Need a super easy recipe for dinner tonight? My beef and rice skillet has you covered: One skillet, simple ingredients, 15 minutes of prep time… A keeper for sure!
I don’t know about you, but I need easy dinner ideas pretty much every day of the week. And easy to me means little prep time, uncomplicated ingredients, not a lot of dishes to cook it.
My Mexican inspired beef and rice skillet? Definitely ticks all of those boxes. Let’s make it!
Ingredients you’ll need
Here is an overview of the ingredients in the skillet (great to use as a visual grocery list at the store!). Scroll down to the recipe for quantities.
Ingredient notes
- Taco seasoning: I always make my own to control the spiciness (my kids can’t handle anything remotely spicy), click here for my taco seasoning recipe.
- Black beans: I always cook my own in my instant pot – it’s super easy and SO much cheaper! Click here for my tutorial. Can also use kidney beans instead of black.
- Rice: I have made this with both white and brown parboiled rice (brown in the photo); both work – the brown needs longer to cook though. For the recipe to cook in the time stated, you’ll need to use a parboiled white rice that cooks in 10-15 minutes.
- Salsa: A mild, chunky salsa works best for us. Feel free to use hot salsa if your kids can handle it.
Step by step photos
This is a really, really easy meal to cook. All you have to do is brown the beef with onion and garlic, stir in the diced peppers and seasoning… Then stir in the remaining ingredients and simmer with the lid on.
Tips & tricks
- Do not pre-cook the rice: That’s right, the rice can go in uncooked! If you pre-cook it, the entire dish will turn into soup. So, don’t ?
- Don’t skip the browning step: I know it can be tempting to skip this step to save time, but you’ll miss out on a lot of flavor if you don’t brown the meat and onions.
- Spiciness: This is how I make the dish for my 2 and 4 year old kids. If you’re not making this for kids (or have older kids), you can add some zing and heat by using chili powder along with the taco seasoning, and stirring through some lime juice after cooking.
Side dish ideas
This really is an all-in-one meal, so I usually just make a salad to go with it. Our favorites are my Tomato Cucumber Avocado Salad, but a simple Coleslaw is also delicious!
We also enjoy some shredded cheese and lime wedges, plus obviously corn chips – we are not allowed to serve anything Mexican inspired without corn chips in our home. Order of our 4 and 6 year olds ?
If you need a new idea for ground beef – try this one for a change. It has so many great reviews from readers who already made it. A true favorite!
More ground beef recipes
You can browse all of my ground beef recipes here. I also have a lot of one pot meals if you click here or easy dinners in general if you click here!
PS If you try this recipe, please leave a review in the comment section and add a star rating in the recipe card – I appreciate your feedback! Follow along on Pinterest, Facebook or Instagram.
Printable recipe
Mexican Beef and Rice Skillet
Recipe details
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 red pepper diced
- 1 yellow pepper diced
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
- salt & pepper to taste
- 1 cup rice (parboiled preferred; see notes)
- 1.5 cups broth or more if it seems dry
- 1 jar (16-oz) chunky salsa
- 1 can (15-oz) black beans
- 1 cup sweet corn canned OR frozen
- Shredded cheese, lime wedges, sour cream, chopped tomatoes, cilantro, avocado, tortilla chips…. optional, to serve
Instructions
- Brown meat:Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook for 2 minutes. Add the garlic and beef and cook until browned. Stir in the diced peppers and cook for 1 more minute.
- Add remaining ingredients:Stir in the tomato paste, taco seasoning, salt and pepper. Cook for 1 minute. Add the rice, broth, salsa, black beans and corn and stir well.
- Cook:Bring to a simmer, cover the skillet with a lid, reduce the heat and gently cook for around 15 minutes, or until cooked through. Add more broth if necessary.
- Serve:Top with shredded cheese and cover for another 2 minutes, if you like. Serve with your favorite toppings.
Notes
Nutrition
More recipe information
More easy and delicious rice recipes you’ll love:
I originally published this recipe on March 13, 2019. I updated it on May 20, 2020 to make it better for you.
Kathy says
Family loved this. Great flavor and easy to make. But I have suggestions: drain and rinse the black beans, sauté the peppers and onion together until translucent, add garlic and cook 2 more minutes, add ground beef and cook until browned. Drain everything in a colander and return to the pan and do with recipe. I had to cook everything for 30 minutes so the rice would cook. I did use Parboiled rice. I will definitely make this recipe again.
Lois says
I made this recently, it will definitely be added to my rotation. Love, love, love this recipe!
Nora says
I’m so glad, Lois!
Bridzita Mulcahy says
Very good and easy dinner idea
Nora says
I’m so glad you liked it, Bridzita!
Sima says
Could I use ground chorizo instead of the beef??
Nora says
I’m sure that would be delicious, Sima!
Lauren Cream says
Easy to make! Recommend prepping all the ingredients before starting. It helps!
Nora says
Glad you liked it, Lauren! And agreed – great prep always makes cooking diner easier.
Anabel says
I made it, I ate it, I loved it. Ready to make it again! Thank you 🙂
Nora says
Haha, I’m so glad, Anabel!
Noelle says
If I don’t use parboiled rice, would I need to increase the liquid in addition to the time?
Nora says
Noelle, you will definitely need to cook it for longer. I would add more liquid as it simmers and as needed, as it’s hard to gauge how much extra liquid you’ll need depending on your exact type of rice. Hope this helps!
Pamela Gorsky says
This is SO delicious. I followed the recipe exactly and it’s perfect.
Nora says
I’m so glad, Pamela!
Cathie says
Quick and easy – added more beef broth
This is a make again recipe!
Nora says
I’m so glad, Cathie!
Kayla says
Making this tonight!! Do I use chicken or beef broth
Nora says
Kayla, I prefer beef broth – but chicken works really well, too! Hope this helps.
Kathy says
Great recipe! I sautéed the peppers and onions together first with butter and olive oil, then added the meat and garlic. Once cooked I drained them all. I ended up using 2 small cans of beef broth and cooking everything for 45 minutes because the rice wasn’t cooked.
So easy to make and the best flavor.
Nora says
Sounds great, Kathy!
Mmmelissa says
This is my go to simple and quick recipe for dinner when I’m feeling a burrito but don’t want to go through the hassle of multiple pan clean up. Having a kiddo with celiac this makes a family meal much more simpler! Thank you for this!
Nora says
I’m so glad to hear this!
Brian says
Been making this for lunches off and on for the last year. One of my favorites! I made a couple changes: I swapped the beef with chorizo, and also added a pound of diced chicken breast (added just before covering to cook the rice) to add some more protein. Thanks for the recipe!
Nora says
I’m so glad, Brian!
Debbie says
I added 1tsp. Chili powder also. Served with sour cream and lots of cilantro. It was a hit at my house. ?
Nora says
I’m so glad, Debbie!
Talent says
This has become one of my family’s favourites, all year round. Really easy to make and delicious. Thank you so much Nora.
Nora says
I’m so glad!
Shearon Olaitan says
Easy to make & delicious. My family loved it.
Nora says
I’m so glad to hear this, Shearon!
Dena Dartsch Sprague says
This is fantastic. The addition of fresh cherry tomatoes makes it great
Nora says
I’m so glad to hear it, Dena!