Ground beef and rice fiesta recipe is a quick and easy one-pot meal that is perfect to make on a busy weeknight. It is made with simple ingredients that you most likely already have on hand, and the ingredients can be adjusted to your liking.
Best of all it is easy to make so even a beginner can master this recipe. In addition, as mentioned above it is made entirely in one skillet so clean up after dinner is a breeze!
The meal is so full of flavor that you would never guess that it can be made in under 30 minutes! Because it comes together so easily, it is a fantastic weeknight meal that you will want in the rotation week after week.
Why You Will Love This Recipe?
Besides the flavor and the ease of making this delicious dinner recipe there are a couple of other reasons that you are going to love this recipe.
1. A Complete & Nutritious Meal
Beef is a strong source of protein, iron, zinc, and many other nutrients. And when cooked with rice this dish will keep you feeling full and satisfied. Add in a onions, peppers and tomatoes, and you have a complete and delicious meal.
2. Excellent Energy Source
Because this recipe contains a good amount of carbohydrates, this dish will also provide you with an ample amount of energy to get you through those busy evenings.
3. Can Be Made In Advance
Although this meal can be made in under 30 minutes, you can also make it as part of your meal prep plan. Make it up to 4 days in advance and enjoy a quick reheated meal whenever you need something to eat in minutes.
4. Recipe Designed for Two People
Most recipes are designed to feed 6-8 people. Although you could do the math to downsize the recipe to feed two, there is no worry of that with this recipe.
However, if you do need to make this recipe in larger quantities, it is easy to do. Simply double the ingredients and you have enough for 6 individuals!
Common Ground Beef & Rice Recipe Variations
Even if you aren’t a ground beef eater, you can still make this recipe. And if you are worried because you don’t like tomatoes or can’t eat them for allergy reasons, don’t worry!
This recipe is very versatile and you can add, eliminate or substitute ingredients easily. Below I have listed some common recipe variations for this Ground Beef & Rice Fiesta Recipe.
Meat Substitutions
If you aren’t a big beef eater, you can still enjoy this Ground Beef & Rice Fiesta Dinner. However instead of using ground beef you can substitute ground turkey or ground chicken instead.
Although ground turkey is milder in flavor, the other ingredients have bold and distinct flavors that makes this dish delicious. In addition, ground turkey is a healthier alternative for those who are watching their fat intake.
However you could also choose to substitute ground chicken as well. Although instead of purchasing those expensive package of ground chicken at the grocery, save yourself some money by grinding the chicken yourself.
Do this by cutting a chicken breast in 1 inch chunks. Then place the meat in a Large Food Processor and pulse until the chicken grinds down.
This is a huge savings when you can purchase chicken breast for $2.99 per pound when compared to purchasing a pound of ground chicken for $4.49.
Rice Substitutions
The substitution options for Ground Beef and Rice Fiesta aren’t limited to just meat. Although this recipe calls for long grain white rice you can use Jasmine or Basmati rice as a direct substitution.
However if you are a brown rice lover, a few adaptations to the recipe will be needed. That is because brown rice takes longer to cook and requires more liquid.
Therefore, if you would like to use brown rice, increase the amount of beef broth to 1 1/2 cups and increase the cook time by 10 minutes.
Vegetable Substitutions
You can use a variety of vegetables in this ground beef and rice fiesta dinner recipe. Onion, red pepper, garlic and diced tomatoes with green chiles are used to add color, flavor and texture.
However, feel free to use diced green peppers instead or in addition to the sweet red pepper. And if you like things a little spicy, add in a diced jalapeno as well.
However, if you aren’t a fan of spicy foods, you can also adapt the recipe to meet your taste preferences. For instance, instead of using diced tomatoes with green chiles, use petite diced tomatoes instead.
Another great addition to this recipe is sweet corn. The kernels add a crisp texture and another layer of sweetness to the dish.
However, don’t stop there. You can add mushrooms, green onions, or even zucchini to the mix. The choice is up to you.
Cheese Substitutions
Every good ground beef and rice fiesta recipe includes cheese. The recommended variety of cheese to use is shredded sharp cheddar cheese.
However, you can switch up the variety of cheese to give the dish a different flavor profile. For instance, you can us Mozzarella cheese for a milder flavor.
