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Kid-Approved Ground Beef and Rice Skillet Dinner

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A quick and easy one-skillet dinner featuring savory ground beef, fluffy rice, and a light flavorful sauce. This crowd-pleasing meal comes together in about 30 minutes using simple pantry ingredients and is perfect for busy weeknights.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb (450g) ground beef (80/20 recommended)
  • 1 cup (200g) long-grain white rice
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 cups (480ml) low-sodium beef broth
  • 14.5 oz (400g) canned diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 2 tablespoons (30g) tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon (15ml) Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 cup (150g) frozen peas
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned all over (5-7 minutes). Leave about 1 tablespoon of fat in the pan.
  2. Reduce heat to medium. Add diced onion and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Add uncooked rice to the skillet. Stir for 1-2 minutes until the rice is slightly toasted and looks opaque.
  4. Pour in beef broth, undrained diced tomatoes, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, oregano, and smoked paprika. Stir, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Bring to a boil.
  5. Reduce heat to low, cover with a tight-fitting lid, and simmer gently for 18-20 minutes. Do not lift the lid during this time.
  6. After 18 minutes, remove lid. Rice should be tender and most liquid absorbed. If rice is still firm, add a splash of broth or water, cover, and cook 2-3 more minutes. If too wet, leave lid off and cook 1-2 minutes.
  7. Stir in frozen peas. Cover and let sit off heat for 2 minutes to warm through.
  8. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve hot.

Notes

Toast the rice in the beef fat and aromatics before adding liquid for a nutty flavor and fluffy texture. Don’t lift the lid during simmering to ensure even cooking. Let the skillet rest after adding peas for flavors to meld. For meal prep, reheat with a splash of water or broth.

Nutrition

Keywords: ground beef, rice, skillet dinner, one-pot meal, quick dinner, family dinner, weeknight meal, comfort food

Find it online: https://lolaspoon.com/kid-approved-ground-beef-and-rice-skillet-dinner/