Need a filling dinner that doesn’t leave you with a sink full of dishes? This Easy Cheesy Ground Beef and Rice Skillet combines savory ground beef, tender rice, tomatoes, seasonings, and plenty of melted cheddar in one pan for an easy dinner that’s ready in about 40 minutes.

The best part is that the rice cooks right in the skillet with the beef. As it absorbs the broth and tomato juices, it picks up all those savory browned-beef flavors instead of tasting like plain rice added at the end. Finish everything with a generous layer of cheddar, cover the skillet for a few minutes, and you’ve got a bubbling, cheesy dinner ready for the table.

It’s cozy enough for comfort-food night but practical enough for a busy weeknight—and everything comes together in one skillet.

Easy Ground Beef and Rice Skillet with Cheese

Ground beef and rice are inexpensive, familiar ingredients, but the way they’re cooked makes a big difference.

Instead of preparing rice separately, we’re cooking it directly with the browned beef, onion, garlic, tomatoes, and broth.

That gives the rice time to absorb the seasoned cooking liquid.

Then comes the cheese.

Most of the cheddar is stirred into the finished beef and rice so you get cheesy flavor throughout, while the remaining cheese melts over the top.

If one-pan dinners are becoming your favorite way to handle busy evenings, Easy One Pan Garlic Butter Chicken and Rice gives you the same convenient format with juicy chicken and buttery garlic rice instead.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

🍳 One-Skillet Dinner

Brown the beef, cook the rice, and melt the cheese without reaching for another pan.

🧀 Actually Cheesy

Cheddar isn’t just sprinkled decoratively over the top. Some gets stirred directly into the rice mixture.

🥩 Family-Friendly Ingredients

Ground beef, rice, tomatoes, and cheddar make this approachable for both adults and kids.

⏱️ Ready in About 40 Minutes

Most of the cooking time is hands-off while the covered rice simmers.

💰 Made With Everyday Ingredients

There are no complicated specialty ingredients here.

🌶️ Easy to Customize

Add corn, beans, jalapeños, different cheeses, or extra vegetables depending on what you have.

For another cozy dinner using straightforward ingredients, Creamy Tomato Garlic Pasta is a great meatless option.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Lean Ground Beef

Use 1 pound lean ground beef, preferably around 90% lean.

A slightly leaner beef works especially well because we’re adding cheese later, so the finished skillet remains rich without becoming excessively greasy.

If your beef releases a lot of fat, drain the excess after browning.

Long-Grain White Rice

You’ll need 1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice.

Regular long-grain rice works better here than instant rice because it has enough time to absorb the seasoned broth and tomato mixture.

Do not substitute brown rice using the same cooking time and liquid ratio.

Yellow Onion

Use 1 small yellow onion, finely diced.

The onion softens into the skillet and adds sweetness that balances the tomatoes.

Garlic

Use 3 fresh garlic cloves, minced.

Add them after the onion has softened so they don’t burn while the beef is browning.

Diced Tomatoes

You’ll need one 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes, including the juices.

Those juices contribute to the cooking liquid for the rice.

Tomato Paste

Use 2 tablespoons tomato paste.

It adds concentrated tomato flavor and gives the finished skillet a richer color.

Cooking the paste briefly before adding liquid also helps deepen its flavor.

Beef Broth

Use 1¾ cups low-sodium beef broth.

The broth gives the rice much more savory flavor than water.

Low-sodium broth makes it easier to control the final seasoning.

Cheddar Cheese

You’ll need 1½ cups freshly shredded cheddar cheese, divided.

Medium or sharp cheddar both work.

Freshly shredded cheese usually melts more smoothly than pre-shredded cheese, which can contain anti-caking ingredients.

Olive Oil

Use 1 teaspoon olive oil if your beef is particularly lean.

If your ground beef contains enough fat to brown properly, you may not need it.

Smoked Paprika

Use 1 teaspoon smoked paprika for warmth and subtle smokiness.

Chili Powder

Use 1 teaspoon mild chili powder.

This gives the skillet additional depth without making it particularly spicy.

Dried Oregano

Use ½ teaspoon dried oregano.

Salt

Start with ½ teaspoon fine salt, then adjust after the rice is cooked.

