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Easy One-Pan Cheesy Ground Beef Skillet – Lighter Comfort Meal

one-pan cheesy ground beef skillet - featured image
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A quick and easy one-pan dinner featuring lean ground beef, tender rice, and melted cheese. Perfect for busy weeknights, this lighter comfort meal comes together in about 30 minutes with simple ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound lean ground beef (90/10)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 medium green bell pepper, diced
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 cup long-grain white rice, uncooked
  • 1 cup low-sodium beef broth
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • Optional: fresh parsley or green onions for garnish

Instructions

  1. Prep your ingredients (5 minutes): Dice the onion and bell pepper into small, uniform pieces. Mince the garlic cloves. Measure out the rice, broth, and spices. Shred the cheeses if you’re doing it yourself.
  2. Brown the ground beef (6-8 minutes): Heat the olive oil in your large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and break it apart with your wooden spoon. Cook until browned, about 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally. If using 80/20 beef, drain excess fat. For lean 90/10 beef, skip draining.
  3. Sauté the aromatics (3-4 minutes): Add the diced onion and bell pepper to the skillet with the beef. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the vegetables start to soften. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Add the liquids and rice (2 minutes): Pour in the undrained diced tomatoes and beef broth. Stir in the uncooked rice, smoked paprika, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Scrape the bottom of the skillet to release any browned bits.
  5. Bring to a simmer (2-3 minutes): Increase the heat to high and bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Once bubbling, reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet with a tight-fitting lid, and let it simmer for 18 minutes. Do not lift the lid during cooking.
  6. Check the rice (18-minute mark): After 18 minutes, remove the lid carefully. The rice should be tender and most of the liquid absorbed. If rice is still firm or there’s excess liquid, cover and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
  7. Add the cheese (2 minutes): Once the rice is perfectly cooked, remove the skillet from the heat. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar and mozzarella evenly over the top. Cover the skillet again and let it sit for 2 minutes to melt the cheese.
  8. Garnish and serve (1 minute): Remove the lid. Sprinkle with fresh parsley or sliced green onions if using. Serve directly from the skillet.

Notes

For best results, shred your own cheese as pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents that affect melting. If rice is still crunchy after 20 minutes, add 1/4 cup of broth or water, cover, and cook for another 5 minutes. Let the dish rest for 2 minutes after adding cheese for optimal texture.

Nutrition

Keywords: one-pan meal, ground beef skillet, cheesy skillet, weeknight dinner, comfort food, easy dinner, 30-minute meal

Find it online: https://morselora.com/easy-one-pan-cheesy-ground-beef-skillet-lighter-comfort-meal/