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This one-pot Spanish Rice with Ground Beef is a family favorite! Packed with seasoned beef, fluffy rice, and melty cheese—perfect for busy weeknights. Quick, easy, and flavorful.
Table of Contents
- The Perfect One-Pot Family Meal
- Ingredients You’ll Need
- How to Make Spanish Rice with Ground Beef
- Spanish Rice vs Mexican Rice
- Tasty Variations & Additions
- Recipe Tips for Success
- Rave Reviews About this Rice
- FAQs About Spanish Rice with Ground Beef
- More Easy Rice Recipes to Try
- Spanish Rice with Ground Beef Recipe
The Perfect One-Pot Family Meal
If you’re anything like me, you love a hearty, delicious dinner that comes together quickly without a pile of dishes to clean afterward. That’s exactly why I adore this Spanish Rice with Ground Beef recipe! It’s not just a meal—it’s a nostalgic dish from my childhood. This was a solid rotation meal when we were growing up, and I’m pretty sure it was slightly different every time because our mom rarely followed a recipe. Somehow, that made it even more special.
It’s packed with flavor, super simple to make, and perfect for busy weeknights. Plus, it’s a hit with the whole family—even the picky eaters! The combination of seasoned ground beef, fluffy rice, savory tomatoes, and melty cheese makes every bite incredibly satisfying. Best of all, it’s a one-pot wonder, meaning less cleanup and more time to relax after dinner. Whether you’re feeding a hungry crowd or just want an easy go-to recipe, this dish never disappoints.
Why You’ll Love This Spanish Rice with Ground Beef
- One-Pot Wonder: Less mess, more flavor.
- Quick & Easy: Ready in under 30 minutes.
- Family Favorite: Hearty, cheesy, and full of bold flavors.
- Versatile: Perfect as a main dish, side, or even as a filling for burritos and tacos.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Ground Beef: I prefer lean ground beef for less grease. Drain any excess fat after browning.
- Onion: Yellow, white, or red—choose your favorite for a flavorful base.
- Long Grain White Rice: Cooks up fluffy and perfect every time.
- Black Beans: Add extra protein and fiber.
- Taco Seasoning: Store-bought or homemade, your choice.
- Chicken Broth: Adds depth and flavor to the rice.
- Diced Tomatoes: Brings a fresh, tangy bite.
- Tomato Sauce: Rich and flavorful, it ties everything together.
- Salt & Pepper: Season to taste.
- Cheese: Cheddar, pepper jack, or Monterrey Jack—melted cheesy goodness is a must!
How to Make Spanish Rice with Ground Beef
- Brown the Beef: In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until browned. Drain any excess grease.
- Add Aromatics: Stir in chopped onions and cook until softened.
- Mix in the Good Stuff: Add rice, black beans, taco seasoning, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and chicken broth. Stir well.
- Simmer: Cover and let it simmer on low heat until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed (about 20 minutes).
- Cheesy Finish: Sprinkle cheese on top, cover, and let it melt.
- Serve & Enjoy: Fluff with a fork, garnish with your favorite toppings, and dig in!
Spanish Rice vs Mexican Rice
Mexican and Spanish rice only have a few differences! Spanish rice is known to be firmer, stronger aroma, and usually is added to dishes that cook for a longer time frame. The seasoning is more of a southwestern style rice.
Mexican rice is softer, has a milder aroma, and is known to be more delicate. Mexican rice is usually made with tomato sauce that gives it that orange coloring. It also uses more saffron or cumin giving it other tints of brown or yellow in the rice. Here is our easy Mexican rice recipe that everyone in our family loves! For more information check out our post on Mastering Mexican Rice – Common Mistakes and Helpful Tips.
Tasty Variations & Additions
- Protein Swap: Try ground turkey, chicken, or even shrimp for a twist.
- Veggie Boost: Add corn, bell peppers, carrots, or peas.
- Spice It Up: Throw in some chili powder, jalapeños, or diced green chiles.
- Southwestern Flair: Top with crushed corn chips, fresh cilantro, avocado slices, sour cream, diced tomatoes, or a squeeze of lime juice.
Recipe Tips for Success
- Don’t pre-cook the rice. It absorbs all the flavorful liquid as it cooks.
