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Quick Ground Beef and Rice Skillet Dinner: Easy One-Pan Meal

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A quick and easy one-pan meal featuring ground beef and rice, perfect for busy weeknights. This comforting dish comes together in under 30 minutes with minimal cleanup.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef (85/15 or 80/20)
  • 1 cup long-grain white rice, uncooked
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced (about 1 cup)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (plus more to taste)
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste (optional but recommended)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil or vegetable oil
  • Fresh parsley or green onions for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Heat the oil in your skillet over medium-high heat. Give it about a minute to get hot. You want the oil to shimmer, not smoke.
  2. Add the ground beef and break it apart with your spoon. Let it cook undisturbed for about 2-3 minutes so it gets a nice brown crust. Then start breaking it into crumbles. If there’s excess grease after cooking, spoon it out, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the pan.
  3. Add the diced onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until it softens and becomes translucent. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan as you stir.
  4. Stir in the minced garlic, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Cook for about 30 seconds until the garlic is fragrant.
  5. If using tomato paste, add it now and stir for about a minute. This cooks out the raw tomato flavor and deepens the overall taste.
  6. Pour in the undrained diced tomatoes and beef broth. Stir everything together, scraping the bottom of the pan to release any remaining browned bits. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
  7. Stir in the uncooked rice. Make sure it’s evenly distributed throughout the liquid.
  8. Reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet with a tight-fitting lid, and let it simmer. Set a timer for 18 minutes. Do not lift the lid during this time.
  9. After 18 minutes, remove the skillet from the heat (keep the lid on) and let it rest for 5 minutes.
  10. Remove the lid and fluff the rice with a fork. If the rice seems a bit wet, let it sit uncovered for another 2-3 minutes. If it’s undercooked (still crunchy), add 2-3 tablespoons of broth or water, cover, and cook on low for another 5 minutes.
  11. Taste and adjust seasoning. Add more salt and pepper if needed. Garnish with fresh parsley or sliced green onions if desired.

Notes

Don’t rinse the rice as the starch helps thicken the broth. Brown the beef properly by letting it sit undisturbed for a deep brown crust. Use a timer and don’t lift the lid during simmering. Let the dish rest for 5 minutes after cooking for best texture. For a gluten-free version, double-check your broth label. For a dairy-free option, no substitutions needed.

Nutrition

Keywords: ground beef, rice, one-pan meal, quick dinner, weeknight dinner, skillet dinner, easy recipe, budget-friendly

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