Go Back
cheesy Mexican rice stirred in skillet
Print Recipe
5 from 15

Cheesy Mexican Rice Skillet

This Mexican Rice Skillet is a delicious and easy weeknight meal all in one pan, featuring baked rice, ground beef, cheese, and Mexican flavors.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Total Time50 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Tex Mex
Keyword: Cheesy Mexican Rice, rice skillet recipe
Servings: 5

Ingredients

  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 small sweet onion , diced
  • 15 ounce can diced tomatoes , undrained
  • 10 ounce can Rotel , undrained
  • 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth (or beef broth)
  • 3/4 cup uncooked long grain white rice
  • 2 teaspoons brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon coarse salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
  • fresh chopped cilantro (or parsley)

Instructions

  • In a large ovenproof saute pan (with a lid), cook beef and onion over medium-high, breaking up the beef with a wooden spoon, until browned and no pink remains, about 3-5 minutes.
  • Stir in the diced tomatoes (with their juice), Rotel (with their juice), chicken broth, rice, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, cumin, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil; stir once, then cover tightly. Reduce heat to low and let cook for 30 minutes undisturbed.
  • In the meantime, preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
  • Uncover pan and give the mixture a stir; sprinkle with the cheese. Transfer to the oven and bake for another 10 minutes until cheese is bubbly and melted.
  • Sprinkle cilantro over the top and serve!

Video

Notes

Add some beans. Canned black beans or pinto beans make an easy addition. A 1/3 cup is a good amount without overpowering the dish.
Use Italian diced tomatoes. Swap out the diced tomatoes for Italian diced tomatoes, which is an easy way to add more seasoning.
Rotel - Canned Rotel is a mix of diced tomatoes, green chilies, and spices. Choose from mild, medium, or hot depending on your taste.
Try it with turkey instead of beef. Easily swap the ground beef with ground turkey, if preferred.
Avoid brown rice - Brown rice takes double the amount of time to cook and a lot more liquid and doesn't work well in this dish.

Nutrition

Calories: 331kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 68mg | Sodium: 650mg | Potassium: 743mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 279IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 155mg | Iron: 4mg