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Easy Cheesy Ground Beef and Rice Skillet Recipe

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A quick and comforting one-pan meal featuring seasoned ground beef, tender rice, and melted cheddar cheese. Perfect for busy weeknights, this recipe comes together in about 30 minutes with minimal cleanup.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb (450g) ground beef (80/20)
  • 1 cup (200g) long-grain white rice (e.g., basmati or jasmine)
  • 2 cups (480ml) beef broth (low-sodium preferred)
  • 1½ cups (170g) shredded cheddar cheese (sharp cheddar recommended)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon paprika (smoked or regular)
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Brown the beef: Heat olive oil in a large 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and break it up with a wooden spoon. Cook undisturbed for 2 minutes to sear, then break into smaller pieces. Cook until no longer pink, about 3-4 minutes total. Do not drain fat unless more than 2 tablespoons.
  2. Sauté the aromatics: Reduce heat to medium. Add diced onion and cook for 2 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
  3. Add seasonings and rice: Sprinkle paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper over the mixture. Stir to combine. Add Worcestershire sauce and stir. Add uncooked rice and stir until every grain is coated in the seasoned fat, about 1 minute.
  4. Add broth and simmer: Pour in beef broth and stir, scraping up browned bits from the bottom. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 18-20 minutes. Do not lift the lid during this time. Check rice after 18 minutes; if still crunchy, add ¼ cup more broth or water, cover, and cook for another 5 minutes.
  5. Add cheese and broil: Once rice is tender, remove lid and sprinkle shredded cheddar evenly over the top. If skillet is broiler-safe, broil on high for 2-3 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly with golden spots. If not, cover and let sit over low heat for 3-4 minutes until cheese melts.
  6. Rest and serve: Let skillet rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired and serve straight from the skillet.

Notes

For best results, use freshly shredded cheese to avoid greasiness. Do not lift the lid while rice simmers. Let the dish rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow rice to absorb remaining liquid and cheese to set. If doubling the recipe, use a larger pan or split between two skillets.

Nutrition

Keywords: ground beef, rice, cheddar, one-pan, weeknight dinner, comfort food, cheesy, skillet

Find it online: https://cheerycrisp.com/easy-cheesy-ground-beef-and-rice-skillet-recipe/