Description
This One-Pan Beef and Rice Skillet is a hearty and flavorful meal combining savory ground beef, aromatic spices, tender rice, and melted cheddar cheese all cooked together in a single skillet. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or meal prep, this dish offers a comforting blend of textures and flavors with minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or green onions (for garnish)
Spices
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Pantry Items
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes with juices
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Cook the Beef: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook for 5–6 minutes, breaking it up into small pieces as it browns. Drain any excess fat if necessary to avoid greasiness.
- Sauté Aromatics: Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet with the beef. Cook for an additional 2–3 minutes until the onion is softened and fragrant.
- Add Spices: Stir in chili powder, ground cumin, paprika, salt, and black pepper to evenly coat the beef mixture and enhance the flavor.
- Combine Rice and Liquids: Add uncooked rice, beef broth, diced tomatoes with their juices, and frozen corn to the skillet. Stir everything together well and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Simmer: Once boiling, reduce the heat to low. Cover the skillet with a lid and let it simmer gently for 18–20 minutes or until the rice is fully cooked and the liquid is absorbed.
- Finish with Cheese: Remove the skillet from heat, sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese evenly on top, and cover again for 2–3 minutes to allow the cheese to melt thoroughly.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish with freshly chopped parsley or green onions. Serve the skillet warm for a satisfying one-pan meal.
Notes
- For extra heat, add chopped jalapeños or red pepper flakes when adding the spices.
- You can substitute brown rice for white rice, but increase the beef broth slightly and extend the cooking time accordingly.
- This dish is excellent for meal prep and reheats well for quick lunches or dinners.
- To make it vegetarian, substitute beef with plant-based ground meat alternatives and use vegetable broth instead of beef broth.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (approximately 1/4 recipe)
- Calories: 470
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
