Quick & Easy Ground Beef and Rice Skillet
This cowboy skillet is hearty comfort food loaded with juicy ground beef, tender rice, just the right amount of spiciness that keeps you going back for bite after bite. The word Cowboy is in the recipe title because I used a jar of Cowboy Caviar from Trader Joe’s which is essentially a corn and black bean-based salsa with red peppers. If you don’t have a TJ’s in your area, look for a corn and bean-based salsa and use that instead. The recipe is easy, ready in 15 minutes, and naturally gluten-free.
Ingredients in the Ground Beef and Rice Skillet
There are only 5 main ingredients in the recipe, which keeps it super simple. I made this recipe a while back when we all had very limited grocery options and that’s how this recipe was born. What do I have, what can I do with what I have, ah-hah, this! To make this quick rice and hamburger recipe, you’ll need:
OnionGround beef (ground pork sausage is a great substitute, I tried it with hot pork sausage and we loved the extra kick)Red bell pepperCooked rice (use one packet of Uncle Ben’s Ready Rice to save time; the link is to Jasmine but I used Original)Cowboy caviar (or look for a thick and chunky corn and bean-based salsa)
How to Make the Beef and Rice Skillet
This is as easy as it gets for weeknight cooking. Here’s an overview of how the Tex-Mex ground beef and rice dish comes together:
Substitution Ideas
This recipe is ripe for substitutions and is super flexible. Here are some ideas:
I used a sweet Vidalia onion, but white or yellow are fineUse ground pork sausage, ground chicken, or ground turkey in place of the ground beefUse another color of bell pepper
Use whatever kind of rice you prefer such as brown, wild rice, or even cauliflower riceUse your favorite kind of salsa. A salsa verde would be great if you pair it with ground chicken or turkey. Or try a pineapple salsa or other fruity salsa with ground pork. Bulk up the veggie quotient by adding extra corn, beans, frozen peans, shelled edamame, zucchini, mushrooms, or whatever you have on hand and enjoy
Make-Ahead Instructions
As written, the recipe comes together in about 15 minutes. However, if you’re crunched on time or simply like to meal prep as much as possible, here are some make-ahead suggestions:
Ground beef: Can be browned, allowed to cool, and then stored in the fridge for up to 4 days. Veggies: Chop the bell pepper, garlic, and onion and store in the fridge for up to 5 days. Rice: I used pre-made rice packets to save time, but you may cook your favorite kind of rice and store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
When you’re ready to eat the rice and hamburger skillet, throw everything into a skillet and heat it up!
What to Serve with the Skillet
I keep our dinners basic most nights (ironic since I’m a food blogger, I know!). The skillet recipe is a full meal in itself to me, but if you’d like to serve a side dish with it I suggest the following:
Mexican Wedge SaladHomemade Tortilla ChipsBlack Bean, Corn & Avocado SaladMexican Bean SaladRainbow Roasted VegetablesTropical Fruit Salad
More Hamburger and Rice Recipes:
One-Pot Cheesy Mexican Ground Beef and Rice — All your favorite burrito ingredients minus the wrap!! Made in one skillet, ready in 30 minutes, and so EASY! Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes! Loaded Smothered Beef Burritos Recipe — Mexican comfort food that’s loaded with seasoned ground beef, refried beans, rice, and smothered with sauce and CHEESE!! Slow Cooker Cabbage Roll Soup — This Crockpot cabbage roll soup is chock full of bacon, ground beef, green cabbage, rice, carrots, fire roasted tomatoes, and more! Perfect for chilly weather, busy weeknights, and the leftovers freeze great! 30-Minute Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls — An EASY recipe for unstuffed cabbage rolls that’s FAST and full of FLAVOR!! Tastes like the real thing, minus the work! Hearty comfort food that’s perfect for busy weeknights!!
