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Easy $10 Ground Beef and Rice Skillet Dinner

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A quick and easy one-pan ground beef and rice skillet dinner that’s ready in about 25 minutes. Made with simple pantry ingredients, it’s a budget-friendly weeknight meal that the whole family will love.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb ground beef (80/20 works best)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced (about 1 cup)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup long-grain white rice, uncooked
  • 2 cups low-sodium beef broth
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • Salt and black pepper to taste (start with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper)
  • 1 cup frozen peas and carrots mix
  • Optional: 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese for topping

Instructions

  1. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the diced onion and cook for about 3 minutes, until softened and translucent.
  2. Add the ground beef to the skillet. Break it up with a wooden spoon and cook for 5-6 minutes, until no longer pink. Drain excess fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon for flavor.
  3. Stir in the minced garlic, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and oregano. Cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Add the uncooked rice to the skillet and stir for about 1 minute to toast the grains slightly.
  5. Pour in the beef broth and diced tomatoes (with their juices). Stir everything together, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
  6. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the skillet with a lid and let it simmer for 15 minutes. Do not lift the lid during this time.
  7. After 15 minutes, remove the lid and check the rice. It should be tender and have absorbed most of the liquid. If still soupy, cook uncovered for 2-3 more minutes.
  8. Stir in the frozen peas and carrots. They will warm through in about 2 minutes. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
  9. Optional: Sprinkle the shredded cheese on top, cover for 1 minute to melt, then serve.

Notes

For best results, do not stir the mixture after adding the broth to prevent the rice from becoming gummy. Use low-sodium broth to control salt levels. If rice is still crunchy after 15 minutes, add 1/4 cup more broth or water and cook for another 5 minutes. This dish tastes even better the next day as flavors meld.

Nutrition

Keywords: ground beef, rice, skillet dinner, one-pan, weeknight dinner, budget-friendly, easy dinner

Find it online: https://dinadinnertable.com/easy-10-ground-beef-and-rice-skillet-dinner/