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

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A quick and satisfying one-pan dinner featuring ground beef, rice, and melted cheddar cheese. Perfect for busy weeknights, this recipe uses simple pantry ingredients and comes together in under 30 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef (85/15)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced (about 1 cup)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup long-grain white rice (uncooked; jasmine or basmati preferred)
  • 2 cups beef broth (low-sodium)
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained (fire-roasted recommended)
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano (or Italian seasoning)
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (plus more to taste)
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (sharp cheddar recommended)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Fresh parsley or green onions, chopped (for garnish, optional)

Instructions

  1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it apart, until browned (5-7 minutes). Spoon out excess fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon.
  2. Reduce heat to medium. Add diced onion and cook 3-4 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Sprinkle uncooked rice over the beef and onion mixture. Stir and cook 1-2 minutes until rice becomes slightly translucent around the edges.
  4. Pour in beef broth and undrained diced tomatoes. Add smoked paprika, dried oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Stir well, scraping up browned bits from the bottom.
  5. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 18-20 minutes. Do not lift the lid during cooking. Check rice for tenderness; if needed, cook 2-3 more minutes.
  6. Remove skillet from heat. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top. Cover and let sit 2-3 minutes until cheese melts. (Optional: broil 1-2 minutes for a browned top, if skillet is broiler-safe.)
  7. Let rest 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley or green onions if desired. Serve directly from the skillet.

Notes

Don’t skip toasting the rice for best texture. Resist lifting the lid while simmering. Grate your own cheese for smoother melting. Season in layers for deeper flavor. For brown rice, add 15 extra minutes and 1/2 cup more broth. For a lower-carb option, use cauliflower rice with 1 cup broth and simmer 5-7 minutes.

Nutrition

Keywords: cheesy beef and rice skillet, one-pan dinner, ground beef recipe, easy weeknight dinner, cheesy rice skillet

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