The amount you’ll need depends heavily on your broth and cheese.

Black Pepper

Use ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper.

Fresh Parsley

Finish with 2 tablespoons chopped parsley for freshness and color.

Green onions also work well if you prefer them.

How to Make Cheesy Ground Beef and Rice

1. Prepare Your Ingredients

Dice the onion, mince the garlic, shred the cheddar, and measure the rice and seasonings before starting.

Once the skillet gets going, the recipe moves quickly.

2. Heat the Skillet

Place a large deep 12-inch skillet with a tight-fitting lid over medium-high heat.

Add the olive oil if needed.

3. Add the Ground Beef

Add the ground beef to the hot skillet.

Let it make contact with the hot surface for about a minute before breaking it apart.

4. Brown the Beef

Cook for approximately 5–7 minutes, breaking the meat into irregular bite-size crumbles.

Allow some pieces to develop real brown edges rather than constantly stirring.

5. Drain Excess Fat

If there is a significant amount of grease in the skillet, carefully drain most of it.

Leave a small amount behind for flavor.

6. Add the Onion

Add the diced yellow onion.

Cook with the beef for approximately 3 minutes, until it begins to soften.

7. Add the Garlic

Stir in the minced garlic.

Cook for about 30 seconds, just until fragrant.

8. Cook the Tomato Paste

Add 2 tablespoons tomato paste.

Stir it through the beef and cook for approximately 1 minute.

The paste should darken slightly.

9. Add the Seasonings

Stir in:

• smoked paprika
• chili powder
• oregano
• salt
• black pepper

Cook for another 20–30 seconds.

10. Add the Rice

Pour the uncooked long-grain rice directly into the skillet.

Stir well so the grains become coated in the seasoned beef and tomato mixture.

11. Add the Tomatoes

Pour in the diced tomatoes with their juices.

12. Add the Beef Broth

Pour in 1¾ cups beef broth.

Stir thoroughly, making sure the rice is distributed fairly evenly.

13. Bring to a Simmer

Increase the heat if necessary until the liquid reaches a gentle simmer.

Avoid an aggressive boil.

14. Cover

Place the lid securely on the skillet.

Reduce the heat to low.

15. Cook the Rice

Cook covered for approximately 18–20 minutes.

Avoid repeatedly lifting the lid.

16. Check the Rice

Remove the lid and taste a few grains.

The rice should be tender and most of the liquid should have been absorbed.

If the rice remains firm, add a few tablespoons of hot broth, cover again, and cook for another 2–4 minutes.

17. Rest Briefly

Remove the skillet from the heat and let it sit for approximately 3 minutes.

18. Add the First Layer of Cheese

Stir approximately 1 cup shredded cheddar gently into the beef and rice.

It should begin melting almost immediately.

Don’t aggressively stir or mash the rice.

19. Add More Cheese on Top

Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup cheddar evenly over the skillet.

20. Melt the Cheese

Cover for another 2–3 minutes, off the heat, until the cheddar is melted.

21. Finish

Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley or sliced green onions.

22. Serve

Spoon directly from the skillet while the cheese is hot and melty.

Equipment

You’ll need:

• Large deep 12-inch skillet with lid
• Wooden spoon or silicone spatula
• Cutting board
• Sharp knife
• Measuring cups
• Measuring spoons
• Cheese grater

Why Cook the Rice in the Same Skillet?

Because that’s where the flavor is.

After browning ground beef, tiny caramelized bits remain across the skillet.

Then onion, garlic, tomato paste, and spices are cooked directly with those browned bits.

When you add broth and tomatoes, those flavors become part of the liquid that the rice absorbs.

Cooking the rice separately and stirring it in afterward would still work, but you wouldn’t get quite the same integrated flavor.

It’s the same principle that makes Easy One Pan Garlic Butter Chicken and Rice work so well: the rice becomes part of the dish rather than just something served underneath it.

How to Keep Ground Beef and Rice from Getting Mushy

First, use regular long-grain white rice.

Don’t use instant rice with these measurements.

Second, measure your liquid carefully.

Remember that the canned tomatoes contribute liquid too, which is why you don’t need an enormous quantity of broth.

