Description
This Mexican Ground Beef Skillet is a hearty, flavorful one-pan meal combining seasoned ground beef, sautéed vegetables, black beans, and quick-cooking rice, all simmered together and topped with melted cheddar cheese. Perfect for an easy weeknight dinner that captures vibrant Mexican-inspired flavors in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Produce
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1/2 medium yellow onion, minced
- 2 large bell peppers, diced
Meat
- 1 lb. 85% ground beef
Pantry
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 tablespoons homemade taco seasoning
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons green chiles
- 15 oz. canned black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup quick-cooking brown rice (quick-cooking white rice works too!)
- 1.5 cups beef broth (any kind)
Dairy
- 1/2 cup Mexican shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Heat Oil and Sauté Vegetables: Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until fragrant. Add the minced garlic, minced onion, and diced bell peppers. Sauté the vegetables for 3-5 minutes until they begin to soften.
- Cook Ground Beef: Push the vegetables to one side of the skillet and add the ground beef to the empty side. Cook the beef for 7-9 minutes, stirring occasionally, until fully browned and cooked through. Then, mix the cooked vegetables and beef together evenly in the pan.
- Add Seasonings and Ingredients: Stir in the homemade taco seasoning, tomato sauce, green chiles, and drained black beans. Cook for a few minutes to allow flavors to meld.
- Add Rice and Broth, Bring to Boil: Add the quick-cooking rice and beef broth to the skillet. Increase heat to medium-high and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Simmer Until Rice is Cooked: Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and cover the skillet with a lid. Let the dish simmer for approximately 20 minutes, or until the rice has softened and most of the broth has been absorbed.
- Melt Cheese Topping: Sprinkle the shredded Mexican cheddar cheese evenly over the skillet. Let the cheese melt naturally in the covered skillet or transfer the skillet to a preheated oven at 400ºF for a few minutes to melt the cheese thoroughly.
- Serve and Enjoy: Serve the Mexican Ground Beef Skillet hot, optionally accompanied by tortilla chips for scooping and added crunch.
Notes
- Quick-cooking rice significantly reduces the overall cooking time and works best for this recipe.
- Homemade taco seasoning can be substituted with store-bought if preferred.
- Leftover skillet can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated on the stovetop or microwave.
- If you prefer a spicier dish, add extra green chiles or a pinch of cayenne pepper.
- To make this dish gluten-free, ensure your taco seasoning and broth are gluten-free certified.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican
