If you’re looking for a delicious yet totally easy dinner recipe, this Mexican Beef and Rice Skillet is the one-pan wonder that will make everyone happy (my whole family gets excited about this!).
Watch the video tutorial to see how easy this is! It’s ready in under 30 minutes and comes together in one skillet—seasoned beef, rice, and a glorious layer of melted cheese. Plus, it reheats beautifully.
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Mexican Beef and Rice Skillet Recipe
My sister Svetlana shared this Mexican Beef and Rice Skillet recipe with me. I told her I was looking for more ground beef recipes (since we have it stockpiled in our freezer), and when she told me how much her family loved this dish, I knew I had to try it—and it was such a hit with my family!
The gooey, bubbly layer of cheese on top seals the deal for everyone. Watching those cheesy, savory scoops of beef and rice come out of the pan is enough to make everyone’s mouth water!
We love Mexican-inspired dinners, from flavorful Fish Tacos to Chicken Tortilla Soup and Pork Carnitas. If you are a fan of Mexican cuisine, this Mexican Beef and Rice Skillet is an absolute must-try!
Mexican Beef and Rice Skillet Video
Watch me make this Mexican Beef and Rice Skillet recipe. You’ll be amazed at how fast you can create a mouthwatering, flavor-packed dinner all in one pan. Hit play and get ready to impress your family tonight!
Ingredients for Mexican Beef and Rice Casserole
This recipe couldn’t be easier to make! Simply season the ground beef, then toss in the rest of the ingredients to simmer together in the skillet. It’s honestly hard to mess this one up.
- Ground beef – The hearty protein base for this recipe. I like to use 80/20. You could also use ground turkey or ground chicken for a leaner option.
- Onion & Garlic – Aromatics that add sweetness and tons of flavor
- Taco seasoning – Infuses authentic flavors and spice to each ingredient.
- Rotel Diced Tomatoes and Green Chilis (Original) – makes the meat mixture so juicy and tender.
- Black beans – Add more protein to the dish. Be sure to rinse and drain canned beans.
- Corn – Adds sweetness, crunch, and color to the skillet.
- Rice – Serves as the filling, comforting base that absorbs all the flavors. Rinse the rice before using.
- Chicken stock – Adds moisture to soften the rice, while adding a rich and savory flavor. Homemade Chicken Broth will always taste best.
- Shredded cheese – Mexican cheese, Colby Jack, or because I always have mozzarella and cheddar on hand, I make my own blend with equal parts of each.
Don’t Love Beans?
My sister mentioned that her children don’t love beans so she leaves them out and instead increases the rice to 1 cup.
How to Make One Skillet Mexican Beef and Rice
I love that this dish is prepared in one skillet. Not only does it make cleanup a breeze, but the flavors meld together, convincing even the pickiest eaters to clean their plates.
- Brown the Ground Beef – In a large skillet over medium heat, heat 1 Tbsp oil and then add the ground beef. Cook, breaking the meat apart with a spatula, until it’s no longer pink, about 3 minutes. If you use a leaner ground beef, you may need to add a bit more oil to the pan.
- Sauté – Add the chopped onion and sauté until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Season – Sprinkle in the taco seasoning and mix well. If you don’t have taco seasoning on hand, try my homemade Taco Seasoning, which I developed with simple spices you likely have on hand.
- Add Rotel, Beans, Corn, and Rice – Pour in the Rotel tomatoes with their juices, along with the drained and rinsed black beans, corn, and rinsed rice, stirring to ensure everything is evenly combined.
Do I Need to Rinse Rice?
Rinsing rice is a good practice to remove excess starch. You’ll also be removing potential dirt, dust, debris, and pesticides. I put my rice in a sieve and rinse under running water until the water runs clear underneath.
- Simmer – Stir in 2 cups of chicken stock and salt, bringing the mixture to a light boil. Lower the heat to a simmer, cover with a tight-fitting lid, and let it simmer on low for 15 minutes or until the rice is cooked. Turn off the heat.
