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Easy 20-Minute Ground Beef and Rice Skillet: Perfect One-Pan Dinner

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This easy 20-minute ground beef and rice skillet is a one-pan dinner that brings diner-style comfort food to your kitchen with simple ingredients and minimal cleanup. The rice absorbs all the beefy, seasoned goodness while staying perfectly tender, making it a perfect weeknight meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef (85/15 or 80/20)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced (about 1 cup)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup long-grain white rice, uncooked (jasmine or basmati preferred)
  • 2 cups beef broth (low-sodium)
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained (fire-roasted recommended)
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • Salt and black pepper to taste (start with ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped (for garnish, optional)
  • Shredded cheddar cheese (for garnish, optional)
  • Hot sauce or red pepper flakes (for garnish, optional)

Instructions

  1. Heat the skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and let it shimmer for about 30 seconds.
  2. Add the ground beef. Break it up with a wooden spoon into small, even pieces. Let it cook undisturbed for 3-4 minutes until the bottom is deeply browned. Flip the pieces and cook another 2-3 minutes until no pink remains.
  3. Toss in the diced onion. Stir it into the beef and cook for 2 minutes until it softens and becomes translucent.
  4. Add the minced garlic, tomato paste, smoked paprika, oregano, garlic powder, and onion powder. Stir everything together and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  5. Pour in the beef broth and diced tomatoes with their juices. Use your spoon to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring the liquid to a gentle boil.
  6. Stir in the uncooked rice. Make sure it’s evenly distributed. Reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet, and let it simmer gently for 15 minutes. Do not lift the lid.
  7. After 15 minutes, remove the skillet from heat. Keep the lid on and let it rest for 5 minutes off the heat.
  8. Remove the lid and fluff the rice with a fork. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. If the rice seems wet, let it sit uncovered for 2-3 minutes. If undercooked, add 2 tablespoons of broth, cover, and cook on low for another 3 minutes.
  9. Serve immediately. Garnish with fresh parsley or cilantro, shredded cheddar cheese, and hot sauce if desired.

Notes

Don’t skip browning the beef for deep flavor. Resist the urge to stir once covered. For extra flavor, toast the dry rice for 1-2 minutes before adding liquid. Start with less salt and adjust at the end. Leftovers keep for up to 4 days in the refrigerator or freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: ground beef and rice skillet, one-pan dinner, easy weeknight dinner, 20-minute meal, comfort food, ground beef recipe, rice skillet

Find it online: https://forkmila.com/easy-20-minute-ground-beef-and-rice-skillet-perfect-one-pan-dinner/