I am of the opinion that every day should be Taco Tuesday, but that wouldn’t mean you’d need to eat your tacos the exact same way day after day. Nope. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to get a taco fix in, like this quick and easy skillet meal. It makes for an excellent alternative to taco night, and its quick, one-pan status makes it perfect weeknight fare. With ground beef, rice, bell peppers, tomatoes, green chiles, and some ooey-gooey cheese, it’s chock full of flavor without taking a ton of time.
A one-pan meal means one dish to wash, which is always a nice thing. This one starts with ground beef, which is browned up with onions and bell peppers until they’re tender. The other nice thing about a one-pan meal is that everything simmers and cooks together, so the flavors meld in an utterly delicious way. Which is just what happens here.
Rice is the unifier in this skillet, but it cooks in a mixture of salsa, canned tomatoes with green chiles, chicken broth, cumin, and chili powder, so it has the chance to absorb a whole lot of deliciousness. Every grain is tender and flavorful.
The cheese shows up last (but certainly not least), and gets stirred in just until it melts and brings everything together. It’s a hearty and comforting meal, but it’s one you can get on the table in just under thirty minutes. I don’t know about you, but that’s everything I’m looking for in a go-to weeknight meal!
Cheesy Taco Rice Skillet
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 large onion, diced
- 2 bell peppers, diced
- 1 (10 oz) can diced tomatoes with green chilies
- 1 cup salsa
- 1 cup long-grain white rice
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, grated
- Green onions and chopped tomatoes, for serving
Preparation
- In a large pan or skillet, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat. When beef starts to brown, add onions and peppers and cook until soft and beef is cooked through, stirring occasionally.
- Add canned tomatoes, salsa, rice, and broth and stir to combine. Add cumin, chili powder, and garlic powder.
- Cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer until rice is tender and liquid has absorbed, about 20 minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in cheese until melted. Serve with green onions and chopped tomatoes if desired. Enjoy!
Recipe adapted from Sweet CS Designs.