One Pan Taco Rice Skillet Meal

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One pan taco rice skillet is a quick and easy way to get dinner on the table. It has maximum flavor with minimal dirty dishes!

One pan dinners are among my favorite ways to get supper on the table.  This taco rice version takes very little prep and you are rewarded with a hearty Tex-Mex meal. It’s a great busy night meal and the leftovers are fabulous too.

My one pan BBQ pulled pork rice skillet supper is always popular. It’s a hit at our dinner table and a hit with people who have tried the recipe in their own homes.

Usually I have a fair amount of leftover pulled pork in the freezer, so whipping some up isn’t a problem. This year I seem to be finding myself in a pulled pork shortage.

So I thought I’d create some new spins on that basic idea.  This taco inspired version is one of our new favorites.

It is a simple and economical way to turn a pound of ground beef and some rice into a great family meal. It comes together quickly and will get gobbled up.

Tips, Tricks and Potential Variations to Change Up Your Taco Rice

I like using either an enameled cast iron braiser or a deep nonstick saute pan with lid for this kind of skillet meal. Both hold plenty of volume and clean up easily.  A 12″ cast iron skillet would work as well, but cleanup is a bit more finicky.

I used seeded and ribbed jalapenos for the peppers for flavor. It hardly had any heat, so I wish I hadn’t cleaned them so well. 

If you are worried about the heat, just use a bell pepper or a few smaller sweet peppers instead.

You can sub in your favorite beans if you don’t have or don’t like black beans. Or leave them out altogether if you prefer.

Feel free to stir in some corn if you’d like. It is a fabulous addition, but my husband prefers it without.

Ground turkey or venison would be great substitutions for the ground beef.  Or leftover carnitas or barbacoa would be delicious as well.

Serving Suggestions

I ate mine as is. My husband loaded his in a tortilla with additional jalapenos, tomatoes, cheese and sour cream.

Serve with a small green salad, or on top of a salad!

Serve with avocado black bean salad or roasted salsa and tortilla chips.

Use your favorite taco toppings. We enjoyed fresh tomatoes, sour cream and cilantro.  Guacamole, taco sauce, chives, onions or additional salsa would be great as well.

More Great One Pan Recipes

If you love this recipe, you will also like one pan taco pasta. It is a fun mix of pasta flavors and mac and cheese.

One pan BBQ pulled pork and rice skillet dinner is full of flavor and texture.  It will have everyone coming back for a little more and leave you with very few dishes too.

Creamy chicken and noodles is a great weeknight dinner that is full of flavor and the whole meal is in one dish.

Creamy pasta with Italian sausage and broccoli is another great one pot dinner. It is popular with the whole family.

Did you make this great recipe? Please leave a review in the recipe card below!

One Pan Taco Rice Skillet Meal

Carlee

One pan taco rice skillet is a quick and easy way to get dinner on the table. It has maximum flavor with minimal dirty dishes!

5 from 12 ratings

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Course Dinners

Cuisine American

Servings 8 Servings

Calories 303 kcal

Equipment

• Swiss Diamond 11″ (4.3 Qt) Saute Pan
• Lodge 3.6 Quart Enamel Cast Iron Casserole Dish with Lid 

Ingredients

  

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• 1 pound ground beef or turkey or venison
• 1 small onion diced
• 2 jalapenos seeded and diced (or 1 bell pepper)
• 1 package taco seasoning
• 1 cup rice uncooked
• 1 cup salsa
• 2 cups water
• 14 ounce can black beans drained
• 1 cup cheddar cheese
• Your favorite toppings

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Instructions

 

• In a large skillet with a lid, cook ground beef, onions and peppers over medium heat until the meat is browned and the onions are translucent.
• Add the taco seasoning and rice.  Stir to coat everything with the seasoning and let the rice toast for a minute or two.
• Add the salsa and water, bring to a simmer. Cover and simmer for about 20 minutes. Stir it about 15 minutes in and add additional water if necessary.
• Stir in black beans.
• Sprinkle cheese over the top, cover and let melt for a minute or two.
• Serve with your favorite taco toppings. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 303kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 23gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 66mgSodium: 627mgFiber: 4gSugar: 2g

Tried this recipe?Mention @carleecooks or tag #cookingwcarlee!

Thanks for sharing!