High-Protein Ground Beef Mexican Stir-Fry (4 Ways)

If there’s one thing I love more than a quick skillet dinner, it’s a skillet dinner that can be made four different meals. This high-protein Mexican ground beef stir-fry starts with simple ingredients—ground beef, black beans, corn, green chiles, and tomato sauce—and makes 4 different meals:

• a bowl of rice,

• an easy taco filling,

• a beef tortilla soup base,

• and a sheet pan nacho topping.

Make it once, spread it out over a few nights and let everyone in the family choose how they want to eat it.

When weeknights start to blur together—especially around the holidays—I’m always looking for dinners that check a few important boxes: easy, affordable, kid-friendly, and still somewhat nutritious. Between school events, holidays, and last-minute Target runs, I don’t have the time (or energy) for fussy recipes or a bunch of dirty dishes.

That’s where this high-protein Mexican ground beef stir-fry comes in. It uses simple, inexpensive ingredients like ground beef, black beans, corn, and tomato sauce, all cooked in a single pan. The best part? Everyone at the table can customize how they eat it. My kids might choose it smothered in cheese tacos, I might turn mine into an avocado rice bowl, and the leftovers can become soup or nachos the next night.

If you’re craving a versatile “basic recipe” you can stretch across multiple meals during the busy holiday season, this skillet is it—comfortable, filling, and endlessly adaptable to what your family likes and what you already have in your pantry.

Because you’re going to love this Mexican Mince Casserole

• High in protein: Ground beef + beans = staying power for busy nights.

• Main materials for cupboards: Canned beans, corn, tomato sauce and green chiles do the heavy lifting.

• One pan, easy cleaning: Everything is cooked in a single pan.

• Built-in Variety: Serve four different ways so you don’t touch as leftovers.

Materials you will need

You can adjust the amounts based on how many people you’re feeding, but here’s a good starting point:

• 1–1.5 kg lean ground beef

• 1 small onion, diced (optional but adds great flavor)

• 2-3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped

• 1 can (4 oz) diced green chiles

• 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed

• 1 cup frozen or canned corn (drained if canned)

• 1 can (8–15 oz) tomato sauce (more for one saucer)

• 1-2 teaspoons of ground cumin

• 1 teaspoon chili powder (more to taste)

• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)

• Salt and pepper, to taste

• Olive oil or avocado oil for the pan

For the serving / garnishes (mix and match):

• Cooked rice or quinoa

• Grated cheese

• Salsa or pico de gallo

• Diced avocado or guacamole

• Sour cream or plain Greek yogurt

• Lime wedges

• Fresh coriander

• Tortillas, tortilla chips, or crushed tortilla strips

How to make high-protein Mexican stir-fry

1. Brown the beef:
   Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add a little oil, then add the minced meat and onion. Cook, breaking up the meat with a spatula, until the meat is browned and the onion is soft. Drain off any excess fat if necessary.

2. Add the garlic and spices:
   Add the garlic, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt and pepper. Cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.

3. Add vegetables and beans:
   Add the green chiles, black beans and corn. Stir to combine.

4. Add tomato sauce:
   Add the tomato sauce and mix. Let the mixture simmer gently. If you like a looser mixture, you can add a little water or extra tomato sauce.

5. Simmer:
   Lower the heat and let the pan simmer for about 5-10 minutes to allow the flavors to combine. Taste and adjust the seasonings.

6. Serve:
   Use immediately for dinner or let cool and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days. Now you are ready for four different meals from this pan.

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