This colourful ground Beef and Rice recipe will be a terrific addition to your ground beef recipes collection! It’s like a pilaf, except loaded with more veggies and packed with more flavour.
I’m a big fan of beef mince – it’s economical and convenient (no chopping!). And this is a great quick way make turn a packet of beef mince into a complete meal!
Ground beef and rice
Flavoured rice. Seasoned beef. AND veggies.
All made in ONE POT.
How handy is that?? This ground beef and rice recipe is a complete meal, with barely any chopping. Full of bright colours, plenty of nutrition, simple and fast to make.
And it tastes SO GOOD!!!
This ground beef and rice is a quick recipe that’s full of flavour and a complete meal in one pot!
I’m a big fan of rice in all forms. Chicken and Rice, rice soup, risotto, flavoured rices (Mexican Red Rice is a firm favourite along with Mushroom Rice!), Arancini balls.
In fact, I’m yet to meet a rice dish that I don’t like!!
But as regular readers know, I’m a rice snob. I may be Aussie, but I’ll always be a rice snob owing to my Japanese background. Dry bread and over cooked veggies I can handle.
Mushy rice – I can’t stomach it.
Rice. Snob. 🍚
So cooking rice in one pot like I do with this ground beef recipe (along with all sorts of other stuff) means getting the liquid to rice ratios right (and using the right rice) so you end up with perfectly cook fluffy grains of rice that have soaked up all that flavour.
See? Fluffy. Not soft and mushy!!!
How to make it
This is made like a pilaf, starting off by sautéing onion and garlic for the flavour base. Then the beef and capsicum/bell peppers are added, then the rice and liquids and seasoning.
Give it a good mix, plonk the lid on and leave it to do its thing.
No peeking! It’s one of the biggest rice cooking mistakes – if you peek, steam escapes which affects the rice cooking process!
We can never have enough ground beef recipes for quick dinners!
Today’s Beef and Rice recipe is intended to be a quick, no fuss (yet super tasty!) midweek meal. Hence why it’s made in one pot, with ground beef, a combination of fresh and frozen veggies and a mound of baby spinach. Minimal chopping, yet plenty of flavour, a complete meal.
No need for toppings or garnishes. I actually don’t even know what I’d dollop on top. Maybe sour cream or yoghurt. I personally don’t think it needs it because the rice is well seasoned, but it’s optional! – Nagi
PS Foodie translation: Ground beef = beef mince, though I’ve noticed some butchers in Australia nowadays are starting to call it ground beef.
PPS This recipe will work well with any ground / mince meat. Pork, chicken, turkey, even lamb.
And more One Pot Ground Beef / Mince recipes
Cheeseburger Casserole (Homemade Hamburger Helper)
Chili Mac – mash up of Mac and Cheese with Chilli Con Carne, so good!
Asian Beef and Ramen Noodles – one skillet, 15 minutes
Taco Soup – don’t knock it until you’ve tried it, it’s amazing!
Browse all One Pot recipes and Ground Beef / Mince recipes
Beef and rice recipe
Watch how to make it
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Beef and Rice with Veggies
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion , diced (any type)
- 1 red capsicum / bell pepper , diced (large)
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 500g (1 lb) ground beef (mince) , lean
- 2 1/2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp EACH cumin, black pepper
- 1 tsp each onion powder, dried oregano (or other herb of choice)
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1 dried bay leaf
- 1 1/4 cups (225g) long grain white rice , uncooked (Note 1)
- 2 cups (500 ml) beef broth , low sodium
- 2 cups (300g) diced frozen veggies , I used corn, pea, carrot mix (Note 2)
- 3 big handfuls baby spinach (~ 90g/3 oz) , or other leafy greens (Note 3)
Instructions
- Heat oil in large pot over high heat. Add onion, capsicum and garlic. Cook for 1 minute.
- Add beef, cook until brown, breaking it up as you go.
- Add tomato paste, salt, pepper, onion powder, oregano, cumin and cayenne pepper. Cook for 1 minute.
- Turn heat down to medium. Add rice and beef broth, mix well. Add frozen veggies and bay leaf, then stir.
