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Crowd-Pleasing Cheesy One-Pan Ground Beef Rice: Easy 30-Minute Dinner

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A quick and easy one-pan dinner featuring savory ground beef, tender rice, and a bubbly cheese topping. Perfect for busy weeknights or casual gatherings, this dish comes together in just 30 minutes with minimal cleanup.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20 blend)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup long-grain white rice, uncooked
  • 2 cups low-sodium beef broth
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
  • Optional: 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions

  1. Prep your ingredients first. Dice the onion, mince the garlic, shred your cheese, and measure out your seasonings.
  2. Heat your skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef to the cold pan and let it sear without moving it for about 3-4 minutes. Once the bottom is deeply browned, break the beef apart and continue cooking until no longer pink, about 5-6 minutes total.
  3. Add the diced onion to the skillet with the browned beef. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion turns translucent and starts to soften.
  4. Stir in the minced garlic, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and dried oregano. Cook for about 30 seconds, stirring constantly, until fragrant.
  5. Pour in the beef broth and the can of diced tomatoes with their juices. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring to a boil, then stir in the uncooked rice.
  6. Reduce heat to low, cover the skillet with a tight-fitting lid, and let it simmer for 18 minutes. Do not lift the lid during this time.
  7. After 18 minutes, remove the lid and check the rice. It should be tender and have absorbed most of the liquid. If needed, cover and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
  8. Remove the skillet from the heat and sprinkle the shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese evenly over the top. Let the residual heat melt the cheese for about 2 minutes. Optionally, broil for 1-2 minutes for a golden top.
  9. Once the cheese is melted and bubbly, gently stir to incorporate or leave on top for presentation. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

For best results, brown the beef deeply without stirring too often. Let the dish rest for 5 minutes after cooking to allow flavors to meld. To make it spicier, use Rotel tomatoes and pepper jack cheese. For a vegetarian version, replace beef with cooked lentils and use vegetable broth.

Nutrition

Keywords: ground beef, rice, one-pan, cheesy, 30-minute dinner, easy dinner, comfort food

Find it online: https://coracooks.com/crowd-pleasing-cheesy-one-pan-ground-beef-rice-easy-30-minute-dinner/