Description
This Cheesy Queso Ground Beef and Rice recipe is a comforting, flavorful one-pan meal that combines lean ground beef, savory spices, and creamy queso with fluffy rice. It's perfect for a quick and easy dinner packed with cheesy goodness and a hint of spice from Rotel tomatoes and green chilies.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 cup diced yellow onion
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups minute rice
- 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 until fragrant.
- Add Liquids and Rice: Pour in the chicken broth and add the minute rice to the skillet. Gently stir to ensure all the rice is submerged in the liquid.
- Simmer the Rice: Bring the liquid to a boil, then place a lid on the skillet and reduce the heat to low. Let the rice cook undisturbed for 5 minutes.
- Stir and Season: After 5 minutes, remove the lid and stir well. Add the Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies, salt, pepper, and onion powder. Stir to combine thoroughly.
- Cook Off Excess Liquid: Increase the heat to medium and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until no liquid remains at the bottom of the skillet.
- Add Queso and Cheese: Stir in the salsa con queso until well mixed. Then add the shredded nacho cheese and stir just until melted and creamy.
- Serve: Scoop onto plates or bowls and enjoy this cheesy, hearty dish immediately.
Notes
- Use lean ground beef to reduce excess fat in the dish.
- Minute rice cooks quickly; do not overcook to avoid mushiness.
- For a spicier version, add extra diced jalapeños or use spicy salsa con queso.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- To make this dish gluten-free, confirm that the chicken broth and salsa con queso are gluten-free brands.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
