Southwest Beef & Squash Hash with Creamy Avocado-Mayo Dressing
A vibrant and savory hash featuring seasoned ground beef, tender acorn squash, and sweet potato, all brought together with a zesty, creamy avocado and mayo dressing.
Ingredients
- 1/2 medium acorn squash
Substitute: 1/2 Butternut squash, peeled and cubed
- 1/2 tsp (divided) salt
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Substitute: Any neutral cooking oil
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
Substitute: 1 clove fresh garlic, minced
- 1/4 tsp (divided) black pepper
- 1/4 tsp (adjust to taste) cayenne pepper
Substitute: Pinch of red pepper flakes or omit for less spice
- 1/4 cup plain yogurt
Substitute: Buttermilk or milk with a squeeze of lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
Substitute: 1/4 small onion, finely diced
- 1/2 lb (8 oz) ground beef 8020 lean
Substitute: Ground pork or chorizo
- 2 tbsp mayonnaise
Substitute: Sour cream
- 1/2 medium purple sweet potato
Substitute: Regular sweet potato or russet potato
- 1/2 medium avocado
Substitute: Guacamole (store-bought, omit mayo/yogurt in dressing)
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
Substitute: Chili powder (reduce amount if spicy)
Equipment Needed
- • Large oven-safe skillet (cast iron or similar)
- • Chef's knife
- • Cutting board
- • Small bowl
- • Whisk or fork
- • Measuring cups
- • Measuring spoons
- • Potato masher or fork (optional, for dressing)
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories
700
Protein
40g
Carbs
55g
Fat
40g
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Prepare the vegetables: Carefully peel and dice (cut into small cubes) the 1/2 acorn squash and 1/2 purple sweet potato into 1/2-inch cubes. Try to make them similar in size for even cooking.
⏱️ 7 minutes
Technique: preheating, preparing vegetables
- 2
Cook the vegetables: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add the diced acorn squash and sweet potato. Sauté (cook quickly while stirring) for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they start to soften and get slightly browned on the edges.
⏱️ 10 minutes
Technique: sautéing
- 3
Cook the beef: Push the vegetables to one side of the skillet, creating space in the center. Add the ground beef to the open space and cook, breaking it apart with your spoon, until fully browned (no pink visible). This takes about 7-10 minutes.
⏱️ 10 minutes
Technique: browning
- 4
Season the hash: Drain any excess grease from the skillet. Sprinkle the garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and 1/8 teaspoon of black pepper over both the beef and vegetables. Stir everything together well, allowing the spices to toast (heat to release aromas) for 1 minute.
⏱️ 2 minutes
Technique: seasoning
- 5
Finish in the oven: Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven. Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender (easily pierced with a fork) and the hash is slightly crispy on top. (This helps finish cooking the squash and sweet potato thoroughly.)
⏱️ 15 minutes
Technique: baking
- 6
Make the creamy avocado-mayo dressing: While the hash bakes, scoop the flesh of 1/2 avocado into a small bowl. Add the mayonnaise, plain yogurt, remaining 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and 1/8 teaspoon of black pepper. Mash (crush to a soft consistency) with a fork or potato masher until smooth and creamy. (For extra smoothness, you can whisk it.)
⏱️ 5 minutes
Technique: preparing sauce
- 7
Serve: Remove the hash from the oven. Divide it into two serving bowls. Drizzle (pour in a thin stream) a generous amount of the creamy avocado-mayo dressing over each serving. Serve immediately.
⏱️ 1 minute
Technique: assembling
💡 Chef's Tips
For an extra crispy hash, ensure you don't overcrowd the skillet during the initial sauté. If your skillet isn't oven-safe, transfer the hash to a baking dish before the oven step.
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- • Not dicing vegetables evenly, leading to some pieces being undercooked and others overcooked.
- • Overcrowding the skillet during sautéing, which steams the vegetables instead of browning them.
- • Over-mashing the avocado dressing, which can make it lose some texture; aim for creamy with a few small avocado bits.
Why Easy?
✓ What makes it easier:
- • Most cooking is done in a single pan on the stovetop and finished in the oven.
- • Simple chopping and mashing techniques for ingredients.
- • Clear steps for browning meat and softening vegetables.
! What requires attention:
- • Ensuring vegetables are tender but not mushy, requiring attention to cooking time.
- • Balancing the heat to prevent spices from burning during the seasoning step.
