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Easy 15-Minute Cheesy Ground Beef and Rice Skillet

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A quick and easy one-skillet meal featuring seasoned ground beef, tender rice, and melty cheddar cheese. Perfect for busy weeknights, this comforting dish comes together in just 15 minutes using simple pantry ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb ground beef (80/20 preferred)
  • 1 cup long-grain white rice, uncooked
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)
  • Optional: fresh parsley or green onions for garnish

Instructions

  1. Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon. Transfer to a plate, leaving about 1 tablespoon of drippings in the pan.
  2. Reduce heat to medium. Add diced onion to the pan and cook for 1 minute until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
  3. Add uncooked rice to the pan and stir for 1 minute until slightly toasted and fragrant.
  4. Pour in beef broth, then stir in tomato paste, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring to a gentle boil.
  5. Return the browned beef to the pan. Stir, reduce heat to low, cover with a tight-fitting lid, and simmer for 10-12 minutes until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed. Do not lift the lid during cooking.
  6. Remove from heat. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top. Cover and let sit off heat for 1-2 minutes until cheese is melted.
  7. Let rest for 2 minutes, then fluff with a fork. Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley or green onions if desired.

Notes

For best results, use a 12-inch skillet or larger to give the rice room to expand. Do not lift the lid while the rice is simmering. If rice isn’t done after 12 minutes, add 2 tablespoons of water, cover, and cook for another 2 minutes. For a creamier texture, stir the cheese in instead of leaving it on top. This dish tastes even better the next day as flavors meld.

Nutrition

Keywords: cheesy ground beef and rice, one skillet meal, quick dinner, weeknight dinner, ground beef recipe, cheesy rice, 15 minute meal

Find it online: https://coracooks.com/easy-15-minute-cheesy-ground-beef-and-rice-skillet/