- Stir frequently to prevent sticking.
- Adjust the liquid if needed to ensure the rice cooks evenly and doesn’t stick to the pan.
Rave Reviews About this Rice
“The easiest meal to make for a busy night! The whole family devoured it!”
-Suzy
FAQs About Spanish Rice with Ground Beef
Fresh salads, chips with salsa, or warm tortillas.
Yes! Spaghetti sauce can add more flavor and even a bit more spice to this mild rice recipe. It’s all about preference.
Yes! Store the rice dinner in an airtight container in the fridge for 5 to 6 days. Reheat in the microwave for a few minutes at a time or on the stove top at medium high heat until warmed through.
Yes, simply add the rice dinner to an airtight container for 4 to 6 months in the freezer. When ready to reheat, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then reheat in the microwave or stove top.
Nope! Long grain white rice works best as it absorbs flavors without getting mushy.
Yes! This recipe is naturally gluten-free. Just double-check your taco seasoning to make sure it’s gluten-free.
More Easy Rice Recipes to Try
Rice is the perfect side dish to add for any dinner. It is light, fluffy, and so easy to make!
- Restaurant Style Mexican Rice – Fluffy, flavorful rice with tomato sauce and spices.
- Orzo Rice – Creamy, risotto-like rice with orzo pasta.
- Easy Lemon Pesto Rice – Zesty rice with fresh lemon and pesto.
- Caulifower Rice – Light, low-carb sautéed cauliflower “rice.”
- Stick of Butter Rice – Buttery, rich, and savory baked rice.
- Easy Cheesy Rice – Creamy rice loaded with melted cheese.
- Wild Rice – Nutty, earthy grains with a chewy texture.
- Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice – Zesty rice with lime and cilantro.
- Jollof Rice – Spicy, tomato-based West African rice dish.
Spanish Rice with Ground Beef
Video
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 2 cups long-grain rice white
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 14 ounces black beans
- 28 ounces chicken broth
- 10 ounces diced tomatoes with chiles
- 8 ounces tomato sauce
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup cheese shredded
Instructions
- In a large, deep walled skillet, cook onions and beef together over medium-high heat until beef is browned.
- Add rice and taco seasoning, and cook an additional 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly so the rice doesn't stick to the pan.
- Add chicken broth, beans, tomatoes with chiles, and tomato sauce. Stir well to combine. Bring to a boil, cover with lid, and reduce heat to low.
- Lightly simmer for 20 minutes, keeping the lid in place. Remove lid and fluff rice with a fork. Season with salt and pepper.
- Top with cheese, then cover again for another 3-5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve.
Notes
How to Store Spanish Rice Leftovers
- Store the rice dinner in an airtight container in the fridge for 5 to 6 days. Reheat in the microwave for a few minutes at a time or on the stove top at medium high heat until warmed through.
- To freeze, simply add the rice dinner to an air tight container for 4 to 6 months.
Nutrition Information
This Spanish Rice with Ground Beef is about to become your new weeknight hero. It’s comforting, filling, and so easy to customize. It’s been a staple in my family for years, and now I hope it becomes one in yours too. Give it a try, and I promise it’ll be a regular on your dinner rotation! I’d love to hear how it turned out for you—did you add any fun twists or family-favorite ingredients? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts or tips of your delicious creation.
I made it tonight & it was so easy & so yummy. I used a blended Mexican cheese.
Does this freeze well? I am on my own and looking for freezer type meals, getting lazy in my older years, cook once eat 4 times!
Yes! I have put it in the freezer before and it reheats great!
I made this for dinner and my family loved it.
Perfect for a weeknight dinner!
Sounds so good! My family would love this, we are always looking one pot meal ideas
The easiest meal to make for a busy night! The whole family devoured it!
This makes the perfect weeknight family meal!
Thanks for this! I added corn, black beans, and a packet of taco seasoning. My 7-year-old couldn’t get enough!
Great additions! We will have to try that next time. Sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing!
In what size of Instant Pot do we need to use for this recipe?
We just have an 8-quart Instant Pot and I am sure it would work just fine in that. Hope this helps!
Can the rice be minute rice or the long-cooking variety only? Thanks!
For this recipe it is long grain white rice.. NOT instant. HOPe this helps!