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Kid-Approved Ground Beef and Rice Skillet: Easy One-Pan Dinner

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A quick and easy one-pan dinner featuring ground beef, rice, and vegetables, all cooked together in a savory broth. Perfect for busy weeknights, this kid-approved meal is comforting, delicious, and ready in about 30 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20 preferred)
  • 1 cup long-grain white rice (uncooked)
  • 1 medium yellow onion (diced, about 1 cup)
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 medium carrot (finely diced)
  • 1/2 cup frozen peas
  • 1/2 red bell pepper (diced, optional)
  • 2 cups beef broth (low-sodium preferred)
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes (undrained)
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (plus more to taste)
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Fresh parsley (for garnish, optional)

Instructions

  1. Heat the oil: Place your large skillet over medium-high heat and add the olive oil. Let it shimmer for about 30 seconds.
  2. Brown the beef: Add the ground beef to the skillet. Break it up with your wooden spoon and let it cook undisturbed for about 3 minutes to get a nice sear. Then stir and continue cooking until no pink remains, about 5-6 minutes total. If there’s excess fat, spoon it out, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the pan.
  3. Sauté the aromatics: Add the diced onion and carrot to the skillet. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion turns translucent and the carrot starts to soften.
  4. Add garlic and bell pepper: Toss in the minced garlic and diced bell pepper. Cook for another minute, just until fragrant.
  5. Stir in the rice: Add the uncooked rice to the pan. Stir it around for about a minute, letting it toast slightly in the beef fat and oil.
  6. Pour in the liquids: Add the beef broth and canned diced tomatoes (with their juices). Stir everything together, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
  7. Season it up: Sprinkle in the smoked paprika, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Give it a good stir.
  8. Bring to a boil: Turn the heat to high and bring the mixture to a rolling boil, about 2-3 minutes.
  9. Simmer and cover: Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet with a tight-fitting lid, and let it simmer gently for 18-20 minutes. Do not lift the lid.
  10. Add the peas: After 18 minutes, remove the lid. The rice should be tender and most of the liquid absorbed. Gently fold in the frozen peas. Cover again for 2 minutes.
  11. Rest and serve: Remove from heat and let the skillet sit, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork, garnish with fresh parsley, and serve warm.

Notes

Don’t rush the browning of the beef; it creates flavor. Keep the heat at a gentle simmer once covered. Resist the urge to stir or lift the lid during simmering. This dish reheats well and tastes even better the next day. For a lower-carb option, substitute cauliflower rice and reduce cooking time to 10 minutes.

Nutrition

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

Find it online: https://lucastable.com/kid-approved-ground-beef-and-rice-skillet-easy-one-pan-dinner/