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This cheesy taco rice recipe is the ultimate one-pot meal. It’s loaded with seasoned ground beef, fluffy rice, and finished with a layer of gooey, melted cheese. It’s ready in 30 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights, and meal preps like a dream.
Ok, we love a simple recipe. I’m talking one pot, easy cleanup, minimal ingredients – the works. And this one pot taco rice delivers every single time!! Think taco Tuesday… but make it low effort and all in one pan. Everything cooks together so that rice soaks up every bit of flavor.
Easy Taco Rice 🌮
You’re not just throwing taco meat over plain rice – no ma’am. This is full-on flavor in every single bite.
And once that cheese melts down into the rice? Whew. Babyyyy.
I like to serve it with a little hot sauce or mango habanero salsa with some tortilla chips and omg. YUM. It’s kind of dinner you make once and suddenly it’s in your weekly rotation without even trying.
👉 For more easy one pot meals, make my Cajun dirty rice, Mexican spaghetti, and Mexican chicken and rice skillet!
Why This Is the Best Taco Rice Recipe
- Everything cooks in one pot for maximum flavor! Cooking the rice directly in the seasoned beef mixture allows it to soak up all of those bold taco flavors while it cooks. You’re not just topping plain rice with taco meat, every bite is seasoned from start to finish.
- My little secret ingredient? Tomato paste! A lot of taco rice recipes skip this step, but adding/cooking the tomato paste with the beef and spices helps deepen the flavor and gives the dish a richer, more savory taste.
- The rice stays fluffy, not mushy! Letting the rice toast for a couple minutes before adding the broth helps keep the texture fluffy and prevents it from turning gummy as it cooks.
Key Ingredients and Substitutions
(full list of ingredients can be found in the recipe card)
- Mexican cheese blend is a mix cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack, Colby Jack cheese… all the good stuff for that melty finish
- Ground beef (80/20) is juicy and flavorful, but a more lean ground beef, ground turkey, or chicken all work too.
- Beef broth adds richness and flavor, but chicken broth is a great substitute
- Long grain white rice – basmati or jasmine work best for fluffy texture.
- Diced tomatoes adds moisture and flavor. I used canned tomatoes but you can also chop up fresh tomatoes too, just cook them down completely.
- Black beans add texture and make this taco rice even more hearty and filling. Make sure to drain them.
💡 Shortcut tip: If you have leftover cooked rice, you can turn this into a quick cheesy taco rice skillet, just skip the broth and stir the rice into the ground meat at the end.
How To Make Taco Rice with Ground Beef
Step 1: Cook the beef and aromatics. Add a drizzle of olive oil to a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Cook the ground beef, diced onion, and bell pepper until the beef is no longer pink and the vegetables are softened. Add garlic, seasonings, and tomato paste. Cook for 3–4 minutes, stirring frequently, until everything is deeply fragrant. Drain excess grease if needed.
Step 2: Toast the rice and simmer. Stir in the uncooked rice and cook for 2–3 minutes to lightly toast it. Add diced tomatoes, drained black beans, and beef broth. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 15–20 minutes, until the rice is tender.
Step 3: Melt the cheese. Uncover, give it a quick stir, and sprinkle cheese over the top of the rice. Cover again, and let it melt for 2–3 minutes. And just like that, you’ve got a full easy taco rice recipe ready to go.
Serving Suggestions
This one pot taco rice is a full meal on its own, but get creative and add your favorite toppings just before serving. Chopped green onions, fresh cilantro, sour cream, diced red onions, lime wedges, black olives, and pico de gallo etc! Store leftovers in an airtight container
FAQs
Taco rice is typically made with ground beef, rice, tomatoes, and seasonings, then topped with cheese and fresh toppings like lettuce or salsa.
Yes! Just skip the broth and stir cooked rice into the beef mixture before adding cheese.
Long grain rice like jasmine or basmati works best because it stays fluffy and doesn’t get mushy.
Absolutely. It reheats really well, making it perfect for meal prep.
Toast the rice before adding liquid and avoid overcooking, this helps keep the texture light and fluffy.
More Easy Weeknight Meals
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If you make this recipe, please leave a star rating on the recipe card and comment below! You can also tag @BritneyBreaksBread on Instagram and hashtag #britneybreaksbread so I can celebrate your beautiful creations!
Taco Rice with Ground Beef
Equipment
- Large Skillet (or dutch oven)
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 lb Ground Beef, (80/20)
- 1 Yellow Onion, (diced)
- 1 Bell Pepper, (diced), any color
- 3 cloves Garlic, (diced)
- 1 packet Taco Seasoning
- 1 tsp Kosher Salt
- 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
- 3 tbsp Tomato Paste
- 1 cup White Rice
- 1 can Black Beans, (drained)
- 14.5 oz Canned Diced Tomatoes
- 2 cups Beef Broth
- 1 1/2 cups Mexican Cheese Blend, (shredded)
- 2 tbsp Hot Sauce, , optional
Instructions
- Add a drizzle of olive oil to a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Cook the ground beef, diced onion, and bell pepper until the beef is no longer pink and the vegetables are softened, about 10-13 minutes. 1 tbsp Olive Oil 1 lb Ground Beef 1 Yellow Onion 1 Bell Pepper
- Add garlic, taco seasoning, salt, black pepper, and tomato paste. Cook for 3–4 minutes, stirring frequently, until everything is deeply fragrant. Drain excess grease with a paper towel if needed. 3 cloves Garlic 1 packet Taco Seasoning 1 tsp Kosher Salt 1/2 tsp Black Pepper 3 tbsp Tomato Paste
- Stir in the uncooked rice and cook for 2–3 minutes to lightly toast it. Add diced tomatoes, drained black beans, and beef broth. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 15–20 minutes, until the rice is tender. 1 cup White Rice 14.5 oz Canned Diced Tomatoes 1 can Black Beans 2 cups Beef Broth
- Uncover, give it a quick stir, and sprinkle cheese over the top of the rice. Cover again, and let it melt for 2–3 minutes. Uncover and add a dash of hot sauce (optional). 1 1/2 cups Mexican Cheese Blend
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
