Real Meals: Pan-Fried Burgers and Sweet Potato Fries

February 24, 2025

Hi friends! Today’s post will be simple and practical, almost so much so that I have wondered about the value of this type of post. As you know, I’m not a food blogger. Trust me, spending hours in the kitchen developing recipes just isn’t my vibe.

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I enjoy cooking and baking, but I’m an in-and-out kind of cook: get it done and move on to the next important task. You will not find me making homemade pasta or laboring over some intensive dish in my kitchen. Reliable cooking that doesn’t get low “Family Food Critic” scores is my go-to style of fare.

All that to say, I’ve hesitated sharing meal ideas in this space, but a recent conversation with a friend prompted me that other moms (and busy cooks!) out there may be wanting some easy meal inspiration. On a recent play date outing, my friend asked me what I was making for supper. After sharing my supper plans (this post to be exact!), I got to thinking that some other folks may need a little encouragement and a few ideas for easy meals, too.

With this post, I am starting a series called “Real Meals.” Real meals are meals that I actually cook, that my family enjoys, and that are not ridiculously hard. These are real meals for real people, friends. I focus on whole ingredients with the ability to have a gluten free option for myself. Most of these recipes are about 5 ingredients or less.

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So let’s get cooking!

The meal I’m sharing today doesn’t really have specific measurements; it’s more based on personal preferences. I’ll share the concepts, but then you can tailor the meal to suit your own needs and tastes.

Pan-Fried Burgers

Ground beef

Seasonings such as salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder

Worcestershire sauce

1.       Form the hamburger patties: Take about a hand-size amount of meat and use hands to shape into a patty. I usually squish the middle to make it thinner (cooks faster).

2.       Heat a cast iron skillet on medium high heat. (I like to get my pan pretty hot so that I can give the meat a hard, crispy sear.) Once the pan is hot, put a small pat of butter in to melt and coat the bottom of the pan (I'd have your meat ready to put in as soon as the butter is melted).

3.       Season meat with desired seasonings/sauces. You can either do this before putting the meat in the pan, or sometimes I just season the meat once it’s in the pan.

4.       Let the meat cook until it gets crispy on the bottom.

5.       Flip the meat once. Let it cook until the juices run clear.

6.       Voila! A seared patty that your whole family will drool over.

Sweet Potato Fries

Sweet potatoes

Coconut oil

Pumpkin spice seasoning or cinnamon (I personally love the pumpkin spice! It smells amazing!)

Salt

1.       Cut the potatoes into fries: Peel the potatoes. To create fry shapes, I start by cutting the potatoes in half (if they are big). I then set the potato on its flat side on the cutting board and from the top, I cut the potato in a grid type pattern.

2.       Season with oil and seasonings: Heat the coconut oil until it’s melted and drizzle on the fries. Season with your choice of seasonings. Take a utensil (or I just used my hands) and mix it all together. Sometimes I even cut the fries ahead of time and then pour all the seasonings and fries in a bag and shake it all up.

3.       Spread fries on a parchment-lined cookie sheet and bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 30 minutes. Keep your eye on the fries, and flip them around once the edges start to crisp up. I like my fries with a little edge but not black.

There you have it, friends! A ridiculously easy but delicious meal! My family absolutely loves this meal, and they fight over the leftovers. I enjoy the fries the most, but even my veggie nay-sayers will tolerate the fries which are a healthy and delicious way to get some sweet potato love into your life.

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What are some easy meals that you and your family enjoy eating? I’d love to hear what you make, and I’m sure everyone here would also love some inspiration.

Happy cooking!

-Ashley

Personal Disclosure

As the author of Ashley Qurollo Blog, all opinions are my own. Any possible applications are universal in nature, not directed at any one individual or people group. My sincere desire is to help others by sharing what I am learning. Nothing stated on this blog is ever intended to hurt others. Ashley Qurollo, owner of Ashley Qurollo Blog and Website, is not held liable in any way for any application of the ideas and thoughts stated here.

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