One Pan Taco Rice Dinner recipe is a whole meal in one. Ground beef, taco seasoning, salsa, rice and cheese. A family favorite meal!
ONE-PAN TACO RICE DINNER RECIPE
If there is one item I always tell new cooks to keep in their pantry - is rice. Especially quick-cooking rice like Minute Rice. It can be pulled out and added or mixed with so many other meals and it's doggone easy to get creative with. It beefs up meal time to make it more filling and you can add just about any flavor to it. Note: brown rice is totally acceptable in this recipe.
WHAT DO I SERVE WITH THIS RECIPE?
I love my MOM'S SPANISH RICE, so I figured, why not a taco version? And let me tell you, this turned out crazy good! It also made for awesome leftovers. I topped it with lettuce and tomato and later added a dollop of sour cream but that's not necessary to make this taste outstanding. This would make a great filling for burritos too and it can be made meatless! You could also substitute with ground pork or turkey if you prefer. Or serve it as a side to my favorite LAYERED TACO BAKE or MEXICAN LASAGNA!
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)
- ground beef
- taco seasoning
- water
- Minute Rice
- salsa
- shredded cheddar cheese
HOW TO MAKE TACO RICE:
In a large skillet, brown and crumble ground beef. Drain excess grease.
Add in taco seasoning and water.
Stir well and allow mixture to come to a boil.
Turn down heat, then add in uncooked Minute Rice and stir.
Cover and cook for about 5 minutes (until rice is tender.)
Then remove lid and stir in salsa and cheese.
Turn off heat and it's ready to serve.
This meal can be served as-is or you can top with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes and even sour cream!
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THE BEST EASY STOVETOP DINNER RECIPES
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SALSA CHICKEN DIP
STUFFED PEPPER CASSEROLE
HOMEMADE PICO DE GALLO
EASY TACO MAC & CHEESE
THE BEST EASY STOVETOP DINNER RECIPES
HOMEMADE TACO SEASONING
EASY SKILLET REFRIED BEAN DIP
THE BEST 7-LAYER DIP
CROCK POT WHITE QUESO DIP
SALSA CHICKEN DIP
STUFFED PEPPER CASSEROLE
HOMEMADE PICO DE GALLO
ONE-PAN TACO RICE DINNER
One Pan Taco Rice Dinner recipe is a whole meal in one. Ground beef, taco seasonings, salsa, rice and cheese. A family favorite meal!
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Servings: 4
Calories: 585kcal
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 2 cups water
- 2 cups Minute Rice uncooked
- 1 cup salsa
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- In a large skillet, brown and crumble ground beef.
- Drain excess grease.
- Add in taco seasoning and water.
- Stir well and allow mixture to come to a boil.
- Turn down heat, then add in uncooked Minute Rice and stir.
- Cover and cook for about 5 minutes (until rice is tender.)
- Then remove lid and stir in salsa and cheese.
- Turn off the heat and it's ready to serve!
Video
Notes
Serve with diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce and sour cream.
Nutrition
Calories: 585kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 110mg | Sodium: 740mg | Potassium: 531mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 620IU | Vitamin C: 1.2mg | Calcium: 257mg | Iron: 5.4mg
Nutritional Disclaimer
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Originally published: November 2015
Updated & republished: June 2019
SanDan
Beautiful quick meal.
Lainey Clayton Mayes
Delicious my partner was very happy thanks for sharing
Linda Fisk
Delicious!!
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Yay!! So happy it turned out good for you! Thanks Linda!
Linda Fisk
During the quarantine, the rice shelf was pretty cleaned out. I have regular rice. I'm going to use 1 cup with 2 cups of water and cook it for the required time on the package. I'll let you know how it turned out.
.
Earnestine Jackson
My husband really enjoyed it. Next time I think I will use cut-up boneless chicken instead of gd. beef.
Sharon S
Love it, I Make and use it as a filling for soft tacos or burritos also.
Kathy W
Easy, fast and delicious. I add onion, garlic, green pepper, a can of fire-roasted tomatoes and half a bag of frozen corn. My husband loves it.
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Love it Kathy!! Thanks so much!
Jamille
Can I substitute the minute rice for precooked rice? I have some leftover white rice to use up, if so should I reduce or omit the water all together?
Carol Madden
I just made this recipe. I'm a big fan of easy-to-make recipes. I added one chopped to ground beef. I added water before adding taco seasoning so it would mix together easier. I love this recipe. Thanks so much for sharing.
Peggy
I love rice and this recipe looks so easy and delicious! I have ground beef in the fridge and Minute Rice in the pantry ... think I'll try this tonight!
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Yay!! Love when a meal can be made with what you already have on hand in the pantry! Hope you love it!
Peggy
I DID make this dish tonight and it was delicious and so easy! Because I live alone, I split the recipe ... only used half of each ingredient. Served it with shredded lettuce and tortilla chips. I will certainly make this again when I have company .. everyone will love it!
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Thanks so much Peggy!! I love hearing that!!
ellen west
This is soooo good & easy to make! I've also put it in a tortilla.
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Love hearing that Ellen - thanks so much!
Darlene
Would this work to substitute Quinoa for the rice? I can't eat much rice, but love quinoa.I wonder how the liquid amount would need to be changed.
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Hi Darlene - I enjoy quinoa but I've actually never cooked it for myself. So I am honestly not sure. Perhaps someone on here who is more familiar with cooking with quinoa can help us out! 🙂
Michelle
This was so good!
