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Easy Ground Beef and Rice Skillet: Best 30-Minute Dinner

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A quick and hearty one-pan dinner made with ground beef, rice, and simple pantry staples, ready in just 30 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights when you need a comforting meal on the table fast.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound (450g) ground beef (80/20 recommended)
  • 1 cup (200g) long-grain white rice
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 cups (480ml) beef broth (low-sodium preferred)
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prep your ingredients: Dice the onion and mince the garlic. Measure out the rice, broth, tomato paste, and spices.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and break it apart with a wooden spoon. Let cook undisturbed for 2 minutes to brown, then stir and continue cooking until fully browned. Drain excess fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the pan.
  3. Reduce heat to medium. Add diced onion and cook for 2 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Stir in tomato paste, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
  5. Add rice and stir to coat with the beef and spices. Pour in beef broth and stir, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
  6. Increase heat to high and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover with a tight-fitting lid, and simmer for 18-20 minutes. Do not lift the lid during this time.
  7. Remove lid carefully. Check rice: it should be tender and liquid mostly absorbed. If still firm, add 2-3 tablespoons water, cover, and cook 2-3 more minutes. Fluff rice with a fork.
  8. Remove from heat and let rest, covered, for 2 minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired and serve hot.

Notes

For best flavor, use 80/20 ground beef and don’t drain all the fat. Resist lifting the lid while rice cooks to ensure perfect texture. Leftovers taste even better the next day. For a cheesy version, stir in 1 cup shredded cheddar before serving. For a Mexican twist, swap oregano for cumin and chili powder, and add black beans and corn.

Nutrition

Keywords: ground beef and rice skillet, 30-minute dinner, one-pan meal, easy weeknight dinner, ground beef recipe, rice skillet

Find it online: https://bakebeam.com/easy-ground-beef-and-rice-skillet-best-30-minute-dinner/