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

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A quick and easy one-pan dinner made with ground beef, rice, and tomatoes, perfect for busy weeknights. This forgiving recipe turns kitchen chaos into a delicious, crowd-pleasing meal in just 30 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20)
  • 1 cup long-grain white rice
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (plus more to taste)
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • Optional: 1/2 cup frozen peas or corn
  • Optional: Fresh parsley or cilantro for garnish

Instructions

  1. Heat the oil: Place your large skillet over medium-high heat and add the 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Let it heat for about 1 minute until it shimmers.
  2. Brown the beef: Add the ground beef to the hot skillet. Use your wooden spoon to break it into large chunks. Let it cook undisturbed for 3-4 minutes, then break into smaller pieces. Continue cooking for another 3-4 minutes until fully browned. Leave about 1 tablespoon of fat in the pan.
  3. Sauté the aromatics: Push the beef to one side. Add the diced onion to the empty side and cook for 3-4 minutes until translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Stir the onion and garlic into the beef.
  4. Add the spices: Sprinkle the smoked paprika, cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper over the beef mixture. Stir well and let cook for about 1 minute to bloom the spices.
  5. Add the liquids and rice: Pour in the undrained diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and beef broth. Stir to combine, scraping up any browned bits. Add the 1 cup of uncooked rice and stir until evenly distributed. Bring the mixture to a boil.
  6. Simmer: Reduce heat to low, cover with a tight-fitting lid, and let simmer gently for 18-20 minutes. Do not lift the lid during this time.
  7. Check for doneness: After 18 minutes, remove the lid and fluff the rice with a fork. If rice is still crunchy, re-cover and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
  8. Add optional stir-ins: If using frozen peas or corn, stir them in now. Adjust salt and pepper if needed.
  9. Rest and serve: Remove from heat and let rest, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley or cilantro if desired, and serve hot.

Notes

For best results, do not lift the lid during simmering. Let the dish rest for 5 minutes before serving. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: ground beef, rice, one-pan dinner, 30-minute meal, weeknight dinner, easy dinner, skillet dinner

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