Description
A comforting and flavorful Cheesy Queso Ground Beef and Rice recipe combining tender ground beef, savory seasonings, and creamy melted cheese for an easy one-pan meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 cup diced yellow onion
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
Liquids and Grains
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups minute rice
Seasonings and Add-ins
- 10.5 oz Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 cup salsa con queso
- 2 cups shredded nacho cheese
Instructions
- Brown the Beef and Onions: Drop the lean ground beef into a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the diced onions to the skillet and stir well. Continue cooking and crumbling the ground beef until it is fully browned.
- Add Garlic: Add the minced garlic, stir well, and continue cooking for about 2 minutes to release its aroma.
- Add Broth and Rice: Pour in the chicken broth and add the minute rice to the skillet. Gently stir until all of the rice is submerged in the liquid.
- Cook Rice Covered: Bring the liquid to a boil, place a lid on the skillet, and reduce the heat to low. Leave the rice to cook for 5 minutes.
- Stir and Add Seasonings: After 5 minutes, remove the lid and stir well. Add the Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies, salt, pepper, and onion powder to the skillet.
- Simmer Until Liquid Evaporates: Stir well and increase the heat to medium. Continue cooking until no liquid remains at the bottom of the skillet.
- Add Queso and Cheese: Add the salsa con queso to the skillet and stir well. Then add the shredded nacho cheese and stir just until it's melted.
- Serve: Scoop the mixture onto plates, serve warm, and enjoy your cheesy, flavorful dish!
Notes
- Use lean ground beef to reduce excess fat and keep the dish healthy.
- Minute rice cooks quickly but can be substituted with regular rice if preferred; adjust cooking time accordingly.
- Salsa con queso adds creaminess and authentic flavor but can be substituted with a cheese sauce or queso dip if unavailable.
- Rotel tomatoes with green chilies add a slight kick; adjust the amount to suit your spice tolerance.
- For a vegetarian version, substitute ground beef with cooked lentils or plant-based ground meat alternatives.
- Cover the skillet properly while cooking rice to ensure even steaming.
- Stirring after cooking rice helps prevent clumping and ensures flavors are well incorporated.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 750 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
