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Ground Beef and Rice Skillet

Ground beef and rice skillet with seasoned browned beef and fluffy long-grain rice simmered in a savory tomato broth. This one pan, weeknight dinner is fast, hearty, and built for easy stovetop cooking.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 560

Ingredients
  

Ground beef and rice skillet ingredients
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 1 green bell pepper, diced
  • 3 garlic, minced
  • 1.5 cup long-grain white rice, uncooked
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
  • 2.5 cup beef broth
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 0.25 salt to taste
  • 0.25 pepper to taste
  • 0.25 cup shredded cheddar for serving
  • 1 tbsp fresh parsley for garnish

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Brown the beef and vegetables
  1. Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat and cook the ground beef with the diced onion and diced green bell pepper until browned, about 6-8 minutes; drain excess fat (or leave only a thin coating). Visual cue: beef should be no longer pink and vegetables should be softened.
  2. Stir in the minced garlic, garlic powder, onion powder, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper, then cook for 1 minute over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Visual cue: the garlic should smell fragrant without browning.
Simmer the rice in tomato broth
  1. Add the long-grain white rice, diced tomatoes, and beef broth, then bring everything to a boil over high heat, about 3-5 minutes. Visual cue: you should see bubbling across the surface of the skillet.
  2. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 20 minutes until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed. Visual cue: rice grains should look plump and broth should be mostly gone.
Finish and serve
  1. Fluff the mixture with a fork and adjust seasoning with more salt and pepper if needed. Visual cue: the rice should look separated and evenly mixed with the beef.
  2. Sprinkle shredded cheddar over the top, cover the skillet for 1 minute until melted, then garnish with fresh parsley. Visual cue: cheddar should be glossy and fully melted.

Notes

Pro tip: use long-grain white rice for the best texture with this method, and keep the skillet covered during the 20-minute simmer to prevent uneven cooking. Store leftovers in the refrigerator up to 3 days; reheat gently with a splash of broth or water. Freezing is not recommended for best rice texture. For a lighter option, use 90% lean ground beef or substitute ground turkey while keeping the same seasonings.