- Melt the Cheese – Remove the lid, sprinkle the cheese on top, cover again, and let it rest for 5 minutes to melt the cheese.
- Garnish with fresh cilantro before serving, or top with your favorite taco toppings (see ideas below for inspiration).
Optional Taco Toppings
- Diced avocado or Guacamole
- Sliced black olives
- Chopped green onion
- Diced bell pepper
- Diced tomatoes or Pico de Gallo
- Homemade Salsa
- Sour cream
- Sliced jalapeños
- Lime wedges
Serve with
You can serve this as a meal or make it the main course with these simple sides:
- Cucumber Avocado Salad
- Mexican Street Corn (Elote)
- Warm Tortillas
- Mexican Chopped Salad
- Avocado Corn Salad
- Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad
Make-Ahead
Since this recipe keeps and reheats well, it’s great for meal prep. My best tips for re-heating are to add a sprinkle of water to keep things moist and add a fresh ingredient, whether that’s some extra cheese or garnish – it can really brighten up leftovers.
- To Refrigerate: Once the cooled, transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for 3-4 days.
- To Reheat: Place a portion on a plate, sprinkle it with water to keep it moist, and microwave in 30-second increments until it’s steamy and hot. To reheat on the stovetop, place a portion in a skillet over medium-low heat, add a splash of water, cover, and heat until steamy hot.
Whether you’re in a hurry or not, I hope you’ll enjoy this flavorful and satisfying Mexican Beef and Rice Skillet. It’s a quick and easy meal that brings everyone to the table for a delicious family dinner.
Mexican Beef and Rice Skillet Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb ground beef, 80/20 or 85/15
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 4 Tbsp taco seasoning
- ½ tsp fine sea salt, or to taste
- 10 oz can Rotel Diced Tomatoes and Green Chilis , (Original)
- 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup corn, rinsed-frozen or canned
- ¾ cup jasmine rice, rinsed and drained
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken stock
- 2 cups Mexican cheese, Colby jack, or equal parts mozzarella and cheddar
Instructions
- Heat 1 Tbsp oil in a large skillet over medium heat, and then add the ground beef. Sauté, breaking it apart with a spatula just until it’s no longer pink, about 3 minutes.
- Add chopped onion and sauté until the onion is softened, another 3-4 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds, until fragrant.
- Add taco seasoning and stir to combine.
- Add Rotel tomatoes with their juices, black beans, corn, and rice. Stir to combine.
- Add 2 cups chicken stock and salt, and bring to a light boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover with a tight-fitting lid and simmer on low for 15 minutes or until the rice is done cooking. Turn off the heat.
- Open the lid, sprinkle on the cheese, then cover and let it rest for 5 minutes until the cheese is melted.
- Garnish with cilantro before serving, or use your favorite taco toppings*.
Notes
- Diced avocado or Guacamole
- Sliced black olives
- Diced fresh tomatoes
- Chopped green onion
- Pico de Gallo or Homemade Salsa
- Sour cream
- Sliced jalapeños
- Lime wedges
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
Hi Natasha,
I was wondering about using Beef broth instead of chicken still ground beef is used. What do you thing? Lona
Hi Lona, Chicken broth is more versatile, it pairs well with a variety of dishes and has a mild and lighter flavor. Beef broth is richer and can overpower the dish so it’s usually preferred in heartier dishes. You can definitely use it here too if you prefer.
The link for homemade salsa does not work.
Hi Judy! Thank you for pointing that out, we’ll get it fixed. Here is the Fresh Homemade Salsa Recipe you’re looking for.
I doubled the beans, corns, and tomato, and added one red and one green bell pepper, as well as carrots. It turned out amazing! And even though I’m not so much of an avocado person, avocado added a great touch of freshness to it! Thanks Natasha for this recipe!! <3
You’re very welcome, Bahar! I’m glad you loved it.
