Description
This super easy Mexican beef and rice skillet is a hearty, flavorful, and customizable one-pan meal. It features seasoned ground beef, fluffy rice, beans, corn, and melty cheese, perfect for a quick weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound lean ground beef (85% lean, 15% fat recommended)
- 2 cups cooked rice (white, brown, or quinoa)
- 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup corn kernels (fresh, frozen, or canned)
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 bell pepper (any color), diced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning (or a mix of chili powder, cumin, and paprika)
- 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar or Mexican blend)
- Fresh cilantro, chopped (optional, for garnish)
- Cherry tomatoes, halved (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Break it apart with a spoon as it cooks.
- Once the Mexican ground beef is browned, drain any excess fat from the skillet.
- Add the diced onion and bell pepper to the skillet with the beef. Cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes.
- Stir in the minced garlic and taco seasoning. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add the diced tomatoes (with their juice), black beans, corn, and cooked rice to the skillet. Stir everything to combine well.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 5-7 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the rice to absorb the liquid.
- Remove the skillet from the heat. Sprinkle the shredded cheese evenly over the top of the Mexican beef and rice skillet.
- Cover the skillet again for a few minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Garnish with fresh cilantro and cherry tomatoes, if desired. Serve this easy Mexican beef and rice skillet warm.
Notes
- For a lighter option, substitute ground turkey or chicken for the ground beef in this Mexican beef and rice one-pan meal.
- To make a vegetarian version, omit the meat and add extra black beans or lentils to your skillet Mexican rice with ground beef.
- Adjust the spice level by adding chipotle, hot sauce, or jalapeños for more heat to your one-pot Mexican beef and rice recipe.
- This quick Mexican beef and rice dinner is excellent for meal prep; it reheats well.
- Feel free to add other vegetables like zucchini or spinach to your simple Mexican beef and rice skillet recipe.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 90mg