Rustic Italian Ground Beef and Potato Skillet
A comforting, single-skillet family meal featuring tender potatoes simmered with savory ground beef, onion, garlic, and rich butter. Made with simple, clean pantry staples and scaled for five generous servings.
Prep
10 min
Cook
25 min
Total
35 min
Makes
5 servings
Created together. Shared with you.
Made by Julia + Lila
Julia created this recipe with Lila and shared it with the perimenopause community.
The feel-good payoff
Why this meal can feel especially good in perimenopause
Think practical wins: steadier energy, comfortable fullness and one less food decision. Your response is personal, so use the prompts below to notice what works for you.
Perimenopause symptoms and relief · Office on Women’s HealthSteadier energy
Feel fueled, not flattened
A complete meal with protein, carbohydrates and fats is designed to offer more staying power than a quick carb-only fix.
Notice: energy 1–3 hours later
Comfortably satisfied
Fullness that has staying power
This meal is designed to feel substantial, so finishing it can feel like the meal is complete rather than the start of an evening of grazing.
Notice: fullness 2–3 hours later
More staying power
Make the next few hours easier
This meal is built to be more sustaining than a snack-sized stopgap, with enough substance to carry you into the next part of the day.
Notice: energy + fullness later
Clearer, simpler choices
Let the recipe do the thinking
Clear steps and a complete plate mean fewer decisions when focus is in short supply—and a more substantial meal once you are done.
Notice: focus + energy later
Setup
Get set up
Choose your servings, gather what you need, then cook along below.
Prep
10 min
Cook
25 min
Total
35 min
How many are you cooking for?
The ingredient amounts update automatically.
Equipment
Large skillet · Knife and cutting board
Time saver
Prep the vegetables and measure pantry ingredients earlier in the day to shorten cook time.
Do these three things first
- 1Set out all ingredients before cooking
- 2Measure the pantry ingredients before heating the pan
- 3Read through the steps once before you begin
Ingredients
Gather as you go
Ingredients
Cook along
Instructions
0 of 8 steps complete
Next: Wash and dice 5 large potatoes into…
- 01
Wash and dice 5 large potatoes into…
Wash and dice 5 large potatoes into 1/2-inch (1.25cm) cubes so they cook quickly and evenly.
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Heat 2
Heat 2.5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil and 2.5 tbsp butter in a large ceramic skillet or Caraway cookware pan over medium-high heat for 2 minutes until melted and shimmering.
Look for: melted and shimmering
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Add 1
Add 1.25 yellow onions (diced) and 5 garlic cloves (minced) to the skillet, sautéing for 3 to 4 minutes until soft and translucent.
Look for: soft and translucent
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Add 1
Add 1.65 lbs (750g) ground beef to the skillet, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon for 6 to 8 minutes until fully browned and cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C).
Look for: fully browned and cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C)
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Stir in 2
Stir in 2.5 tsp dried thyme, 1.25 cups chicken stock, and the diced potatoes, mixing well to combine.
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Cover the skillet
Cover the skillet, reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer for 15 to 18 minutes until the potatoes are fork-tender and have absorbed most of the liquid.
Look for: the potatoes are fork-tender and have absorbed most of the liquid
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Remove the lid and stir gently for…
Remove the lid and stir gently for 2 minutes to allow any remaining broth to thicken into a rich pan sauce.
Allow: 2 minutes
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Divide into 5 equal portions and serve…
Divide into 5 equal portions and serve warm. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Ready when: everything is assembled and ready to enjoy
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