Cheesy Beef and Rice Skillet

Name: Cheesy Beef and Rice Skillet
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 lb ground beef; 1 yellow onion, diced; 2 tbsp taco seasoning; 1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice; 1 tbsp minced garlic; 1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce; 2 cups beef broth; 1 cup queso cheese sauce, or to taste; Fresh cilantro, for garnish; Sour cream, for serving; Pico de gallo, for serving; Tortilla chips, for serving; Flour tortillas, for serving

This one-pan cheesy beef and rice skillet combines ground beef, long-grain rice, and savory broth into a complete meal finished with creamy queso—ready in 30 minutes with minimal cleanup.

🌍American 🏷️Cheesy beef and rice 🏷️Ground beef 🏷️One-pan meal 🏷️Skillet dinner Weeknight dinner

🏷️

🏷️30-minute meal

-0:00

cookinginthemidwestonTikTok

Total

30 min

Servings

4

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$25–$41

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok · by cookinginthemidwest

-0:00

cookinginthemidwestonTikTok

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef
1 yellow onion, diced
2 tbsp taco seasoning
1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice
1 tbsp minced garlic
1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
2 cups beef broth
1 cup queso cheese sauce, or to taste
Fresh cilantro, for garnishoptional
Sour cream, for servingoptional
Pico de gallo, for servingoptional
Tortilla chips, for servingoptional
Flour tortillas, for servingoptional

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Instructions

1
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef and diced onion until the beef is browned and the onion has softened.
2
Stir in the taco seasoning and cook for one minute more.
3
Add the uncooked rice and stir to coat, toasting for about a minute.
4
Stir in the minced garlic, tomato sauce, and beef broth.
5
Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for about 20 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed.
6
Remove from heat and drizzle the warm queso over the top.
7
Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve with optional toppings like sour cream and sides like pico de gallo, tortilla chips, and tortillas.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Brown the ground beef thoroughly before adding rice to develop deeper flavor and prevent clumping.
Do not stir the rice once you add the broth; let it simmer undisturbed so it absorbs liquid evenly and achieves the right texture.
Drizzle queso over the finished skillet just before serving; if added too early, it can separate or become grainy from the heat.

Substitutions

Ground beef → ground turkey or Italian sausage (cooking time remains the same)
Beef broth → chicken broth (flavor will be milder; add 1 tsp cumin for depth)
Tomato sauce → salsa (reduces to 0.5 cup; skip extra seasoning to avoid over-salting)
Long-grain white rice → jasmine or basmati rice (use same ratio and cooking time)

Storage & make-ahead

Store covered in the refrigerator up to 3 days. Reheat on the stovetop over medium heat with a splash of broth until warmed through; add fresh queso when serving to restore creaminess.

Common Questions

Can I use brown rice instead of white rice?

Brown rice requires longer cooking (45–50 minutes). Increase broth to 2.5 cups and add it at the start so the rice has time to fully soften.

What if I don't have queso cheese sauce?

Shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack works; melt it in as the skillet finishes cooking. You may need to add a splash of milk to reach a pourable consistency.

Can I make this ahead of time?

Prepare through the simmering step, cool, and refrigerate up to 3 days. Reheat on the stovetop with a splash of broth; add queso just before serving for best texture.