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Easy Cheesy Ground Beef and Rice Skillet: 30-Minute One-Pan Dinner

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This Easy Cheesy Ground Beef and Rice Skillet is the dinner I make when I have nothing left to give. It’s a 30-minute one-pan meal using simple pantry ingredients that’s budget-friendly, kid-approved, and foolproof once you know the tricks.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20 blend preferred)
  • 1 cup long-grain white rice (uncooked)
  • 2 cups low-sodium beef broth
  • 1½ cups sharp cheddar cheese (freshly shredded)
  • 1 medium yellow onion (diced)
  • 3 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • Salt and black pepper (to taste)
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • Fresh parsley (for garnish, optional)

Instructions

  1. Prep your ingredients first: Dice the onion, mince the garlic, shred the cheese, and measure out your rice and broth.
  2. Brown the ground beef: Heat your skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and break it apart. Let it cook undisturbed for about 2 minutes, then stir and break into smaller pieces. Cook until no pink remains, about 5-6 minutes total. Drain off excess fat if needed.
  3. Cook the aromatics: Reduce heat to medium. Add diced onion and cook for 2 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
  4. Add the tomato paste and seasonings: Stir in tomato paste, smoked paprika, dried oregano, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook for about 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
  5. Add the rice and broth: Pour in uncooked rice and stir to coat. Let it toast for about 30 seconds. Then pour in beef broth and stir, scraping up browned bits from the bottom.
  6. Bring to a boil, then simmer: Increase heat to high and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover with a tight-fitting lid, and simmer for 18-20 minutes. Do not lift the lid.
  7. Check the rice: After 18 minutes, remove lid carefully. Rice should be tender and have absorbed most liquid. If needed, cover and cook 2-3 more minutes.
  8. Add the butter and cheese: Remove from heat. Stir in butter until melted, then sprinkle shredded cheddar evenly over the top. Cover and let sit for 2 minutes.
  9. Fluff and serve: Remove lid, fluff rice gently with a fork. Stir to incorporate cheese or leave as a top layer. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired and serve immediately.

Notes

Don’t lift the lid during cooking – the steam is essential for even rice cooking. Toast the rice briefly before adding broth to help grains stay separate. Use the right heat level at each stage: medium-high for browning beef, medium for aromatics, low for simmering rice. Let the dish rest for 2 minutes after adding cheese for best texture and flavor. Season in layers by adding salt at multiple stages.

Nutrition

Keywords: ground beef and rice skillet, one-pan dinner, 30-minute meal, cheesy rice, easy weeknight dinner, budget-friendly dinner, kid-friendly dinner

Find it online: https://milaspoon.com/easy-cheesy-ground-beef-and-rice-skillet-30-minute-one-pan-dinner/