflower recipes like this, you may also love these healthy meals! Most of them are suitable for a low carb diet or keto diet and can also easily be made into low carb recipes with simple substitutions if need be.
More Easy Ground Beef Recipes:
- Ground Beef and Sweet Potato Skillet with Brussel Sprouts
- Instant Pot Paleo Pumpkin Chili
- Ground Beef and Cabbage Soup
- 30-Minute Ground Beef and Mushroom Skillet
- Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Ground Beef Stroganoff
- Crispy Baked Ground Beef Tacos
Drop a comment below letting me know your favorite way of serving up your ground beef and cauliflower recipes!
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp avocado oil
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 1 pound ground beef*
- 1 small head cauliflower, chopped into florets (4 cups)
- 1 bell pepper, chopped
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 Tbsp chili powder, to taste
- ¾ tsp sea salt, to taste
- 4 cups baby spinach, optional
- ½ cup broth, water, or tomato sauce
Instructions
- Heat the avocado oil (or olive oil) over medium-high heat in a large skillet (I recommend using a 12 inch large non-stick skillet with a deep lip).
- Add the yellow onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until it begins to soften, about 5 minutes.
- Make room in the center of the pan for the ground beef then place the ground beef onto the skillet and brown for 2-3 minutes per side before breaking it up into smaller chunks using a spatula.
- Mix in the chopped cauliflower, chopped red bell pepper, garlic, chili powder and sea salt until well-combined.
- Add in the water (or broth or tomato sauce) and baby spinach, cover the skillet and reduce to medium heat. Cook for 5 minutes, or until the spinach has wilted. Give everything a big stir and continue cooking until much of the liquid has evaporated and the cauliflower has reached your desired level of doneness, about 5 to 8 minutes. Taste the recipe for flavor and add more sea salt, black pepper, chili powder, or lime juice to your personal taste.
- Serve this main dish in big bowls with any additional side dishes such as rice, beans, avocado slices, and more. If you do cheese, sprinkle the ground beef and cauliflower recipe with grated cheddar cheese or jack cheese. You can even use this recipe for ground beef tacos using corn tortillas, low-carb tortillas, or grain-free tortillas.
Notes
Nutrition
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Shon
Saturday 6th of January 2024
There was nothing Mexican about this recipe (2 tblspns of chili powder?). At least it was veggie heavy and I really appreciate that.
Julia
Saturday 6th of January 2024
As the title suggest, the recipe is Mexican inspired due to its flavor. A common way of preparing ground beef taco meat is adding chili powder - this is the mainstay in the taco seasoning packets people buy from the store to add to their taco meat. Because the recipe mimics classic ground beef taco meat that we in the U.S. have adopted to be a common meal in our households, I consider the meal to be inspired as such. This isn't to be misleading but just to signify the flavor one can expect out of the meal.
Vivian
Thursday 10th of August 2023
This was absolutely delicious! The spinach is a must and I too used our grass fed/ finished Dexter beef. I used the tomato sauce and added a teaspoon of beef base just to make it a bit richer. We all loved it. Thanks for sharing.
Julia
Thursday 10th of August 2023
I'm so thrilled to hear you enjoyed the recipe, Vivian! I love the addition of tomato sauce too and will have to try adding beef base, myself! xo