Description
Whip up a hearty skillet dinner, a family-favorite meal, with minimal fuss and maximum flavor. Real-life stories and tips for your next easy weeknight win!
Ingredients
Scale
- Main Stars:
- 1 lb (450g) ground beef (80/20 lean)
- 1 cup (200g) long-grain white rice, uncooked
- 2 cups (480ml) beef broth
- Flavor Foundations:
- 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- Seasonings & Spices:
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Finishing Touches:
- 1 cup (113g) shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Brown the Beef & Aromatics:: First things first, grab your biggest, heaviest skillet – cast iron is my absolute fave for this family-favorite dinner made in one skillet. Heat a drizzle of olive oil over medium-high heat. Toss in your ground beef and break it up with a spoon. Let it get nice and brown, really develop some color. This is where the flavor truly begins! Drain any excess fat; I use a spoon to scoop it out into a heat-safe bowl, not down the drain, hon. Then, add your chopped onion and minced garlic. Sauté them until they’re soft and fragrant, about 3-5 minutes. Oh, that smell is just heavenly!
- Build the Flavor Base:: Once your aromatics are happy, stir in the tomato paste, smoked paprika, cumin, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Let that cook for a minute, stirring constantly. You want to toast those spices just a bit to really wake up their flavors. This step is crucial for the depth of this family-favorite dinner. Don’t rush it! I once added the liquid too fast and missed this toasting step, and the flavors weren’t nearly as vibrant. Learn from my oops moments!
- Add Rice & Liquid:: Now, stir in the long-grain white rice, coating it in all those delicious spices and beef drippings. Pour in the beef broth and Worcestershire sauce. Give it a good stir to combine everything. Bring it to a gentle simmer, then immediately reduce the heat to low, cover your skillet tightly, and let it do its magic. This is where the rice absorbs all that beautiful broth and gets tender, creating a true one-pan dinner wonder.
- Simmer & Steam:: Let the skillet simmer, covered, for about 18-20 minutes. Resist the urge to peek or stir too much! Seriously, just let it be. The steam is what cooks the rice evenly. I always set a timer because I’m notorious for getting distracted by laundry or a good book. After the time’s up, turn off the heat but keep the lid on for another 5 minutes. This allows the rice to finish steaming and get perfectly fluffy. It smells so comforting at this stage, like home.
- The Cheesy Finale:: Remove the lid after the resting time. Give the rice and beef mixture a gentle fluff with a fork. Sprinkle that glorious shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top. Pop the lid back on for just a couple of minutes, or until the cheese is beautifully melted and gooey. If you’re feeling extra, you can even stick it under the broiler for a minute or two to get some bubbly, golden-brown edges. Just watch it like a hawk, because melted cheese can go from perfect to burnt in a flash!
- Garnish & Serve:: Once the cheese is melty and inviting, remove the skillet from the heat. Sprinkle generously with fresh chopped parsley. This adds a lovely pop of color and a fresh counterpoint to the richness. Serve it right out of the skillet – that’s the beauty of a one-pan dinner, less dishes! The final result should be a hearty, flavorful, and incredibly satisfying family-favorite dinner made in one skillet, ready to be devoured.