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Easy Cheesy Ground Beef and Rice Skillet: Best One-Pan Dinner

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This easy cheesy ground beef and rice skillet is a one-pan wonder that comes together in about 30 minutes. It’s the perfect weeknight dinner—simple ingredients, minimal cleanup, and pure comfort in every bite.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb ground beef (80/20 works best)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced (about 1 cup)
  • 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 paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook for 5-7 minutes, breaking it apart, until browned. Drain excess fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the pan.
  2. Reduce heat to medium. Add diced onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Add uncooked rice and stir for about 1 minute to toast. Sprinkle in paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Stir to coat the rice.
  4. Pour in beef broth and diced tomatoes with their juices. Stir, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
  5. Increase heat to high and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes. Do not lift the lid during this time.
  6. After 20 minutes, remove lid. Rice should be tender and most liquid absorbed. If rice is still firm, add a splash of broth or water, cover, and cook for 3-5 more minutes.
  7. Remove skillet from heat. Sprinkle shredded cheddar evenly over the top. Cover for 2-3 minutes to melt the cheese. Optionally, broil for 1-2 minutes for a golden top.
  8. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve straight from the skillet.

Notes

Do not skip toasting the rice—it helps keep grains separate. Resist lifting the lid during simmering to retain steam. Shred cheese from a block for best melting. For a spicy version, use Rotel tomatoes and pepper jack cheese. Leftovers keep in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: ground beef, rice, skillet, one-pan, cheesy, weeknight dinner, comfort food

Find it online: https://livelybite.com/easy-cheesy-ground-beef-and-rice-skillet-best-one-pan-dinner/