Description
This Spicy Jalapeño Popper Mediterranean Ground Beef Stir Fry is a flavorful and creamy dish blending spicy jalapeños and Mediterranean ingredients with hearty ground beef. It’s a quick skillet-based recipe perfect for a satisfying, easy weeknight meal that combines the heat of peppers with the richness of cream cheese and savory Mediterranean touches like Kalamata olives and herbs.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Dairy
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
Seasonings and Other
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/4 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Sauté aromatics: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced yellow onion and minced garlic, cooking and stirring frequently until softened and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes.
- Cook peppers: Add the sliced jalapeño peppers and chopped red bell pepper to the skillet. Cook for 2–3 minutes until they begin to soften but still retain a bit of crunch.
- Brown the ground beef: Crumble the ground beef into the skillet. Cook, stirring and breaking it apart with a spoon, until fully browned and no longer pink, about 6-8 minutes.
- Season the beef: Sprinkle in the ground cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to evenly coat the beef and vegetables with the spices.
- Add Mediterranean ingredients: Stir in the tomato paste, halved cherry tomatoes, and Kalamata olives. Cook for another 2 minutes to combine flavors and soften the tomatoes slightly.
- Melt cheeses: Lower the heat to low. Add the softened cream cheese and shredded Monterey Jack cheese. Stir continuously until the cheeses melt completely and create a creamy sauce coating the beef mixture.
- Finish and serve: Remove the skillet from heat. Sprinkle the chopped fresh parsley on top. Serve the stir fry hot, enjoying the spicy, creamy Mediterranean-inspired flavors.
Notes
- For less heat, remove all jalapeño seeds or substitute with mild peppers.
- Use full-fat cream cheese for a richer, creamier texture.
- This dish pairs well with rice, couscous, or a fresh green salad.
- To make it gluten-free, verify that your tomato paste and spices contain no gluten additives.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated up to 3 days and reheated on the stovetop or microwave.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keywords: spicy jalapeño popper, Mediterranean ground beef, stir fry, cream cheese, skillet recipe, easy dinner, jalapeño recipe
