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Lightened-Up One-Pot Ground Beef and Rice Skillet: 30-Min Easy Dinner

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A quick and easy one-pot skillet dinner with lean ground beef, rice, and a rich tomato sauce. Perfect for busy weeknights, this lightened-up comfort food comes together in 30 minutes with simple pantry ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound lean ground beef (93/7)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup long-grain white rice (jasmine or basmati), uncooked
  • 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, with juices
  • 2 cups low-sodium beef broth
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Fresh parsley or cilantro for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prep the aromatics: dice the onion and mince the garlic. Measure out all spices and set near the stove.
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned and no longer pink (5-7 minutes). If using 80/20 beef, drain excess fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the pan. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper.
  3. Reduce heat to medium. Add diced onion to the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Add chili powder, cumin, oregano, and tomato paste. Stir constantly for 1 minute to bloom the spices.
  5. Pour in diced tomatoes with their juices and beef broth. Stir well, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
  6. Stir in uncooked rice. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover skillet with a tight-fitting lid and simmer for 18-20 minutes. Do not lift the lid during cooking.
  7. After 18 minutes, remove lid. Rice should be tender and liquid mostly absorbed. If rice is still firm, add 2-3 tablespoons water, cover, and cook for 2-3 more minutes.
  8. Remove pan from heat. Fluff rice and beef mixture with a fork. Let rest, uncovered, for 5 minutes.
  9. Taste and adjust salt and pepper. Garnish with fresh parsley or cilantro if desired. Serve hot.

Notes

For best results, use long-grain white rice (jasmine or basmati). Avoid instant rice. If using brown rice, increase broth to 2 1/2 cups and simmer for 30-35 minutes. For a vegetarian version, substitute plant-based crumbles or black beans and use vegetable broth. Leftovers keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: ground beef, rice, one-pot, skillet, 30-minute dinner, weeknight dinner, lightened-up, comfort food

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