This Mexican Ground Beef and Rice recipe is the BEST combination of easy and hearty for a perfect busy night dinner! It is loaded with delicious Mexican flavors and simmered all in just one skillet for easy prep and quick clean up.
This post is created in partnership with Iowa Corn. All thoughts, opinions, recipes and experiences are personal.
Easy Ground Beef Recipes
When it comes to the weeknights, our schedules are packed and time is scarce.
My secret weapon on these nights is ground beef or shredded chicken. Both can be prepared in advance to give you a head start on dinner. (More on that below!)
This Mexican Ground Beef and Rice starts with a great corn fed ground beef, which can be made ahead or cooked with the recipe. Also try my Ground Beef Enchiladas or Beef enchilada casserole for more great ground beef recipes!
It starts on the Farm
This past week I had the privilege to visit Iowa and walk the land, and visit with the farmers that produce our crops, and raise our meat with the Iowa Corn Growers Association.
Being born and raised in the suburbs, I have a faint idea of what farming is, but I can’t even tell you how impactful this trip was for me!
One of the most eye opening things I learned was that the majority of farms that produce our crops today are still small family run operations. In this world of bigger is better and scalability, these farmers are still putting their hearts, souls, blood, sweat and tears into producing food every day.
Fun Fact: Less than 1% of the corn grown, is sweet corn for human consumption.
I had no idea! That fact stayed with me throughout the week. So with as much corn as we use and eat everyday, SO MUCH MORE is being used for other purposes like grain for feeding livestock (most grass fed animals are finished with grain (corn) to bulk them up), creation of other corn based food products like corn starch and corn syrup, and the production of ethanol gas.
As we saw the farms, we would ask questions, one that came up frequently when we saw the vast amount of corn planted over thousands of acres, was “How many people work here with you?” And with only one exception, the answer was, “It’s really just our family.” The quality and work ethic of farmers is tremendous!
My trip to Iowa was really special, knowing that our food doesn’t just come from some giant corporation, but is made with pride is something that is really, really neat!
Now back to this delicious Mexican Ground Beef Recipe, packed full of delicious sweet corn and corn fed beef!
Tips for Making Mexican Ground Beef and Rice
This recipe is super simple, using only a few ingredients and one skillet. There are a couple of tips I have to share for getting the best, easiest dinner!
Make sure you find the FULL recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Ingredients + substitutions
- Lean ground beef– The leaner the better for a less greasy dish.
- Onion
- Green bell pepper
- Corn– I use canned but fresh, or frozen corn that has been thawed will work too
- Tomatoes with green chiles
- Black beans
- Beef broth– you can sub chicken or vegetable broth if needed.
- Taco seasoning
- Jasmine rice– This recipe is designed for rice that uses 1:1.5 cup ratio of rice to water. Other types of rice that use the same ratio should work also.
- Sharp cheddar cheese– sub cobly jack, or mexican blend.
Recipe Step by Step
I am going to highlight a few key steps in the recipe here, but make sure to jump down to the recipe card for comprehensive instructions on how to make Mexican Beef and Rice.
Add the ground beef and onion to a large skillet and cook until no longer pink.
Add the corn, black beans, tomatoes, bell pepper, rice and seasoning and mix until combined.
Cover with broth then place the lid on the skillet and simmer until the rice is tender.
Cover with cheese and let melt, then serve with your choice of toppings.
Time Savers + Short cuts
If you are extra short on time, there are a couple of time saving tricks that can help make this easy recipe even faster!
- Precook the ground beef– Ground beef can be prepared ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or freezer for up to a month.
- Pre-chop veggies– You can pre-cut the onions and bell pepper up to 48 advance, or these are usually available to purchase pre diced in the produce refrigerators at larger grocery stores.
- Prep ahead– The cooked ground beef can be mixed with the corn, black beans, bell pepper, ROTEL, taco seasoning and broth ahead of time and refrigerated. Then when ready to cook, just pour in the skillet and add the rice and continue to cook as directed.
- Make a freezer meal– follow the instructions below to prepare this as a grab and cook freezer meal.
Mexican Ground Beef and Rice Freezer Meal Instructions
This dish freezes well both before and after cooking. Follow the directions below to convert this recipe to a freezer meal. Freezer meals are best when used within 1-2 months.
To prepare this dish as a freezer meal:
- Brown and drain the ground beef and onion.
- Place the beef, corn, black beans, bell pepper, ROTEL, taco seasoning, broth, and rice in a freezer bag or airtight container.
- Freeze
- When ready to use, thaw in the refrigerator 24-48 hours.
- Place in a skillet and continue to cook as directed.
What to Serve with Mexican Ground Beef and Rice
This recipe is perfect for when that craving hits for Mexican flavors. It is a hearty dinner that includes protein, vegetables, starch, and dairy, so there is no need to add sides or extras for serving.
However if you want to stretch the dish, there are a few extras you can add to bulk up the meal.
Topping Ideas
Try serving with a few topping options to allow each person to customize their plate!
- Sour cream
- Guacamole, or sliced avocado
- Pico de gallo
- Lime wedges
- Crushed tortilla chips
Sides to serve
Here are a few side dishes that will pair well with Mexican Ground Beef and Rice. Pick one, or choose a few!
- Chips and salsa
- Mexican cornbread
- Tortillas
- Mexican Street Corn Casserole
More Easy One Dish Recipes
If you enjoyed this Mexican Ground Beef and Rice (and I hope you did!) I would love it if you took a minute to look around and grab more easy recipes.
Here are a few of my personal favorite quick and easy one dish dinners:
- Mexican Chicken Casserole – So fast and delish!
- Baked Tuscan Garlic Chicken – reader favorite
- Cajun Butter Steak– If you like a little heat, this is the best!
- Honey Garlic Chicken Skillet– like a restaurant!!
Easy Mexican Ground Beef and Rice
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, roughly diced
- 1 cup corn, (1 can drained)
- 10 oz ROTEL tomatoes with green chiles, (1 can)
- 15 oz black beans, (1 can drained and rinsed)
- 2 cups beef broth
- 3 tbsp taco seasoning
- 1 cup jasmine rice, (uncooked)
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
Garnish (optional)
- fresh cilantro, chopped
- pico de gallo
- sour cream
- fresh lime
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef and onions in a large skillet by cooking over medium high heat for 4-5 minutes. Once done, drain any excess grease.
- Add the green bell pepper, corn, black beans, ROTEL, broth, taco seasoning, and rice to the skillet and mix well. Turn the heat to high and bring to a boil, then cover and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 20-25 minutes or until the rice is tender.
- Remove from the heat, then sprinkle the cheddar cheese over the top. Place the lid back on for 1-2 minutes or until the cheese melts.
- Garnish with your choice of fresh chopped cilantro, pico de gallo, sour cream, and fresh lime. Serve warm and enjoy!
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