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Chicago deep dish ground beef skillet topped with melted cheese

Chicago, USA Ground Beef Deep-Dish Skillet (Cheesy One-Pan Comfort Meal)

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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 700
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the skillet
  • 1 lb 450–500 g ground beef
  • 1 small onion chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • ½ tsp paprika
  • salt
black pepper
  • 1 ½ cups marinara or pizza sauce
  • ½ cup beef broth or water optional
  • “Deep-dish” layers
  • 2 cups cooked pasta penne or rotini or 2 cups cooked rice
Cheese topping
  • 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella
  • ⅓ cup grated parmesan optional
  • sliced pepperoni or chopped cooked bacon optional
For serving (optional)
  • fresh basil or parsley
  • crushed red pepper
  • extra sauce

Equipment

  • 1 Large skillet
  • 2 knife
  • 3 Cutting board
  • 4 Mixing bowl
  • 5 Measuring cups
  • 6 Measuring spoons
  • 7 Wooden spoon or spatula

Method
 

  1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up, until browned. Drain excess grease if needed.
  2. Add the chopped onion and cook 2–3 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Season with Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Stir to coat the beef evenly.
  4. Pour in the marinara or pizza sauce and simmer for 2–3 minutes. If the sauce is very thick, add a splash of broth or water.
  5. Stir in the cooked pasta or rice until well combined and thick.
    ground beef simmering with sauce in skillet on stove
  6. Reduce heat to medium-low. Sprinkle mozzarella over the top and add parmesan if using. Cover and cook 2–4 minutes until cheese is melted and gooey.
  7. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley and a pinch of crushed red pepper. Serve hot.

Notes

For a true deep-dish feel, pasta works best, but rice is a great alternative. If meal prepping, store leftovers in airtight containers for up to 4 days.