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Easy Cheesy Ground Beef & Rice Skillet: Best 20-Minute Dinner

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A quick and comforting one-skillet meal with seasoned ground beef, tender rice, and melted cheddar cheese, ready in under 20 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights.

Ingredients

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

Instructions

  1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add diced onion and bell pepper; cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
  2. Add ground beef to the skillet, breaking it apart. Cook until no longer pink, about 5-6 minutes. Spoon out excess grease, leaving about 1 tablespoon.
  3. Stir in tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. Add rinsed rice and beef broth. Stir, scraping up browned bits. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Do not lift the lid.
  5. After 15 minutes, check rice. If tender and liquid absorbed, proceed. If still soupy, cook 2-3 minutes more. If dry but rice firm, add a splash of broth and cook a few more minutes.
  6. Remove skillet from heat. Sprinkle shredded cheddar evenly over top. Cover and let sit 1-2 minutes until cheese melts. For integrated texture, stir cheese in gently.
  7. Let rest off heat for 2 minutes. Garnish with parsley or green onions if desired. Serve hot.

Notes

Rinse rice thoroughly to prevent gumminess. Do not lift the lid while rice simmers. For extra flavor, toast dry rice in skillet for 1-2 minutes before adding broth. Season in layers for best results. Leftovers keep in fridge for up to 4 days and freeze well for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: ground beef skillet, cheesy rice, 20-minute dinner, weeknight meal, one-skillet dinner, easy dinner recipe

Find it online: https://norasfoods.com/easy-cheesy-ground-beef-and-rice-skillet-best-20-minute-dinner/