Hamburger Hash
This Hamburger Hash is the kind of dinner my family requests when the fridge is looking sad and I don’t want to go to the store. Ground beef, potatoes, bell peppers, and onion all cooked together in one skillet and finished with melted Colby Jack. It’s been on our weeknight rotation for years and it never has leftovers.
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What is Hamburger Hash?
Beef hash is a classic American comfort food made by cooking ground beef and potatoes with vegetables in one skillet. It became popular during the Great Depression because it was an easy way to make a hearty meal with whatever ingredients were on hand. My family has been making some version of this for years and it’s one of those meals everyone actually eats without complaining!
It’s also a great way to use up leftover potatoes. If you have them already cooked, they go straight in and cut the cook time down significantly.
What you’ll love about this Beef Hash recipe:
Ingredients
Ground beef (1 lb, 80/20): The fat adds flavor and helps the potatoes cook. Drain the excess grease after browning. Lean ground beef works but the hash is a little less rich.
Russet potatoes (2 large, peeled and diced small): Cut them into small, uniform pieces, about half an inch. Uneven cuts mean some pieces will still be hard when others are done. Leftover cooked potatoes work great here and cut 15 minutes off the cook time.
Red and green bell pepper (½ cup each, diced): Adds color and mild sweetness. Use whatever peppers you have, any color works!
Onion (½ cup, diced): Yellow onion. Goes in with the beef and softens as it cooks.
Beef broth (½ cup): Goes in after the potatoes and creates steam to help them cook through without burning the bottom. Don’t skip it.
Olive oil (2 tablespoons): Added with the potatoes to help them cook evenly.
Garlic powder, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper: The spice blend. Worcestershire sauce is not in the original recipe but a dash stirred in at the end adds a nice depth, it’s worth trying!
Colby Jack cheese (2 cups, shredded): Goes on at the very end with the lid on. Cheddar works just as well.
How to make Hamburger Hash Step-by-Step:
STEP 1: In a large skillet, brown ground beef, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, and onion. Cook over medium-high heat, breaking up the beef with a wooden spoon, until the beef is browned and the vegetables are starting to soften.
Step 2: Add the diced potatoes to the skillet. Sprinkle with garlic powder, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
Step 3: Pour in the beef broth and stir. Cover the skillet with a lid and let it cook until the potatoes are tender and the liquid is mostly absorbed.
Step 4: Sprinkle the shredded Colby Jack cheese over the top of the hash. Cover the skillet again and let it sit for a few minutes until the cheese is melted.
Pro Tip:
Cut the potatoes small and uniform, about half an inch. This is the most common reason hash comes out with undercooked potatoes. Small pieces cook at the same rate as everything else in the pan.
How Long Does Hamburger Hash Keep?
Storage: Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container. It can be kept for up to 3 days.
Reheating: Reheat in a skillet over medium heat with a splash of broth or water to loosen. Microwaves work too, do 1 to 2 minutes until hot.
Freezing: Cool completely then freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Can I Change Up the Ingredients?
A fried egg on top is the most popular addition. Crack one over each serving right before eating. It works especially well if you’re serving this for breakfast or brunch.
Corn is a great add-in. One reader mentioned using leftover corn from the fridge and it worked perfectly! Mushrooms, carrots, or zucchini can all go in with the peppers and onions. Cabbage stirred in toward the end stretches the meal further with very little cost.
For heat add diced jalapeños with the peppers, a pinch of cayenne with the seasonings, or a splash of hot sauce at the end.
Ground turkey or chicken can replace the beef for a lighter version. Sweet potatoes can replace russet potatoes. They’ll be slightly softer and sweeter but work well with the same seasoning. Any colored bell peppers work in place of red and green.
Questions about this Beef Hash:
What is hamburger hash made of? Ground beef, potatoes, bell peppers, onion, and seasoning all cooked together in one skillet. Most versions finish with melted cheese on top.
