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Cheesy Taco Rice is an easy one pan meal bursting with all the taco flavor you love! It’s a weeknight favorite that the whole family will love with its melty cheese and loaded taco rice – the best part is that dinner can be ready in 30 minutes with this one pan wonder.
Prefer chicken? Then try making my other version of this recipe – Cheesy Chicken Taco Rice.
One Pot Cheesy Taco Rice Recipe
Are you looking for an easy weeknight meal for those busy weeknights after school? Then this cheesy taco rice will be your new favorite thing! Switch up taco Tuesday and make taco rice with this simple recipe that is made in just one skillet pan.
Make it as mild or as spicy as your family prefers, and let everyone top their own taco rice with whatever topping they love. I set out bowls of different taco toppings and let everyone create their own.
The best part is that everything, yes everything, cooks in one skillet pan on the stove top. Dinner is ready in 30 minutes with this cheesy and delicious recipe.
Simple Ingredients Needed
- Olive Oil : I prefer using extra-virign ‘light tasting’ olive oil whenever a recipe calls for it. Regular olive oil can have a really heavy taste to it that my family doesn’t usually like.
- 1 Pound of Ground Beef : You can use percentage fat of ground beef that you prefer; a very lean ground beef (94/6) or something more like 93/7 or 90/10 are all great options. You end up draining the excess grease from the skillet pan anyways, so it probably does not matter much.
- Onion : Use a yellow onion, white onion, sweet onion, or even a red onion. I normally use a yellow onion as it’s the most mild in flavor.
- Garlic Cloves : Use fresh garlic cloves that have been minced or pressed, use chopped garlic from a jar, or garlic paste.
- Taco Seasoning Packet
- Beef Broth : I prefer using the regular, full-salted broth as it has the salt necessary to flavor the dish. However, reduced-sodium broth can be used but you may want to add salt if necessary at the end of the cook time. Chicken broth can be substituted if wanted.
- Rotel : This is a can of diced tomatoes w/ green chilies and it can be somewhat spicy. I always use a mild version of Rotel but you could also use a medium heat or spicy heat level.
- Tomato Paste
- Long Grain White Rice : Do not cook this beforehand. Simply dump the dry, uncooked rice into the skillet pan and it cooks alongside everything else. So easy!
- Shredded Cheese : Use any variety you prefer – Colby Jack, Pepper Jack, Cheddar cheese (mild, medium, or sharp), Monterey Jack cheese, or a blend of Mexican cheeses in a bag.
How To Make Cheesy Taco Rice Skillet (Printable Recipe Card)
In a large skillet pan, over medium-high heat, add the olive oil, ground beef, and onion. Cook and crumble the ground beef until it’s no longer pink and the onions are translucent – about 8-10 minutes. Drain any excess grease from the pan.
Add the garlic and taco seasoning packet into the cooked ground beef and stir everything together. Cook for 30 seconds.
Stir in the beef broth, Rotel, and tomato paste until combined. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, stir in the rice and bring the mixture back to a boil.
Once boiling, cover the skillet pan with a lid and reduce the heat to medium-low or low and cook for 15 minutes.
Evenly sprinkle the shredded cheese over top and cook for another 5 minutes or until the cheese has completely melted.
Serve with your favorite taco toppings such as sour cream, guacamole, pico de Gallo, and chopped fresh cilantro.
How To Store Leftover Cheesy Taco Skillet
Store any leftover taco rice inside an airtight container, in the fridge, for up to 3-4 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave until heated through.
Recipe FAQ’s
Can I Add Beans?
Yes! Adding beans is great way to get more nutrients and protein into the dish. Add a can of pinto beans or black beans, that have been drained and rinsed, along with the broth and rotel. You could also serve a side dish of beans or even refried beans to complete the meal as well.
How Do I Serve Cheesy Taco Rice?
There are several different ways to serve this. I love serving this as one-pan meal topped with some of my family’s favorite toppings! You could either garnish the entire skillet pan with the toppings, or set out bowls of different topping options and let everyone make their own. Some ideas are tortilla chips, shredded lettuce, sliced green onion, picante sauce, salsa, chopped cilantro, sliced jalapeños, sour cream, guacamole, avocado slices or chunks, pico de Gallo, chopped tomatoes, etc.
Can I Make This Spicy?
If you’re a big fan of spice then luckily there are several ways to make this taco rice spicy! Use a packet of hot & spicy taco seasoning, add a can of chopped jalapeños or chopped green chiles in with the other ingredient in the skillet pan, use Pepper Jack cheese, add some extra spices such as chili powder or red cayenne pepper. Also, make sure you use a can of hot or medium spice Rotel.
What Can I Use Besides Ground Beef?
Feel free to replace the ground beef with ground turkey or even grouch chicken.
Can I Use Minute Rice/Instant Rice or Brown Rice?
No, I do not suggest using minute rice or brown rice in this recipe. The cook time and technique is much different for both minute rice and brown rice, so they won’t cook in the time given in the recipe below. Brown rice requires much more water/broth and more time, while minute rice has a much different cooking method such as using boiling water and letting the rice cook in it.
More One-Pot Meals Your Family Will Love
- One Pot Queso Chicken and Rice
- Skillet Lasagna
- One Pot Mac and Cheese
- One Pot Taco Pasta
- One Pot Homemade Hamburger Helper
- One Pot Chicken and Noodles
- Chicken Burrito Skillet
- Easy Beef Teriyaki Skillet
Cheesy Taco Rice
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef (I use 93/7)
- 1 small yellow onion finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 2¼ cups beef broth
- 1 can (10 oz) Rotel
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1½ cups long grain white rice (dry, uncooked)
- 2 cups shredded cheese (any variety)
Instructions
- In a large skillet pan, over medium-high heat, add the olive oil, ground beef, and onion. Cook and crumble the ground beef until it's no longer pink and the onions are translucent – about 8-10 minutes. Drain any excess grease from the pan.1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 pound ground beef, 1 small yellow onion
- Add the garlic and taco seasoning packet into the cooked ground beef and stir everything together. Cook for 30 seconds.2 cloves garlic, 1 packet taco seasoning
- Stir in the beef broth, Rotel, and tomato paste until combined. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, stir in the rice and bring the mixture back to a boil.2¼ cups beef broth, 1 can (10 oz) Rotel, 2 tablespoons tomato paste, 1½ cups long grain white rice
- Once boiling, cover the skillet pan with a lid and reduce the heat to medium-low or low and cook for 15 minutes.
- Evenly sprinkle the shredded cheese over top and cook for another 5 minutes or until the cheese has completely melted.2 cups shredded cheese
- Serve with your favorite taco toppings such as sour cream, guacamole, pico de Gallo, and chopped fresh cilantro.
Notes
Nutrition
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