Simple Skillet Taco Rice | Cookies and Cups

Make this Taco Rice recipe multi functional skillet with savory floor beef, salsa, taco seasoning, and loads of cheese. This quick and simple dinner thought brings collectively your entire favourite Tex-Mex flavors in half-hour or much less.

In the event you love this floor beef and rice recipe, you might want to give my Fiesta Chicken Casserole a attempt!

Tacky One-Pan Taco Rice Recipe

At this time we’re turning easy white rice right into a zesty all-in-one meal, loaded with floor beef, onions, taco seasoning, salsa, and melted cheese. Taco rice is a fast and simple skillet dinner, and I like making it on weeknights or as a enjoyable twist on Mexican night time. All the things comes collectively on the stovetop in underneath half-hour, and we by no means run out of topping concepts.

In the event you’ve by no means tried taco rice, put together to be hooked. This simple floor beef and rice recipe is beefy and tacky and jam-packed with Tex-Mex flavors. High your rice with avocado, bitter cream, and extra taco toppings. It’s my thought of consolation meals!

What Is Taco Rice?

Imagine it or not, the unique taco rice was invented in Japan. Okinawan taco rice consisted of seasoned floor beef, shredded cheese, salsa, and lettuce served over Japanese rice. A chef created taco rice at a restaurant on the island of Okinawa, and it turned common with locals in addition to US army personnel stationed there.

Taco rice isn’t to be confused with Mexican rice. Mexican rice is a aspect dish consisting of rice and generally veggies, cooked in broth and seasoned with taco seasoning. My recipe is mainly a mixture of each dishes!

Elements You’ll Want

Only a few easy elements are all you might want to make this flavorful Tex-Mex taco rice recipe. Under is a fast overview, with the complete ingredient quantities out there within the recipe card under the publish.

• Yellow Onion: You’ll saute diced onion and garlic with a bit of additional virgin olive oil for aromatics.
• Floor Beef: I like to recommend utilizing lean floor beef (85-90%), however you may as well make this taco rice skillet with floor turkey or floor hen. See additional down within the publish for extra variation concepts.
• Taco Seasoning: Select your favourite packet of taco seasoning from the grocery retailer, like Outdated El Paso (or related).
• Rice: I like to make use of raw long-grain white rice or brown rice. I don’t advocate utilizing pre-cooked rice as it can grow to be too mushy.
• Rooster Broth: You’ll want low-sodium hen or vegetable broth for simmering the rice. You too can use Homemade Chicken Stock if you happen to desire.
• Salsa: Use your most popular model of jarred salsa, both gentle or spicy, chunky or blended. That is the proper means so as to add a bit warmth to your rice if you happen to’d like.
• Cheese and Cilantro: I take advantage of grated cheddar, together with cilantro, for topping and garnishing the completed rice.

Can I Use Minute Rice As an alternative?

Sure, simply understand that instantaneous rice will prepare dinner a lot quicker, so that you’ll want to regulate the cooking time accordingly.

The best way to Make Taco Rice

I take advantage of my 9-inch nonstick skillet with a lid for this recipe, however you should utilize any sized skillet you might have available, so long as it has a canopy. This taco-inspired meal comes collectively in 3 simple steps:

• Saute: Begin by sauteing the onion in a scorching skillet with olive oil. As soon as softened, stir within the floor beef and break it up whereas it browns. Lastly, stir within the garlic.
• Mix: Subsequent, you’ll sprinkle within the taco seasoning, then add within the rice. Pour in your broth and salsa, and let the skillet come to a boil earlier than decreasing the warmth. Cowl and simmer the rice, stirring sometimes, till tender. The liquid must also be totally absorbed by now.
• End and Serve: Garnish your taco rice with a beneficiant sprinkle of cheese and cilantro, then cowl and let it soften. Afterward, serve topped with bitter cream, avocado, or any of your favourite taco toppings! See under for extra concepts and serving solutions.

Ideas for Success

This taco rice is really easy, you actually can’t go incorrect. Listed below are some remaining ideas:

• Use lean floor meat. I like to recommend utilizing lean floor beef in order that the dish doesn’t come out too oily. In the event you discover that there’s lots of grease within the skillet after your beef has browned, think about draining it earlier than going forward with the recipe.
• Make your personal taco seasoning. I like the comfort of packet seasoning, however if you happen to’d desire to make your personal, it’s simple sufficient to do! To make home made taco seasoning, mix 1 teaspoon every of onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and dried oregano with 1 tablespoon every of floor cumin and smoked paprika.

Add-Ins and Variation Concepts

This taco rice skillet is scrumptious as it’s, however you possibly can all the time change up the elements to fit your household’s particular person tastes. There are such a lot of methods to make this Tex-Mex-style recipe, and it’s actually as much as you! Under are some easy variation concepts to attempt.

• Totally different Protein: Attempt making this rice with floor turkey, floor hen, shredded hen, and even floor or pulled pork.
• Vegetarian: To make vegetarian taco rice, swap the hen broth for vegetable broth and change the bottom beef with chickpeas, brown lentils, crumbled tofu, or your selection of plant-based mince.
• Beans: Stir in canned black beans or pinto beans (keep in mind to empty them first). 
• Veggies: Add in candy corn, diced bell peppers, shredded or diced carrots, or sliced jalapeños.
• Herbs and Spices: Be happy so as to add in extra herbs, like basil or oregano. In the event you’re after a little bit of kick, stir in chipotle powder, chili powder, cayenne pepper, or crushed crimson pepper flakes together with the taco seasoning.

Serving Recommendations

I typically serve this taco rice DIY-style, the identical as you’ll an precise taco! I fill the desk with simple taco toppings like diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce, avocado, bitter cream, inexperienced onion, and tortilla strips, and let everybody have at it. And as a aspect, no taco night time is full with out crispy corn chips dipped in Avocado Salsa or Cowboy Caviar.

This satisfying rice recipe can also be nice to serve with Fluffy Sour Cream Cornbread and a Southwestern Cobb Salad. Or, we’ll pair it with Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas and a aspect of Instant Pot Corn on the Cob for a hearty Mexican-inspired meal.

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

Retailer any leftover taco rice hermetic within the fridge for as much as 3 days. Reheat parts within the microwave or in a skillet on the stovetop till warmed by.

Can I Freeze Taco Rice?

Sure! I like to recommend freezing the rice earlier than including the cheese. Retailer the cooled rice in an hermetic container and freeze it for as much as 1 month. Defrost the taco rice within the fridge earlier than reheating, topping it with melted cheese, and serving.

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