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Healthy Ground Beef and Rice Skillet: 15-Min Easy Meal

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A quick, one-pan weeknight dinner featuring lean ground beef, fluffy rice, and vegetables. This recipe is designed to be simple, healthy, and flavorful, coming together in under 20 minutes for busy families.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb ground beef (80/20 or 90/10 lean)
  • 1 cup white rice (long-grain or short-grain)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, freshly minced
  • 2 cups chicken broth (low-sodium)
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
  • 1 cup frozen peas and carrots
  • 1 tbsp unsalted butter
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Pinch of garlic powder

Instructions

  1. Dice the onion and mince the garlic. Set aside.
  2. Heat a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and break it up with a spoon. Cook until no pink remains (about 5-7 minutes). Drain excess grease if using fatty beef, but leave some for flavor.
  3. Add the diced onion to the beef and cook until translucent and soft (about 3 minutes). Add the garlic in the last minute to prevent burning.
  4. Stir in the uncooked rice and toast for about 30 seconds to coat in the beef fats.
  5. Pour in the chicken broth and soy sauce. Stir well to combine.
  6. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover with a tight-fitting lid and simmer undisturbed for 10 minutes.
  7. After 10 minutes, add the frozen peas and carrots. Cover again and simmer for another 5 minutes.
  8. Turn off the heat and let the skillet sit covered for 5 minutes to allow the rice to steam and absorb remaining liquid.
  9. Fluff the rice with a fork. Stir in the butter and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot.

Notes

Do not lift the lid while the rice is simmering to ensure proper steam circulation. Toasting the rice before adding liquid adds nutty flavor and helps keep grains separate. If using brown rice, increase liquid to 2.5 cups and simmer for 30-40 minutes. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: ground beef, rice skillet, one pot meal, weeknight dinner, healthy dinner, quick meals, meal prep, family friendly

Find it online: https://coracooks.com/healthy-ground-beef-and-rice-skillet-15-min-easy-meal/