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Easy Cheesy Ground Beef and Rice Skillet Recipe

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A quick and easy one-pan meal featuring ground beef, rice, and melted cheddar cheese. Ready in about 30 minutes, this comforting skillet dinner is perfect for busy weeknights and is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20 preferred)
  • 1 cup long-grain white rice
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 cups low-sodium beef broth
  • 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained (fire-roasted preferred)
  • 1 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon cumin
  • ½ teaspoon paprika (smoked preferred)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prep your ingredients first. Dice the onion, mince the garlic, and shred the cheese if doing it yourself. Measure out the rice, broth, and spices.
  2. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, about 2 minutes.
  3. Add the ground beef and cook for 5-6 minutes, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until deeply browned. Remove beef with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving about 1 tablespoon of drippings in the pan.
  4. Add the diced onion to the hot pan and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened and translucent, scraping up any brown bits.
  5. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  6. Add the rice and stir for 1-2 minutes until it starts to toast slightly and smells nutty.
  7. Pour in the beef broth and undrained diced tomatoes. Stir in chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil.
  8. Return the beef to the pan and stir to combine. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 18-20 minutes. Avoid lifting the lid too often.
  9. Check the rice at 18 minutes. It should be tender and most liquid absorbed. If still liquidy, cook uncovered for 2-3 more minutes. If dry but rice not done, add ¼ cup more broth.
  10. Remove from heat and sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top. Cover for 2-3 minutes until cheese is melted.
  11. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired. Serve immediately.

Notes

Don’t skip toasting the rice for extra nutty flavor. Shred your own cheese for best melting. Let the skillet rest for 2 minutes after adding cheese before serving. For substitutions: ground turkey or chicken works; use brown rice with increased cooking time (45 minutes) and extra ¼ cup broth; for dairy-free, use plant-based cheese.

Nutrition

Keywords: ground beef, rice, cheese, skillet, weeknight dinner, comfort food, one-pan meal

Find it online: https://prismtaste.com/easy-cheesy-ground-beef-and-rice-skillet-recipe/