Some of the best recipes come from the memories we make along the way. This Indoor BBQ Skillet is inspired by summers at my Uncle Tom’s cabin on Canon’s Lake, where good food, good company, and an old wood cook stove always brought everyone together. It’s an easy one-pan meal loaded with ground beef, crispy hash browns, smoky bacon, peppers, corn, cheddar cheese, and rich BBQ flavor that’s perfect any night of the week.
Uncle Tom’s Indoor BBQ Skillet
Description
Some of my favorite summer memories were spent at old Uncle Tom's cabin on Canon's Lake. After a day of fishing and swimming, we'd always come back hungry as a bear. If the weather didn't cooperate, Uncle Tom simply headed inside and cooked on his old wood cook stove, filling the cabin with hearty home-cooked meals.
This Indoor BBQ Skillet is my tribute to those unforgettable days. Lean ground beef, crispy hash browns, smoky bacon, sweet corn, peppers, cheddar cheese, and a rich barbecue sauce come together in one cast-iron skillet for an easy family supper. A touch of optional liquid smoke recreates the gentle smoky flavor that the old wood cook stove naturally gave the food.
Perfect for busy weeknights, weekends at the cottage, or anytime you're craving a hearty homemade meal.
Ingredients
Instructions
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Fry the bacon until crispy. Crumble it into small pieces and set aside. If you're short on time, real bacon crumbles or bacon bits work well too.
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Place a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until it's browned, breaking it up as it cooks.
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Push the beef to one side of the skillet. If needed, add a drizzle of oil to the empty side and add the frozen hash browns. Let them cook undisturbed for 4 to 5 minutes until they're nicely browned before turning them over. Continue cooking until they're lightly crisp.
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Add the onion, red pepper, and the garlic. Stir everything together and cook until the vegetables begin to soften, about 3 to 4 minutes. Stir until combined.Â
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Add the salt, pepper, onion powder, chili powder, and smoked paprika, BBQ sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and ketchup. Stir until everything is well coated and fragrant, about 1 minute.
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Add the sweet corn and about three-quarters of the crumbled bacon. Stir everything together until heated through.
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Sprinkle the cheddar cheese evenly over the top followed by the bacon and green onions. Allow the cheese to melt down.Â
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Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 580kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 35g54%
- Saturated Fat 15g75%
- Cholesterol 105mg35%
- Sodium 980mg41%
- Potassium 710mg21%
- Total Carbohydrate 25g9%
- Dietary Fiber 3g12%
- Sugars 7g
- Protein 33g66%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs. Nutritional values are a within reason estimate and my vary depending on several factors.
Note
For the best flavor, cook your own bacon. If you're short on time, real bacon crumbles make a great shortcut.
If you're using lean ground beef, add a tablespoon of oil before cooking the hash browns to help them brown and crisp up.
Let the hash browns cook undisturbed for a few minutes before turning them. This helps them develop a golden crust instead of breaking apart.
Liquid smoke is completely optional. Uncle Tom never used it—the old wood cook stove naturally gave everything a gentle smoky flavor. I like adding a small amount to recreate those memories in a modern kitchen.
Freshly shredded old cheddar melts more smoothly than pre-shredded cheese and gives the skillet the best cheesy finish.
Leftovers store well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat beautifully in a skillet or microwave.
