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Cheesy Bacon & Beef Skillet with Wilted Spinach
One-pan cheesy bacon beef skillet with spinach; hearty, speedy, and weeknight-friendly.
Why this recipe works
This one-pan Cheesy Bacon & Beef Skillet brings together crispy bacon, hearty beef, and wilted spinach under melted cheese. It’s ideal for busy weeknights, feeding a family, or meal prep.
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Key takeaways
One-pan dish saves cleanup time.
Protein-packed, satisfying without many ingredients.
Customizable with greens or different cheeses.
Recipe guide
This one-pan Cheesy Bacon & Beef Skillet brings together crispy bacon, hearty beef, and wilted spinach under melted cheese. It’s ideal for busy weeknights, feeding a family, or meal prep.
A quick, one-pan meal that’s cozy and family-friendly.
- One-pan dish saves cleanup time.
- Protein-packed, satisfying without many ingredients.
- Customizable with greens or different cheeses.
Ingredients (scaled, practical)
- 500 g minced/ground beef - 6 rashers streaky bacon (about 200 g), chopped - 200 g spinach - 200 g block cheese, grated - 1 tsp salt - 1/2 tsp black pepper - 1 tbsp olive oil Note: use as written or adjust quantities to suit your pan and taste.
Method (step-by-step)
1) Heat a large skillet over medium with olive oil. 2) Add bacon; cook until crispy, reserve some fat for flavor. 3) Add beef; break up and brown. 4) Season with salt and pepper. 5) Drain excess fat, leaving a splash for flavor. 6) Lower heat; stir in grated cheese until melted and creamy. 7) Add spinach in batches; wilt each batch, mixing until fully wilted and warmed through. 8) Taste and adjust seasoning. 9) Serve hot from the skillet.
Tips for best results
- Dry spinach to reduce extra moisture. - If the cheese hardens, rewarm gently while stirring. - Swap bacon for pancetta or omit for a lighter version.
Ingredients
- 6 rashers streaky bacon
- 200 g spinach
- 200 g block cheese, grated
- 500 g minced/ground beef
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add olive oil.
- Chop bacon into bite-sized pieces and add to the hot skillet.
- Cook bacon until crispy and browned, stirring occasionally.
- Remove some excess bacon fat if the pan is too greasy, leaving a little for flavor.
- Add minced beef to the skillet with the bacon and break it up with a spatula.
- Season beef with salt and pepper and cook until browned and no pink remains.
- Drain excess fat if needed, keeping a small amount for flavor.
- Reduce heat to low and add grated cheese, stirring until melted and combined with the meat and bacon.
- Add spinach to the skillet in batches, stirring to wilt each batch into the cheesy beef mixture.
- Cook until all spinach is wilted and heated through, tasting and adjusting seasoning if needed.
- Serve immediately straight from the skillet.
FAQs
Can I make this ahead?
Yes. Cook the meat and bacon, then chill. Reheat and add spinach and cheese just before serving to melt.
How do I reduce fat content?
Drain more fat after browning the beef and bacon; use lean beef or turkey and skip optional extra fat.
What can I serve with it?
Serve with crusty bread, mashed potatoes, or a simple side salad.