🫑🍚🎉 My 15-Minute Tex-Mex Cowboy Beef and Rice Skillet is an EASY comfort food recipe with just 5 main ingredients made with everyday staples! Juicy beef, tender rice, and just the right amount of kick from the salsa make this an automatic FAMILY FAVORITE!
Quick & Easy Ground Beef and Rice Skillet
- This cowboy skillet is hearty comfort food loaded with juicy ground beef, tender rice, and just the right amount of spiciness that keeps you going back for bite after bite.
- The word Cowboy is in the recipe title because I used a jar of Cowboy Caviar from Trader Joe’s, which is essentially a corn and black bean-based salsa with red peppers. If you don’t have a TJ’s in your area, look for a corn and bean-based salsa and use that instead.
- The recipe is easy, ready in 15 minutes, and naturally gluten-free.
Love Tex-Mex Recipes?
Try my Tex-Mex meatballs, Skinny Mexican Chicken Skillet, Easy 30-Minute Southwestern Beef Skillet, or Tex-Mex taco pasta next!
Ingredients and Notes
There are only 5 main ingredients in the recipe, which keep it super simple. I made this recipe a while back when we all had very limited grocery options, and that’s how this recipe was born. What do I have, what can I do with what I have, ah-hah, this!
To make this quick rice and hamburger recipe, you’ll need:
- Onion – I used a sweet Vidalia onion, but white or yellow are fine
- Ground beef – Use ground pork sausage, ground chicken, or ground turkey in place of the ground beef. I tried it with hot pork sausage, and we loved the extra kick
- Red bell pepper – Use another color of bell pepper, if preferred
- Cooked rice – Use one packet of Uncle Ben’s Ready Rice to save time; the link is to Jasmine, but I used Original. Or, use whatever kind of rice you prefer, such as brown rice, wild rice, or even cauliflower rice
- Cowboy caviar (or look for a thick and chunky corn and bean-based salsa) – This takes the place of Rotel tomatoes found in many recipes. Use your favorite kind of salsa. A salsa verde would be great if you pair it with ground chicken or turkey. Or try a pineapple salsa or other fruity salsa with ground pork
Add veggies
Bulk up the veggie quotient by adding extra corn, beans, frozen peas, shelled edamame, zucchini, mushrooms, or whatever you have on hand and enjoy!
How to Make this Beef and Rice Skillet
This is as easy as it gets for weeknight cooking. Here’s an overview of how the Tex-Mex ground beef and rice dish comes together in 15 minutes:
- Sauté the onion with the beef and red pepper until the beef is cooked through and the vegetables are tender.
- Add the cooked rice and cowboy caviar, and stir to combine.
- Get ready to dig in. So fast and easy!
What to Serve with the Skillet
Recipe FAQs
Also known as a cowboy beef skillet, beef and rice skillet, cowboy rice, or simply one-pan beef and rice, cowboy beef and rice is a hearty, one-pot meal made with ground beef, rice, warm spices, and tomatoes. Most varieties also include beans, corn, and cheese, though they aren’t necessary.
Quick and easy to make, it is designed to be an inexpensive family dinner that’s filling and easy to clean up. As a result, it’s a go-to for busy weeknights!
Yes! This is one of my favorite ways to save time. Just cook the rice according to the package instructions, and add it to the skillet.
If you love spice, try using a spicy salsa. Or, stir in a dash of paprika, jalapeños, or hot sauce.
Yes. As written, the recipe comes together in about 15 minutes. However, if you’re crunched on time or simply like to meal prep as much as possible, here are some make-ahead suggestions:
– Ground beef: Can be browned, allowed to cool, and then stored in the fridge for up to 4 days.
– Veggies: Chop the bell pepper, garlic, and onion and store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
– Rice: I used pre-made rice packets to save time, but you may cook your favorite kind of rice and store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
When you’re ready to eat the rice and hamburger skillet, throw everything into a skillet and heat it up!
Yes, this dish keeps well in the freezer for up to 4 months. To serve, thaw it in the fridge overnight. Then, reheat individual portions in 30-second increments in the microwave. Or, warm a large skillet over medium heat, adding a splash of water or broth to freshen the rice back up.
Cowboy Beef and Rice Skillet (15-Minute One-Pan Dinner) 🤠
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, or as desired
- 1 large sweet Vidalia onion, diced small
- 1 pound ground beef, I used 90% lean
- 1 large red bell pepper, seeded and diced small
- 3 to 4 cloves garlic, finely minced or pressed
- 2 cups cooked rice, use one 8.8-ounce packet Uncle Ben’s Ready Rice to save time
- 1 (13-ounce) jar cowboy caviar salsa, or a corn and bean-based salsa
- salt and pepper, optional and to taste
- fresh parsley, optional for garnishing (cilantro or green onions may be substituted)
Instructions
- To a large skillet, add the olive oil, onion, and saute over medium-high heat for about 2 to 3 minutes; stir intermittently.
- Add the beef, red bell pepper, and saute for about 5 minutes, or until beef is cooked through; stir and crumble beef as it cooks to ensure even cooking.
- Add the garlic and cook for about 1 minute, or until fragrant; stir constantly.
- Add the cooked rice, cowboy caviar*, and stir to combine. Turn off the heat, taste the dish, and if desired, add salt and pepper, to taste.
- Optionally garnish with parsley and serve immediately. Recipe will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 4 months.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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the recipe is just fine, but zero seasoning! obvs i added a bunch of things but it was lacking
Thanks for trying the recipe and perhaps your salsa was the culprit. Because salsa is the key flavor maker in this recipe. And a salsa that’s lacking in flavor will have a big impact. I don’t see how one could use an 13 jar of salsa IF the salsa had flavor and not come out with a dish with lots of flavor. So that’s what leads me back to the salsa.
But obviously you can add things like cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, etc. to jazz things up and of course, salt and pepper always to taste.
I do love looking at your recipes
I do love looking at your recipes
Love so much that you make but this was just for kids. I don’t want to say simple because simple can be great. Not our thing, just boring.
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