Or if you like things spicy, use pepper Jack cheese. I also find myself using the Mexican blend cheese quite often as the variety of flavors that pair perfectly with this dish.
Although it is always best to shred your own cheese because it melts better. However, I know that most of us (including me) will pull out a bag of shredded cheese and sprinkle it on top. And that is perfectly fine.
Just know that the packaged shredded cheese has a coating of anti-caking agent to prevent it from clumping together in the bag. And this same coating prevents the cheese from melting smoothly in your skillet.
Ground Beef & Rice Fiesta Recipe
*A printable recipe card is located at the bottom of this article which contains the specific measurements, temperatures and cook times. However, continue reading below to learn about more helpful tips about this specific recipe.
INGREDIENTS
- 1/2 lb ground beef
- 1/4 cup yellow onion, diced
- 1/4 cup red bell pepper, diced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 5 oz Rotel Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies (undrained)
- 3/4 cup beef broth
- 1/2 cup long grain white rice
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
Garnish
Fresh chopped parsley (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS
In a large skillet placed over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef. Once half of the meat is no longer pink add the onion, green pepper, garlic, salt and pepper and cook until the ground beef is cooked through. Drain and return the mixture back to the skillet.
Add the beef broth, rice, diced tomatoes & green chiles, and Worcestershire sauce to the skillet and stir.
Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and cover. Simmer for 20 minutes or until the rice is tender.
Remove the mixture from heat and sprinkle with cheese. Cover and let the cheese melt.
Serve with chopped parsley if desired.
Enjoy! Mary
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Other Easy Skillet Recipes That You Might Enjoy
- Sausage & Zucchini Skillet Recipe
- Skillet Ham and Rice Casserole
- Ground Turkey & Butternut Squash
- Skillet Sausage & Potatoes
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Ground Beef & Rice Skillet
An easy 30 minute meal that will leave you feeling full and satisfied. Ground beef, rice, onions, peppers and cheese all cooked in a single skillet for a delicious meal!
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb ground beef
- 1/4 cup yellow onion, diced
- 1/4 cup red bell pepper, diced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 5 oz can Rotel Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies (undrained)
- 3/4 cup beef broth
- 1/2 cup long grain white rice
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
Garnish
- fresh chopped parsley
Instructions
- In a large skillet placed over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef. Once half of the meat is no longer pink add the onion, green pepper, garlic, salt and pepper and cook until the ground beef is cooked through. Drain and return the mixture back to the skillet.
- Add beef broth, rice, Rotel, and Worcestershire sauce to the skillet and stir.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce heat and cover. Simmer for 20 minute or until the rice is tender.
- Remove the mixture from heat and sprinkle with cheese. Cover and let the cheese melt.
- Serve with chopped parsley if desired.
Notes
Possible Recipe Substitutions & Variations:
Meat: Ground turkey, ground chicken, ground sausage, plant based crumbles
Rice: Jasmine or Basmati rice. For Brown rice, increase the amount of beef broth to 1 1/2 cups and cook for 10-15 minjtes longer or until the rice grains are tender.
Vegetables: Add or substitute petite diced tomatoes for the diced tomatoes with green chiles if you want a more mild flavor. Add diced green pepper, diced jalapenos, drained sweet corn kernels, mushrooms, zucchini, etc..
Cheese: Shredded Mexican blend, Mozzarella, Colby Jack, Pepper Jack, Monterey Jack
Other Helpful Tips:
Make Ahead Option: Make as instructed and store in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Freezing: It is not recommended to freeze the leftovers as the cheese will make the dish watery when thawed. However, if you want to make this a true freezer meal, make the dish as instructed but do not ad the shredded cheese. Then let the dish cool, add it to a freezer safe container (removing as much air as you can) and label the dish. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Recipe provided by iCookfortwo.com
Nutrition Information
Yield 3Amount Per Serving Calories 352Total Fat 20gSaturated Fat 9gTrans Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 8gCholesterol 86mgSodium 881mgCarbohydrates 15gFiber 2gSugar 4gProtein 27g
Nutritional Information is to be used as a general guideline only . Nutritional calculations will vary from the types and brands of the products used.