Skillet Beef and Rice is an affordable meal the whole family will love! A pound of ground beef, half a cup of rice, and a couple cans of beans and corn turn into a hearty one-pan meal that needs no side dish.
Ellen’s Notes
I’m all about pinching pennies when I go grocery shopping. In fact, this recipe is a result of me using what I already had on hand, no special trip to the store required!
Ground beef, rice, a couple of cans, and some seasonings. That’s pretty much all you need to make this 25-minute one-pan recipe! It’s got every element of an easy weeknight dinner.
There are also plenty of ways to customize this ground beef and rice! Add a few shakes of hot sauce, swap the ground beef for turkey, make it cheesy… It’s hard to mess up the blueprint here.
Key Ingredient Notes
- Ground Beef – Go for lean ground beef so it’s not as greasy. An 85-90% blend keeps it on the lighter side. If you do end up with excess grease, be sure to drain it well.
- Onion – A white or yellow onion, either works.
- Long Grain Rice – Basmati is my favorite to use for this recipe! Skip instant or short grain rice, which turns soft and sticky.
- Diced Tomatoes – These go in UNDRAINED, since that liquid helps cook the rice and adds a ton of flavor. Fire-roasted tomatoes also work if you want some added flavor.
- Beef Bouillon – Don’t skip this. It’s my not-so-secret weapon to deepening that savory flavor. Use a teaspoon of paste or a single crushed cube.
- Kidney Beans – Feel free to swap these with whatever beans you have on hand.
How To Make Skillet Beef And Rice
See the recipe card for full ingredient list and directions below.
Brown the beef and onion. Cook the ground beef and onions in a skillet over medium heat. Crumble the meat as it cooks until it’s no longer pink. Drain excess grease.
Add the liquids and rice. Stir in the tomatoes, broth, rice, bouillon, Worcestershire, and garlic powder. Boil for one minute.
Cover and simmer. Turn the heat to low, cover with a lid, and gently simmer for about 10 minutes or until the rice is tender.
Finish with corn and beans. Stir them in and cook for about 2 more minutes.
Enjoy! Season with salt and pepper to taste.
📌 Ellen’s Recipe Tips
- Rinse the rice. Giving the rice a quick rinse under cold water helps to remove a lot of starch. Starch is what can make rice turn gummy.
- Keep the simmer low. A hard boil under the lid cooks the outside of the rice before the center is done and scorches the bottom of the pan.
- Add more broth if needed. If the liquid disappears before the rice is tender, warm broth and a few more covered minutes will fix it!
- Careful with the salt. Beef broth, Worcestershire, and the bouillon already add a good amount of sodium to the dish. Do a quick taste test before adding any additional salt just before serving.
Skillet Beef and Rice
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes, do not drain
- 1 cup beef broth
- ½ cup long grain rice, rinsed
- 1 teaspoon beef bouillon
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 (15 oz) can corn, drained
- 1 (16 oz) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- salt and pepper, to taste
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Instructions
- In a large 12-inch (or larger) skillet with a lid, brown the ground beef with the onion over medium heat. Use a spoon to break up and crumble the meat as it cooks until no longer pink. If you have a lot of grease, drain off the excess before continuing.
- Add the tomatoes, broth, rice, bouillon, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic powder. While stirring, bring to a boil for 1 minute.
- Reduce the heat to a low simmer and cover with the lid. Stir occasionally, cooking for about 10 minutes, until the rice is tender.
- Stir in the corn and beans, simmer for another 2 minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper to your liking, then serve immediately.
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Nutrition
More Ground Beef Recipes You’ll Love
- Hamburger Hash – Ground beef, potatoes, and cheese has never been so satisfying!
- Mexican Beef and Rice Skillet – A quick one-pan dinner that’s fun to dress up with toppings.
- Ground Beef Zucchini Skillet – Made with plenty of cheese and no carbs.
- Frito Pie – Total comfort food, complete with crunchy Fritos!
