This cheesy Mexican Ground Beef Salsa Rice Skillet is a quick and easy one-pan dinner that takes about 30 minutes. Packed with taco-seasoned ground beef, salsa, rice, beans, corn, and melty cheese, this hearty Mexican beef and rice skillet is perfect for Taco Tuesday and busy weeknights.
For more one-skillet dinner recipes, try One Pot Taco Spaghetti and Mexican Chicken and Rice.
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❤️You're Going to Love This
- Quick & easy. A 30-minute skillet dinner full of flavor.
- One-pan meal. Rice, beef, beans, and cheese all in one skillet.
- Hearty & filling. Savory, cheesy, and satisfying.
- Family-friendly. Mild as is, or spice it up with toppings.
- Meal prep ready. Great for make-ahead lunches and dinners.
One-Pan Ground Beef Salsa Rice Skillet is an easy dinner recipe that's simple, hearty, and gets dinner on the table fast. I love how a handful of simple ingredients and about 30 minutes can make something so cozy, filling, and full of zesty, Mexican flavors. Make it for dinner tonight!
🌶️Ingredients
See recipe card at the bottom of the post for the full list of ingredients and exact amounts.
- Ground beef. You can also use ground turkey or ground chicken.
- Taco seasoning. When I'm not using homemade taco seasoning, I use Spice Islands Taco Seasoning. If using grocery store packets of taco seasoning, you'll need 2 to get ¼ cup.
- Broth. Chicken broth or beef broth will both work well.
- Salsa. Control the spiciness of the dish with mild, medium, or hot salsa.
- White long grain rice. White rice cooks in about 20 minutes, perfect for quick dinners.
- Corn. Use fresh, frozen, or canned corn.
- Cheese. I used shredded Mexican-style cheese. Any melty cheese you enjoy like Monterey Jack, cheddar, or mozzarella cheese will work.
🍗Variations or Substitutions
- Burrito filling. Roll the Mexican ground beef and rice into flour tortillas for fast, easy burritos.
- Chicken. Instead of ground beef, cook diced raw chicken breasts. Or stir in shredded rotisserie chicken or leftover chicken after the rice has cooked.
- Vegetarian. Omit the meat and add extra beans and sauteed veggies like zucchini and red bell peppers.
🥣How to Make Ground Beef Salsa Rice Skillet
Step 1. Brown ground beef and onion. Heat a Dutch oven or deep, large skillet over medium-high. Add ground beef and chopped onion, season with salt and pepper, and cook 6-7 minutes until browned. Drain fat.
Step 2. Add liquids and rice. Stir in taco seasoning, salsa, tomato sauce, and broth. Add uncooked rice, stir, bring to a boil, then cover and simmer.
Step 3. Cook rice. Simmer 15-20 minutes until rice is tender and liquid absorbed. Stir occasionally. Add more broth if needed. Stir in corn and beans.
Step 4. Finish with cheese and toppings. Sprinkle cheese on top, cover, and warm 5-7 minutes until melted. Serve with your favorite taco toppings and tortilla chips for scooping.
👉Helpful Hint: Use a deep skillet or Dutch oven to give the rice room to cook evenly without bubbling over.
✅Top Tips
- Keep the lid on, heat low, and stir occasionally. If the rice is not quite done but the pan looks dry, add a splash of broth.
- Pick a salsa you love -- the flavor really comes through.
- Make it extra cheesy by stirring half the cheese into the rice for gooey bites, then melting the rest on top.
- Spice it up with diced jalapeños, a pinch of cayenne, or hot sauce.
- Make burritos. Roll the Mexican ground beef and rice into flour tortillas for fast, easy burritos.
🎁Storage & Reheating
- Fridge: Store Mexican beef and rice skillet in an airtight container for 3-4 days
- Freezer: Cool completely, then freeze portions for up to 2 months
- Reheat: Warm gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding a splash of broth or water to loosen the rice.
❓FAQs
I haven't tried it, but it should be fine. It will need more cooking time-about 40-45 minutes. Add extra broth as needed.
This Mexican beef and rice skillet recipe has not been tested with instant rice. Instant rice needs much less cook time (about 5 minutes) and with less liquid. If you want to try it, here's what I'd probably do: simmer the ground beef, taco seasoning, salsa, and tomato sauce for 10-15 minutes, then add 1 cup broth and 1 cup instant rice. Let it simmer about 5 minutes until the rice is cooked through.
Yes. Make, cool, then refrigerate in an airtight container for 3-4 days or freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw, then reheat with broth to soften rice.
Cook over low heat with the lid on, stirring occasionally. If the rice isn't fully cooked but liquid is gone, add more broth or water
Heat depends on salsa and taco seasoning choices. Opt for mild versions or add heat with chilies or spices if desired.
😋More Easy One Pot Meals
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📖 Recipe
One Pot Ground Beef Salsa Rice
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- ¼ cup taco seasoning
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups salsa
- 8 ounces tomato sauce
- 1 cup uncooked long grain white rice
- 1 cup corn kernels, frozen, canned, or fresh
- 1 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 ½ cups Mexican blend shredded cheese
Instructions
- Heat a Dutch oven or deep 12" skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and onion and season with salt and pepper. Cook until ground beef is cooked through, 6-7 minutes. Drain excess fat.
- Add the taco seasoning, salsa, tomato sauce, and broth to the pan, and stir to combine. Stir in the rice. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cover.
- Cook for 15-20 minutes until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed. Stir occasionally to keep the rice from sticking to the pan.
- Stir in the corn and black beans. Sprinkle the cheese on top and cover for 5-7 minutes until melted. Serve with chopped tomatoes, fresh cilantro, avocado, green onions, and your favorite toppings.
Notes
- Use a deep skillet or Dutch oven to give the rice room to cook evenly without bubbling over.
- Keep the lid on, heat low, and stir occasionally. If the rice is not quite done but the pan looks dry, add a splash of broth.
- Pick a salsa you love -- the flavor really comes through.
- Make it extra cheesy by stirring half the cheese into the rice for gooey bites, then melting the rest on top.
- Spice it up with diced jalapeños, a pinch of cayenne, or hot sauce.
- Make burritos. Roll the Mexican ground beef and rice into flour tortillas for fast, easy burritos.
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