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Quick 20-Minute Ground Beef and Rice Skillet

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A simple, one-pot weeknight dinner featuring lean ground beef, long-grain white rice, and savory spices. This meal is ready in under 20 minutes, requires minimal cleanup, and offers comforting flavors perfect for meal prep.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound lean ground beef (90/10 or 93/7)
  • 1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice
  • 1 ½ cups low-sodium beef broth
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
  • 2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
  • ½ cup frozen peas
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Additional water if needed

Instructions

  1. Dice the onion and mince the garlic. Measure out the rice and broth.
  2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and break it up with a wooden spoon. Cook for 6-8 minutes until no longer pink. Drain excess grease if necessary.
  3. Push the beef to the side or remove it temporarily. Add butter to the pan. Once melted, add the diced onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes until soft and translucent.
  4. Add the minced garlic and tomato paste. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly, until the paste darkens slightly.
  5. Return the beef to the pan. Add the uncooked rice and stir to coat in the beef and fat mixture.
  6. Pour in the beef broth. Add paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir well to combine.
  7. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, which should take about 3-4 minutes.
  8. Reduce heat to low. Cover the skillet with a tight-fitting lid and simmer undisturbed for 15 minutes.
  9. Remove the pan from heat but keep it covered for 5 more minutes to allow the rice to finish absorbing moisture.
  10. Stir in the frozen peas. The residual heat will warm them through. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve immediately.

Notes

Do not use instant rice or brown rice as they require different water ratios and cooking times. If the rice is still hard after 15 minutes, add a splash of water and cook for 2 more minutes. For a dairy-free version, substitute butter with olive oil. For a lighter option, swap ground beef for ground turkey.

Nutrition

Keywords: ground beef, rice skillet, quick dinner, weeknight meals, meal prep, one pot meal, easy recipes, comfort food

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