Can I use frozen potatoes instead of fresh? Yes. Thaw them first so they cook evenly. Frozen diced potatoes cut the prep time down significantly.
What other vegetables can I add? Zucchini, carrots, mushrooms, corn, or cabbage all work. Dice them small and add with the bell peppers so they have time to soften.
Can I make this spicy? Yes. Add diced jalapeños, cayenne pepper, or hot sauce. Adjust to your preference.
What Goes Well With This Ground Beef and Potatoes Skillet?
Garlic bread, Jiffy cornbread, or green beans all work well alongside this. It’s filling enough to serve on its own but a simple green salad rounds it out if you want something lighter.
Are you looking for more ground beef recipes? Try our Easy Rotel Pasta, Loose Meat Sandwich or Baked Beans with Ground Beef for more good comfort food!
Hamburger Hash
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 cup red bell pepper diced
- 1/2 cup green bell pepper diced
- 1/2 cup onion diced
- 2 large potatoes peeled and diced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 cup beef stock (or beef broth)
- 2 cups shredded Colby Jack
Instructions
- In a large skillet, add the ground beef, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, and onion. Cook over medium heat, breaking up the beef with a spoon, until the beef is browned and the vegetables are starting to soften, about 8-10 minutes. 1 pound ground beef, 1/2 cup red bell pepper, 1/2 cup green bell pepper, 1/2 cup onion.
- Add the diced potatoes to the skillet. Drizzle with oil, then sprinkle with garlic powder, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. 2 large potatoes, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
- Pour in the beef broth and stir. Cover the skillet with a lid and let it cook for about 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are tender and the liquid is mostly absorbed. 1/2 cup beef stock .
- Sprinkle the shredded Colby Jack cheese over the top of the hash. Cover the skillet again and let it sit for a few minutes until the cheese is melted. 2 cups shredded Colby Jack.
Notes
Nutrition
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One-pot meals are great, especially for busy weeknights. This has lots of ingredients my family will enjoy. I would make a double batch to have leftovers for another meal.
Such a classic! I think everyone grew up with some sort of variation of hamburger hash. I’ve never had this Italianized version before but it was delicious! A new family favourite.
Ooh what a great idea for weeknights! This is total comfort food and I love meals like this!
Yum! This was such an easy and delicious weeknight meal. The whole family gobbled it up!
Thank you for commenting! I’m so happy to hear your family enjoyed it too!
We’re a big meat and potatoes family around here. But it gets boring sometimes lol. This recipe was a huge hit last night! I will definitely be making it again – easy to follow and 10/10 flavor.
I love hash recipes but hadn’t tried one with hamburger until now! This was such an easy, tasty dinner. Definitely going to bookmark this recipe to make again – thanks!
This is really very good. I had 1/2 lb. of Italian Sausage I needed to use up, so I only used 1/2 lb. of ground beef. I thought since Italian Seasoning was also in the recipe, I couldn’t go wrong. It was good the day I made it, but on day two it was even better. Thanks for this recipe!
This hamburger hash is such a time saver! Plus it’s filling, delicious, and loaded with potatoes, a family favorite 🙂
These are the kind of one pot meals I could make every week! So comforting and filling and it was really easy to make too.
I grew up eating hamburger hash and was looking for the way my Mother used to make it . I have found it , and one bite brought me back to my childhood . This is a great getting back to the basics recipe .
I grew up eating hamburger hash and was looking for the way my Mother used to make it . I have found it , and one bite brought me back to my childhood . This is a great getting back to the basics recipe the whole family loved .
So happy to read your comment, thank you for posting! I love when recipes do that!!
I love these stick to your ribs, soulful, one skillet meals. Very economical. Substantial and very tasty! Well done!
Great recipe. I did add some leftover corn I had in the fridge. As it’s just 2 of us this was dinner, then we both had lunch the next day. This is a keeper.
Hi Laura! So glad to hear you enjoyed it. I love adding corn to just about everything, LOL!