If you want a quick, flavorful dinner, this Southwest Skillet with Ground Beef and Noodles is the perfect recipe. It’s incredibly easy to prepare and packed with bold flavors.

A close-up shot of a bowl filled with Southwest Skillet, featuring ground beef, noodles, corn, and diced tomatoes,

Quick and Easy Southwest Skillet with Ground Beef and Noodles

I love this easy skillet meal because it makes a large batch, so we always have tasty leftovers for quick lunches or dinners throughout the week. It’s simple, satisfying, and perfect for busy days.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Quick and Easy: This dish comes together in under 30 minutes.
Hearty and Satisfying: The noodles make this dish filling and perfect for a comforting dinner.
Flavor-Packed: A delicious blend of spices adds a lot of flavor!

A close-up of shredded cheese melting on top of the skillet mixture in a bowl

Ingredients You’ll Need

BEEF: For this skillet, you can use ground beef, turkey, or chicken. Other ground meats, such as venison or bison, are great alternatives.
ONION: Diced onion adds a flavor to the dish.
BELL PEPPER: Choose any color of bell pepper for a bit of sweetness.
CORN: Canned or frozen corn adds a sweet crunch. You can also use fresh corn if it’s in season.
TOMATOES: You can use a regular can of diced tomatoes and green chilies.
NOODLES: Any noodle will work, whether you prefer egg noodles, penne, or another pasta.
SEASONINGS: This skillet’s flavors are created by a blend of paprika, ground mustard, chili powder, oregano, minced garlic, salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper (optional). Adjust the spice and seasoning to your preference.
SHREDDED CHEESE: Optional, but adds a creamy, melty topping. Monterey Jack and Pepper Jack are excellent choices for a deliciously smooth and slightly spicy flavor.

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How to Make Southwest Skillet with Ground Beef

Here is how to make this quick and flavorful southwest skillet that’s perfect for busy nights, with plenty of leftovers for the next day:

1. In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until thoroughly browned. Break it up into small pieces as it cooks. Once browned, drain any excess fat.

A photo of ground beef browning in a skillet with diced onions and bell peppers.

2. Add the diced onion and bell pepper to the skillet with the beef. Cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the veggies are softened.

An overhead shot of the skillet being seasoned with chili powder, cumin, and smoked paprika, with colorful spices sprinkled across the dish.

3. Stir in the corn, diced tomatoes with green chilies, beef broth, and tomato sauce. Mix everything well.

4. Sprinkle in the seasonings. Stir to coat the meat and vegetables evenly with the spices. Cook for another 15 minutes to let the flavors meld together.

A close-up shot of a skillet filled with ground beef, noodles, corn, and diced tomatoes

5. Boil a pot of salted water and cook the noodles al dente. Drain and set aside.

6. Add the cooked noodles to the skillet, stirring everything together until the noodles are well coated with the sauce and seasonings.

A skillet filled with ground beef, noodles, corn, and diced tomatoes

7. If desired, sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the skillet. Let it sit for a few minutes until the cheese is melted and gooey.

8. Garnish with shredded cheddar cheese and a dollop of sour cream. Serve with tortilla chips on the side for added crunch and flavor.

Tips for Customizing Your Southwest Skillet

Make it Spicier: Add chopped jalapeño or red pepper flakes for extra heat.
Add a Crunch: Top with crushed tortilla chips for a crunchy texture.
Make It a Meal Prep: This dish stores well in the fridge, perfect for meal prepping. Reheat and enjoy!

a glass bowl filled with southwest ground beef skillet recipe and topped with cheese

What to Serve With Southwest Skillet

This Southwest Skillet with Ground Beef and Noodles is a complete meal on its own, but you can also serve it with a side of tortilla chips, a dollop of sour cream, or a simple side salad to round out the meal.

Storing Leftovers

Here is how to store the leftovers for this southwest skillet with ground beef:

Refrigerate: Cool to room temperature before transferring leftovers to an airtight container. Store the container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Reheat: When ready to enjoy, reheat in a pan over medium-low heat. Add a splash of beef broth to help moisten the noodles and ensure even heating.

A bowl of the finished Southwest Skillet garnished with shredded cheese

More Ground Beef Recipes

Click HERE for 12 + Ground Beef Skillet Recipes for Easy Weeknight Dinners

Yield: 10

Southwest Skillet with Ground Beef

This Southwest Skillet with Ground Beef and Noodles is a delicious, easy-to-make meal. Perfect for busy weeknights, this recipe makes a large batch that’s ideal for leftovers, providing quick and satisfying lunches or dinners throughout the week.

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds of lean ground beef
1 cup diced onion
1/2 cup diced orange bell pepper
16 ounces tomato sauce
10 ounce can of diced tomatoes with green chilies, drained
15 ounce can of corn, drained
1/2 cup beef broth
1 1/2 teaspoon paprika
2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
3/4 teaspoon ground mustard
2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
2 cups dried macaroni style pasta cooked al dente
Optional Toppings: shredded cheese, sour cream, tortilla chips

Instructions

In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until thoroughly browned. Break it up into small pieces as it cooks. Once browned, drain any excess fat.
Add the diced onion and bell pepper to the skillet with the beef. Cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the veggies are softened.
Stir in the corn, diced tomatoes with green chilies, beef broth, and tomato sauce. Mix everything well.
Sprinkle in the seasonings. Stir to coat the meat and vegetables evenly with the spices. Cook for another 15 minutes to let the flavors meld together.
Boil a pot of salted water and cook the noodles al dente. Drain and set aside.
Add the cooked noodles to the skillet, stirring everything together until the noodles are well coated with the sauce and seasonings.
If desired, sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the skillet. Let it sit for a few minutes until the cheese is melted and gooey.
Top with shredded cheddar cheese and a dollop of sour cream. Serve with tortilla chips on the side for added crunch and flavor.

Notes