Third, once the skillet is covered, don’t stir the rice while it cooks.

Excessive stirring releases starch and can create a softer, stickier texture.

Finally, let the rice finish cooking before adding cheese.

Adding the cheddar too early can interfere with judging whether the rice has absorbed enough liquid.

Variations

Mexican-Inspired Beef and Rice

Add:

• ½ cup corn
• ½ cup drained black beans
• diced jalapeño
• extra chili powder

Finish with cilantro instead of parsley.

Taco Beef and Rice Skillet

Replace the paprika, chili powder, and oregano with approximately 1½ tablespoons homemade or store-bought taco seasoning, adjusting salt accordingly.

Top with cheddar or Monterey Jack.

Bell Pepper Version

Add ½ diced red or green bell pepper with the onion.

Spicy Version

Add ¼–½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes or a finely diced jalapeño.

Extra Veggie Version

Stir in baby spinach immediately before adding the cheese.

Cover briefly until wilted.

Monterey Jack Version

Replace half the cheddar with Monterey Jack for an especially creamy melt.

Pepper Jack Version

Use Pepper Jack for extra heat.

Ground Turkey Version

Ground turkey works too.

Because it’s leaner, you may want to use the teaspoon of olive oil when browning.

Pro Tips

Brown Instead of Gray the Beef

Don’t immediately pulverize the ground beef into tiny pieces.

Give it some contact time with the hot skillet so you develop browned edges.

Use Freshly Shredded Cheese

It generally melts better than bagged pre-shredded cheese.

Use a Deep Skillet

You’ll need enough room for the rice to expand.

Make Sure You Have a Lid

The trapped steam is essential.

Don’t Keep Opening the Skillet

Every time the lid comes off, heat and steam escape.

Keep the Heat Low

Once the liquid simmers and the skillet is covered, reduce the heat.

Add Cheese Last

The rice should be completely cooked before the cheddar goes in.

Taste Before Adding More Salt

Both cheddar and beef broth contribute salt.

Storage and Reheating

Refrigerator

Allow leftovers to cool, then transfer them to an airtight container.

Refrigerate for up to 3–4 days.

Reheating

Add a small splash of broth or water before reheating.

Heat gently until thoroughly hot.

Adding a small amount of freshly shredded cheddar after reheating can restore some of that freshly made cheesy texture.

Freezing

This skillet can be frozen, although rice may become slightly softer after thawing.

Transfer cooled portions to freezer-safe containers and freeze for approximately 2 months.

Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

What to Serve With Cheesy Ground Beef and Rice

This is already a filling combination of beef, rice, tomatoes, and cheese, so simple vegetables work best alongside it.

Try:

• Steamed broccoli
• Roasted green beans
• Simple green salad
• Roasted zucchini
• Corn
• Cucumber and tomato salad

If you want something fresh and crunchy beside a rich skillet dinner, Fresh Harvest Apple Pecan Salad with Maple Vinaigrette is a good contrast.

For another comforting cheesy dinner, Pepperoni Pizza Crescent Rolls make an easy casual option when you’re looking for something especially kid-friendly.

the flavor will be lighter.

Can I use ground chicken?

Yes, but use a little olive oil since ground chicken can be very lean.

Can I use mozzarella?

You can, but cheddar gives the skillet a stronger savory flavor.

A cheddar-mozzarella combination also works.

Can I make it spicy?

Absolutely.

Add jalapeño, cayenne, crushed red pepper, hot sauce, or Pepper Jack.

Can I add beans?

Yes.

Drain and rinse the beans before adding them. Stir them in during the last several minutes so they only need to heat through.

Can I make this ahead?

You can, although freshly cooked rice and freshly melted cheese have the best texture.

For meal prep, portion the cooked skillet into airtight containers and refrigerate.

Nutrition

Approximate nutrition per serving, based on 5 servings:

• Calories: ~510
• Protein: ~30 g
• Carbohydrates: ~42 g
• Fat: ~24 g
• Saturated Fat: ~11 g
• Fiber: ~2 g
• Sugar: ~4 g
• Sodium: ~650 mg

Nutrition is an estimate and varies with the ground beef, cheese, broth, and other brands used.