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Easy Cheesy Beef and Rice Skillet Recipe with Hidden Veggies Made Perfect

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A quick and comforting one-pan meal combining seasoned ground beef, tender rice, melted cheese, and finely chopped hidden vegetables for a nutritious family-friendly dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb ground beef (80/20 preferred)
  • 1 cup white or brown rice (190 g)
  • 1 medium carrot, finely diced
  • 1 medium bell pepper, finely diced (red or orange preferred)
  • 1 small zucchini, finely diced
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste (30 g)
  • 2 cups beef broth or water (480 ml)
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (100 g)
  • 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (50 g)
  • 1 tbsp olive oil (15 ml)
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 tsp dried oregano or Italian seasoning

Instructions

  1. Prep the veggies: finely dice carrot, bell pepper, zucchini, and onion; mince garlic (about 10 minutes).
  2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking apart, until browned and no longer pink (8-10 minutes). Drain excess fat if needed.
  3. Add diced onion, carrot, bell pepper, and zucchini to the beef. Cook, stirring occasionally, until veggies soften and onions turn translucent. Add garlic in the last minute to avoid burning (about 5 minutes).
  4. Stir in tomato paste, dried oregano or Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook for 2 minutes to deepen flavors.
  5. Add rice to the skillet and stir to coat grains in the mixture. Pour in beef broth or water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover with a lid, and simmer gently for 18-20 minutes or until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed. Avoid lifting the lid during cooking.
  6. Remove skillet from heat. Sprinkle cheddar and mozzarella cheese evenly over the top. Cover again and let cheese melt for 5 minutes.
  7. Fluff gently with a fork before serving. Adjust seasoning if needed.

Notes

Use a tight-fitting lid to trap steam for perfectly cooked rice. Avoid stirring rice while simmering to prevent gumminess. Finely dice veggies to blend them into the dish without changing texture. Drain excess fat after browning beef to avoid greasiness. Cheese choice affects melt quality; avoid pre-shredded cheese with anti-caking agents.

Nutrition

Keywords: beef skillet, cheesy beef and rice, hidden veggies, quick dinner, family-friendly, one-pan meal, easy recipe

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