Cheesy One Pot Taco Rice Skillet (Easy Weeknight Dinner)

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Tired of trying to figure out what’s for dinner every night? This cheesy one pot taco rice skillet is an easy, family-friendly meal that comes together in one pan with less mess and fewer dishes to wash!

If you need a quick and easy weeknight dinner that’s filling, delicious, and doesn’t leave you with a sink full of dishes, this cheesy taco rice skillet is a good one to keep in your dinner rotation!

Everything cooks together in one pan, including the seasoned ground beef, rice, black beans, corn, and Rotel. Top it with plenty of melted cheese, and dinner is done.

It’s one of those easy meals that works for busy nights when you don’t feel like spending forever in the kitchen.

Ingredients You’ll Need

You only need a handful of ingredients to make this taco rice skillet, and most are things you may already have in your pantry or fridge.

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 medium bell pepper, diced
• 1 small jalapeño, diced
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 taco seasoning packet
• 1–2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1–2 teaspoons onion powder
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 cup uncooked regular long-grain white rice
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 can whole kernel corn, drained
• 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can Rotel (diced tomatoes with green chilies)
• 1–2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Kitchen Tools That Make This Recipe Easier

One of my favorite things about one pot meals is having fewer dishes to wash! You don’t need anything fancy to make this taco rice skillet, but a few basic kitchen tools can make dinner prep even easier.

• Large Skillet with Lid: A deep skillet with a lid works best for this recipe since everything cooks together in one pan. Make sure it’s large enough to hold the ground beef, rice, veggies, and broth without overflowing.
• Ground Beef Meat Chopper: This handy kitchen tool makes breaking up ground beef while cooking so much easier. It’s great for tacos, casseroles, and other quick weeknight dinners.
• Vegetable Chopper: If you’re not a fan of chopping onions and peppers, a vegetable chopper can save time on prep work.

These are simple kitchen tools that come in handy for all kinds of easy family dinners.

How to Make Cheesy Taco Rice Skillet

1. Brown the ground beef. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until browned. Drain excess grease if needed.
2. Cook the vegetables. Add the diced onion, bell pepper, and jalapeño. Cook for 4–5 minutes until softened. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.
3. Add the seasonings. Stir in the garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
4. Combine everything. Add the taco seasoning, uncooked regular long-grain white rice, beef broth, corn, black beans, and Rotel. Stir until everything is combined.
5. Let it simmer. Bring the mixture to a light boil, reduce the heat to low, and cover. Simmer for 18–20 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the liquid has been absorbed. If needed, add a splash of broth and cook a little longer.
6. Add the cheese. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the top. Cover for a few minutes until the cheese melts.
7. Serve and enjoy! Spoon it straight from the skillet and add your favorite taco toppings if you’d like.

Tips for the Best Taco Rice Skillet

• Adjust the heat. Leave out the jalapeño for a milder dinner, or add a little extra if your family likes things spicy.
• Use freshly shredded cheese. It melts nicely and gives the skillet a creamy, cheesy finish.
• Switch up the protein. Ground turkey or chicken can work in place of ground beef.
• Check the rice. If the rice needs a little more cooking time, add a splash of broth, cover, and continue simmering until tender.
• Make it your own. Top individual servings with sour cream, avocado, green onions, or whatever you normally put on tacos.

What to Serve with Taco Rice Skillet

This is a pretty filling dinner on its own, but you can always add a few extras!

Serve it with tortilla chips, warm flour tortillas, a simple side salad, or a few lime wedges. You can also spoon the leftovers into tortillas for easy burritos or pack individual servings for lunch the next day.

Save this cheesy taco rice skillet to Pinterest so you can find it the next time you need a quick weeknight dinner! You’ll find the printable recipe card below with all the ingredients and step-by-step instructions.

One Pot Taco Rice Skillet

This one pot taco rice skillet is packed with bold flavor, hearty ingredients, and melty cheese in every bite. It’s a quick, easy dinner made in one pan that your whole family will ask for again and again.

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Course Dinner Ideas

Cuisine American

Ingredients

  

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 medium onion diced
• 1 medium bell pepper diced
• 1 small jalapeño diced
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 taco seasoning packet
• 1 –2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 –2 teaspoons onion powder
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 cup rice
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 can whole kernel corn drained
• 1 can black beans drained and rinsed
• 1 can Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies
• 1 –2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

 

• In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until browned. Drain excess grease if needed.
• Add diced onion, bell pepper, and jalapeño. Cook for 4–5 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
• Add garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
• Stir in the taco seasoning, uncooked rice, beef broth, corn, black beans, and Rotel. Mix everything together.
• Bring to a light boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 18–20 minutes, or until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
• Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the top. Cover for a few minutes until melted.
• Serve warm straight from the skillet for an easy, no-fuss dinner.

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