Laura
Just made this tonight. My whole family loved it: I added mushrooms, onions and corn. Will be having leftovers with tortilla chips tomorrow!
Rosie
Made this a few times. My whole family loved it! Can this recipie be frozen?
Kelly
Made this the other night and I'm wondering why I never made it before?! So simple and quick yet so good! For sure my new go to when I need a quick meal! Thank you!
Brandie @ The Country Cook
The pictures don’t do it justice - ha! It really is one of my favorites. So happy you loved it too!! 🙂
Sarah
My family and I love this recipe! It's so easy and I generally have the ingredients on hand. I prefer it just as is, my son eats it with tortilla chips, and my daughter likes hers in a soft tortilla shell. We usually have a bit leftover and they reheat just fine.
Brandie @ The Country Cook
You are so sweet Sarah! Thank you so much!!
Catherine Voci
Sounds so good . I'm diabetic so I'm going to make it with cauliflower rice to cut the carbs.
DerbyQueen
You can absolutely use regular rice in this recipe...either cold, left over rice or follow rice prep instructions on pkg. and increase the cooking time to 15 minutes, covered on low. This is how I make my stuffed bell pepper filling. I just use different seasonings & cold leftover long grain rice.
I'll make this next week but will add a can of rinsed black beans, chopped onions & bell peppers to the ground beef and serve in tortilla bowls with cheese, chopped tomatoes & sliced green onion for an at home fancy (& economical) restaurant style main course casserole/salad treat!
My mom used Minute Maid instant rice in the 1970's when it & Hamburger Helper first came out. But I remember the instant rice having a mushy texture & therefore I have never purchased it myself. I love rice & always have a large jar of long grain, jasmine rice & brown rice. Maybe they've improved the texture of minute rice. I still probably wouldn't buy it because adding raw or cold cooked rice to a recipe is no big deal. Thank you for sharing your quick, filling casserole type main dish.
Warren
Made this yesterday and it was great!!
Deidre
This recipe is quick and delicious, I've made it 4 times now. Thank you for sharing
Aloma Cronberg
Very picky husband loved this, and so do I!
Barbara Yearsley
Going to try this tomorrow.
Brandie (The Country Cook)
I sure do hope you enjoy!
Michelle
My mom used to make this recipe when I was growing up. I Always loved it. She would put it on a bed of crushed up corn chips and put the lettuce and tomato on top. I believe she got the recipe right off of the Minute rice box back in the day. Thanks for sharing so I can make it for my family.
Brandie (The Country Cook)
LOVE that idea of the corn chips and lettuce and tomato! Hope your family loves it.
Brandie (The Country Cook)
Thank you, this has been a hit since I first shared it. So glad you are enjoying it as much as we have.
Anonymous
When I saw this recipe the first time I tried it out immediately. And it was a hit. I still make it this exact way but I do sometimes add bell pepper and rinsed black beans. I cook the bell pepper with the mear or cook it separately, whichever is fine. I add the beans with the Salsa they only need to warm. This is a great dish to take to a pot luck dinner and the extras only add to the amount tou take to the dinner. There is never any left.
Brandie (The Country Cook)
Bonnie-absolutely you can add black beans to this recipe.
Bonnie S
Was wondering if I could add black beans to this?? Thoughts?
Brandie (The Country Cook)
So glad hubby approved! Who doesn't love a one pot wonder? Less dishes to wash and all bellies are full and happy!
Anonymous
My husband LOVED this!! It was delicious and I like that I can have everything on hand for a hurry-up dinner..
moonglitter
I made this tonight and it ROCKS!!! Thank you for posting this recipe!! 😀
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Lora, just prepare your rice as normal and then you will add it to the prepared taco meat. The only water you'll use is the water needed for the taco seasoning (just use the amount it says on the back of the package.) Hope that helps!
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Libra girl, It is not spicy hot at all. If you purchase a very mild salsa like I did - it does not come out spicy. However, you could just leave it out all together. I am very sensitive to hot foods because of my acid reflux so I totally understand that!
Haley Ahrens
What a great weeknight meal! I agree. Rice is a pantry staple must! I have a huge bag from SAMS club and love having it there whenever I need a quick starch. Love this recipe!
libragirl
This looks really good. I wonder if I could skip the salsa? My family doesn't like spicy stuff. Thanks for the recipe!
Lora Cotton
Libragirl,
I'm DEF not the cook that Brandie is, but I'd suggest MILD taco sauce in place of the salsa. My husband cannot have tomatoes due to health reasons, but CAN tolorate tomato based sauces in moderation, so I've begun sub'ing in taco sauce in all my recipes that call for salsa. You might want to cut back just a bit on the amount you use so you don't end up with something that is far soupier than intended.
Lora Cotton
Brandie this sounds delish, but I don't buy minute rice due to husband's medical issues. How would you suggest making this with regular rice???
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Thank you Mary! Great to hear from you! See you soon!!
Miosotty
Hi can I use regular rice vs the minute rice? Any different direction if any? Thank you ????
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Hi Miosotty, I have never tried it with regular, long-grain rice. I'm sorry! I'm sure it will need more liquid, I'm just not sure exactly how much. I'm sorry I'm not more help!
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Sheree that was so sweet, thank you!! Hope you love it!
Mary // chattavore
This sounds delicious and so simple. Thanks for the recipe, Brandie!
Sheree Peterson
Another great recipe to try tonight. Thanks for all the great recipes you share!