Ultimate Easy Ground Beef and Rice Skillet
A flavorful and hearty one-pan meal featuring ground beef, rice, diced tomatoes, and aromatic spices. Perfect for a quick and satisfying dinner.
Equipment
- large, deep skillet or Dutch oven
- spoon
- fork
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef (80/20 or 85/15 recommended)
- 1 tbsp olive oil (optional, if needed for sautéing aromatics)
- 1 medium onion diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp salt (or to taste)
- ¼ tsp black pepper (or to taste)
- 1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice rinsed
- 1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 oz / 411g), undrained
- 2 cups beef broth (480ml) (or chicken broth/water)
Optional Stir-ins & Garnishes
- ½ cup frozen corn or peas
- ¼ cup chopped bell pepper
- Fresh chopped parsley or cilantro
- shredded cheddar cheese
- sour cream or Greek yogurt
- hot sauce
- lime wedges (for serving)
Instructions
Cooking Steps
- Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it up until fully cooked, then drain any excess fat and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium, add olive oil if needed, and sauté diced onion for 3-5 minutes until soft, then stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Return the cooked beef to the skillet and stir in cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper, cooking for 1 minute to toast the spices.
- Add rinsed rice, undrained diced tomatoes, and beef broth to the skillet; stir well to ensure the rice is submerged.
- Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low, cover tightly, and simmer for 15-20 minutes until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed, avoiding frequent lid lifting.
- Remove from heat and let sit, covered, for 5 minutes to finish cooking the rice and distribute moisture.
- Uncover and fluff the mixture with a fork; optionally, stir in frozen vegetables and cook for 2-3 minutes, then serve immediately with desired garnishes.
Notes
For extra flavor, consider using fire-roasted diced tomatoes. Adjust the amount of broth if you prefer a drier or wetter consistency. This dish reheats well and is great for meal prep.