Hamburger Hash
This Hamburger Hash is your new go-to dinner recipe! This dish comes together quickly with simple ingredients you probably already have in your pantry. Packed with ground beef, bell peppers, onions, and potatoes, it’s a one-pan meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights!
Just toss everything together in a skillet, top with Colby Jack cheese, and you’ve got a hearty, satisfying dinner with minimal cleanup. Trust me, the whole family will be asking for seconds!
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!
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What is Hamburger Hash?
Beef hash is a classic American comfort food that’s all about simplicity and versatility. It’s made by cooking ground beef and potatoes with veggies in one skillet.
This dish became popular during tough times like the Great Depression because it was an easy way to make a hearty meal with whatever ingredients were on hand.
It’s quick to throw together, comforting, and you can customize it with whatever you have in the fridge. Plus, it’s just plain delicious!
With the addition of a crisp green salad or green beans, this beef hash becomes a complete meal. Easy peasy are my favorite types of recipes!
It’s also an excellent way to use up leftover potatoes, making it both a budget-friendly meal and a family favorite. Just cook the ground beef, drain any excess grease, and combine everything in one pot.
This easy beef dish is also great for meal prep. You can even try a variation in your slow cooker or crock pot for those days when you need dinner ready as soon as you walk in the door.
What you’ll love about this Beef Hash recipe:
Recipe Ingredients:
You’ll need the following ingredients to make this amazing Hamburger Hash Recipe:
- Ground beef-I used 80/20 beef, but feel free to use lean ground beef instead.
- Red bell pepper
- Green pepper
- Large Onion
- Potatoes-If you have leftover potatoes, you can use those instead of raw.
- Garlic powder
- Paprika
- Italian seasoning
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Olive oil- You can use avocado or vegetable oil.
- Beef stock-Or use beef broth, I use either one.
- Shredded Colby Jack cheese-You can also use cheddar cheese if you prefer.
INGREDIENT NOTES:
- Ground Beef: Use lean beef to reduce grease and make the dish lighter.
- Bell Peppers: Red and green bell peppers add color and a mild sweetness to the hash.
- Potatoes: I love using russet potatoes in this recipe.
How to make Hamburger Hash Step-by-Step:
Check out the quick visual guides below. For full recipe instructions, ingredients, and cooking time, see the printable recipe card at the end.
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:
To ensure your potatoes cook evenly and quickly, cut them into small, uniform pieces. This helps them cook at the same rate as the other ingredients and prevents any undercooked or overcooked potatoes in your hash!
Storage and Reheating:
Storage: Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container. It can be kept for up to 3 days.
Reheating: When reheating, add a splash of water or broth to loosen if dry. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave until thoroughly warmed.
Freezing: Place the hash in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat gently in a skillet over medium heat, adding a splash of water or broth if needed.
Additions & Substitutions
ADDITIONS:
- Vegetables: Add finely chopped mushrooms or carrots when cooking the onions and peppers for extra nutrition and flavor.
- Spices: For extra heat, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a splash of hot sauce.
- Cabbage: You can add cabbage to stretch this meal even further!
- Eggs: Top the ground beef hash with a fried egg.
- Worcestershire: Add a dash of Worcestershire sauce to give it a little oomph!
SUBSTITUTIONS:
- Ground Beef: Use ground chicken or ground turkey for a lighter option.
- Bell Peppers: Substitute with other colored peppers or just leave out if preferred.
- Potatoes: Sweet potatoes can be used for a different flavor profile.
FAQs about this Beef Hash:
What other vegetable can I add to the hash? You can add a variety of vegetable such as zucchini, carrots, mushrooms, or peas to the hash. Just dice them finely and cook them along with the bell peppers and onions.
Can I use frozen potatoes instead of fresh? Yes, you can use frozen diced potatoes as a convenient alternative. Just make sure to thaw them before adding to the skillet to ensure even cooking.
Can I make this recipe spicy? yes, you can make the hash spicy by adding diced jalapeños, a pinch of cayenne pepper, or a splash of hot sauce to the mixture. Adjust the spice level to your preference.
What Can I Serve with this Ground Beef and Potatoes Skillet?
Serve this simple beef recipe with garlic bread, Jiffy cornbread, a side salad, or green beans.
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
Did you make this recipe?
I’m excited for you to try this Hamburger Hash? After you make it, please leave a rating to let me know your thoughts on it – I’m eager to hear if you loved it as much as we do!
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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!