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Crispy One-Skillet Ground Beef Taco Rice Recipe with Cheddar Crust

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A quick and easy one-skillet recipe featuring ground beef, seasoned rice, and a crispy cheddar cheese crust that delivers bold flavors and comforting textures.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb (450 g) ground beef (80/20 blend)
  • 1 cup (185 g) long-grain white rice, rinsed
  • 1 ½ cups (150 g) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tablespoons (30 g) tomato paste
  • 2 cups (480 ml) beef broth (low-sodium preferred)
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon paprika (smoked if available)
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil or vegetable oil
  • Fresh cilantro, chopped (optional garnish)

Instructions

  1. Prep the ingredients: rinse rice under cold water until clear; finely chop onion and mince garlic; shred cheddar cheese if not pre-shredded.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Cook until no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Drain excess fat if needed.
  3. Add chopped onion and garlic to the beef. Cook until softened and fragrant, about 3 minutes, stirring often.
  4. Stir in tomato paste, chili powder, cumin, and paprika. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
  5. Add rinsed rice and beef broth. Stir to combine, scraping browned bits from skillet bottom. Adjust salt if needed.
  6. Reduce heat to low, cover skillet with lid or foil, and simmer until rice is tender and liquid absorbed, about 18-20 minutes.
  7. Sprinkle shredded cheddar evenly over the rice. Increase heat to medium and cook uncovered for 5-7 minutes until cheese melts and forms a golden, crispy crust. Do not stir.
  8. Remove skillet from heat and let rest for 3 minutes. Garnish with chopped cilantro if desired.

Notes

Rinse rice to remove excess starch for fluffier texture. Use 80/20 ground beef for juiciness. Cook cheese crust on medium heat without stirring to achieve perfect crispiness. If cheese browns too fast, lower heat and cover until rice is done. Leftovers reheat best in a skillet to restore crispiness.

Nutrition

Keywords: taco rice, ground beef, cheddar crust, one skillet, easy dinner, comfort food, quick recipe

Find it online: https://sunnysavory.com/crispy-one-skillet-ground-beef-taco-rice-recipe-with-cheddar-crust-easy-and-delicious/