Eating this while I’m typing.
Great easy meal with items I have already so no need to buy ingredients.
Did add extra Cumin and pepper.
I work two jobs and like to prepare meals that don’t take alot of times and eat on at least two days.
This is a keeper
Great recipe! It was simple to put together! I used leftover tomato sauce since I didn’t have diced tomatoes available and it still turned out good. This recipe is a keeper especially for an easy weeknight meal!
I’m so happy you loved this one, Gerry! Thank you for your lovely review.
Second time we have made this. It would be great as a burrito filling as someone else posted. I put a little taco sauce on mine and dipped tortilla chips in it. This is a great weeknight meal!
Hi, did anybody try freezing it ? Maybe before adding cheese, letting it cool and transfer to an air tight container? Thank you
Hi Inna! Yes, it would work for a freezer meal. Cool it completely and store in an airtight container. To thaw, let it sit in the refrigerator overnight, then reheat it in the microwave or on the stove top with a splash or water or broth if needed. The tomatoes may have a weird texture but it shouldn’t change the taste. If you wanted to wait and add the cheese when reheating, that would be fine.
My comment about taco seasoning- recipe calls for 4 tbsp should that be 4 teaspoons?
Hi it’s 4 Tbsp taco seasoning
Just wondering if $ TBSP of taco seasoning is correct. The recipe for your taco seasoning makes 9 tsp which is only 3 TBSP.
Yes it’s 4 Tbsp taco seasoning
The family loves this! It’s so quick and easy to make too. Five stars plus!
I’m so happy you all loved it, Robert!
This was delicious!! Definitely will make again. And again
I’m so happy you loved it, Kim!
This was an easy and amazing dish! I’ve also served this over a bed of chopped Romaine, added tomatoes, avocado, cheese, and sour cream – way better burrito bowl than Chipotle!
That sounds like a lighter and healthier option as a burrito bowl! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
I have made this several times now, and we always use it as burrito filling, it’s awesome! We like it better for filling burritos than your actual burrito recipe, which we have tried too, lol. It’s so flavorful and so filling, even when I don’t have black beans on hand, it’s great without too. I usually don’t have jasmine rice so I just use regular long grain, works great.
Hi Johanna! I’m so glad you’re enjoying it. I’m sure it makes an excellent burrito filler!
We love this dish. It is delicious. Last time I accidently bought the Ro Tel Hot instead of regular. Still delicious and a bit more spicier.
This was so delicous! Very easy to prepare. I used ground turkey instead of beef. Was wondering if farro or quinua could be substituted for the rice?
I’m happy to know that you enjoyed it! Yes, farro and quinoa can be good substitutes for rice but keep in mind that quinoa cook faster than farro. Farro may need more time especially if it was not pre soaked. Make sure to adjust the cooking time if you try it!
Hey N! I am a single person and have made the 1/2 recipe several times. Adjusted cooking time slightly for rice – but MY GOODNESS! So good! EVEN with less beef to begin with… Left-overs for lunches, etc. Wrap in a tortilla “Burrito” style is killer. PLUS we all need more legumes in our lives! – Peter
B – Edmonton, AB
Such a hit! Definitely going to have this on rotation! Love how quick it came together:)
Would it turn out the same if I used uncooked brown rice?
Thank you
Hello! I have not tested that to advise. You might have to adjust the cooking time and liquid if you use uncooked brown rice since it will take longer to cook it.
I made it with brown rice. I added almost a whole additional cup of stock and it took quite a bit longer to cook. I didn’t time it, but probably around 45 minutes. It was delicious!!
Made it with pinto beans instead and it was totally delicious! Thank you for another way
to make a ground beef dinner.
You’re very welcome, Vanessa. Pinto beans are a great choice!
Made this great Mex dish last night. Great flavor and yummy cheese topping. Family approved!! Will definitely make again.