A hearty and tasty dish that combines rice, lean ground beef, southwest-style veggies and creamy cheddar cheese.
Spicy Rice and Ground Beef Casserole
Ingredients
1 pound lean ground beef (15% fat)
1 medium onion, chopped
1 small bell pepper or jalapeño pepper, chopped
1 cup rice, uncooked
2 cups chopped tomato, fresh or canned, with juice
2 cups water
1 Tablespoon chili powder (or more to taste)
1 Tablespoon oregano
1 teaspoon salt
½ cup (2 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
Directions
- Wash hands with soap and water.
- Rinse or scrub fresh vegetables under running water before preparing.
- Brown meat in a large skillet over medium-high heat (350 degrees F in an electric skillet). Drain fat (see Notes).
- Add onion and peppers and cook for 8 to 10 minutes until vegetables are soft.
- Add rice, tomato, 2 cups water, and spices. Mix well and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to medium low, cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Add more water if needed.
- Sprinkle with cheese and serve.
- Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.
Notes
- Try brown rice and simmer for 10 more minutes.
- If using instant rice, reduce water to 1 cup.
- Try ground turkey in place of beef.
- Try adding cilantro on top for more flavor.
- Pour fat from cooked meat into a metal container. Let it cool, then dispose of it in a garbage can.
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Comments
This is a great recipe to keep as a "go-to" for our family! We have made it many different ways, often with 2 cups of beans instead of the beef, and we have used it to fill tacos or top nachos. We often serve it with salsa, queso fresco and avocado - staples in our house.
This is perfect for my husband and I. We do the bell pepper, and then he adds hot sauce to his plate because I don't like spicy foods. I like how this is only 10 minutes of prep and while it cooks, you can do the dishes!
A tasty, quick and easy to prepare meal. I prepared last night for a Parenting Class with adults and youth. Because I used green bell pepper and had bottled hot sauce available, all could have the level of heat they preferred. It seemed to be a hit and they liked how simple it was to make.
Good! A little spicy but perfect for winter!