Mediterranean Ground Beef Skillet (Printable Version)
A quick, flavor-packed Mediterranean skillet with ground beef, zucchini, peppers, tomatoes, and warm spices, perfect for easy meals.
# Ingredients:
→ Oils and Aromatics
01 -
30 ml olive oil
02 -
3 cloves garlic, minced
→ Vegetables
03 -
1 medium red onion, diced
04 -
1 medium red bell pepper, diced
05 -
1 medium yellow bell pepper, diced
06 -
1 medium zucchini, diced
07 -
150 g cherry tomatoes, halved
08 -
400 g canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed
09 -
2 green onions, chopped
10 -
15 g fresh parsley, chopped
→ Meat
11 -
450 g ground beef, 80% lean
→ Spices
12 -
5 g dried oregano
13 -
3 g ground coriander
14 -
2 g ground cinnamon
15 -
5 g ground cumin
16 -
2 g ground allspice
17 -
1 g ground clove
18 -
1 g crushed red pepper flakes, optional
19 -
0.5 g cayenne pepper, optional
20 -
Pinch of salt
→ Tomatoes and Sauces
21 -
200 g tomato sauce
22 -
200 g fire-roasted diced tomatoes, canned
→ Cheese
23 -
50 g crumbled feta cheese
# Steps:
01 -
Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add 15 ml of olive oil. Warm for about one minute until shimmering but not smoking to prepare for sautéing aromatics.
02 -
Add minced garlic and diced red onion to the skillet. Sauté gently for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently until onions soften and garlic becomes fragrant.
03 -
Add diced red and yellow bell peppers and halved cherry tomatoes to the skillet. Sprinkle a pinch of salt and cook for 4-5 minutes until vegetables begin to tenderize but remain firm. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
04 -
Add remaining olive oil to the skillet and spread ground beef in an even layer. Sprinkle oregano, coriander, cinnamon, cumin, allspice, clove, crushed red pepper, and cayenne over the meat. Cook for 7-9 minutes, breaking up beef until deeply browned and crumbly. Drain excess fat.
05 -
Return sautéed vegetables to the skillet with the browned beef. Stir in tomato sauce, fire-roasted diced tomatoes, and drained chickpeas. Simmer for 2-3 minutes to allow the mixture to thicken and flavors to meld.
06 -
Remove from heat and sprinkle chopped green onions, fresh parsley, and crumbled feta cheese over the top. Serve immediately over hot basmati or jasmine rice.
# Notes:
01 -
Letting the dish sit off heat for a few minutes enhances flavor melding. For a dairy-free version, omit feta or substitute with a plant-based alternative.
02 -
Leftovers store well refrigerated up to four days or frozen up to three months. Reheat gently on stovetop for best texture.
03 -
To maximize spice aroma, always toast spices with meat during cooking.