- Place lid on, lower heat to medium low so it’s simmering gently. Cook for 12 – 15 minutes (might even take longer) until all liquid is absorbed (tilt pot to check). The rice should be just cooked, but will be wet.
- Remove from heat. Quickly toss spinach on top of the rice and put the lid back on. Leave to rest for 10 minutes.
- Fluff rice and mix through wilted spinach with a fork. Adjust salt if desired. Serve!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
LIFE OF DOZER
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It’s fascinating to watch. Truly a dog genius. And (much) better value than normal vets too – a standard consult is $60, and there’s no expensive medication or Xray costs because he’s a natural therapist!
PS Yes that’s Dozer getting acupuncture. Not even I’VE had acupuncture!!!!🤣
sorry, what does “Asiany” taste like? pls clarify.
Today is the second time that I have made this dish. It’s so good that my husband had thirds! He’s usually not a big eater. I have to leave out some of the spices because of the husband. It will be something we will be eating quite regularly
That’s great to hear Sharon!
Today is a cold snowy day in Missouri, so I needed something quick, easy and filling to fix for lunch after finishing chores. I confess that I was worried that my Hubby (who is a plain meat and potatoes fan) would not like this, but he thought it was very good! I followed the recipe to the letter. My rice wasn’t quite done enough for me, but the flavor was perfect. It makes so much that I froze some to have at a later date when in a hurry. Recipe is definitely a keeper. Thank you!
I’m so glad Hubby loved it! It’s the perfect freezer meal!
Made this dish for dinner tonight and it was awesome! Followed the recipe completely except for the addition of a couple serrano peppers for some spice. Only had corn as a frozen veggie and that was perfectly fine, no need for the addition of multiple frozen veggies. Highly recommend this
Made this dish for lunch today. It is very good. May have to up the seasoning some but that is all.
I’m so glad you liked it Sharon!
Just found your amazing recipes! Question, can I use chicken broth instead of beef broth?
Hi Gladis, you sure can!
have you tired this with turkey or venison or bison ?
Super recipe (once again). This freezes well. I made a batch for freezing in 4 containers for my son to take camping for him and mates so that their first night meal was sorted. The frozen pots helps keep the meat etc they took chilled too while they travelled. Another Nagi success 🙂 Thank you x
That’s terrific to hear Suzie! Glad you enjoyed this! N x
I have been searching for a tasty beef and rice dish for years and have finally found it! No can soup or minute rice to be found. Thank you so much! Your recipes are perfect 🙂
Hi Nagi, I dont have any capsicum, is there anything else I can use instead? I have lots of tomatoes and carrot.
Absolutely! Use any other veg you can dice and cook like capsicum 🙂 N x
Another winner! Hubby had 3 servings, my son inhaled his dinner! There’s just enough leftover to take to work for lunch. But who gets to take it?!
Thanks for this recipe.
I have everything but the beef broth, help! Dont have chicken either. No time to run to the store. Will water be ok?
Water + stock powder will be fine! N x
Excellent flavour and very easy to make. This recipe makes enough for two meals for my husband and I !
I will omit the 1/4 cup rice next time – I had to add extra water as rice was not cooked when the broth was all absorbed.
I’m pleased to hear you enjoyed this Nancy! Sorry to hear the rice wasn’t soft enough for your taste 🙂 N x
This recipe is SO good. I wasn’t paying close enough attention and cooked it a bit longer than I should have. However, that caused the rice sitting on the edges of the pan to get a nice brown crust which added some tasty texture. I’ll definitely be making this again!
That’s so great to hear Erin! I’m so pleased you enjoyed this, thank you for letting me know! N x
I tried this receipe last night and it was delicious! I didn’t have any cayenne pepper so I substitued with red chilli powder. Our family likes spice and it turned out amazing. Thank you! I will definitely check out your other recipes.
That’s great! Glad you enjoyed it Ruby! 🙂 N x
What can I sub for tomato paste? I’m allergic to tomatoes
I use a red bell pepper, and put it in the blender. I don’t like the tomato taste so I do that for consistency
Made this tonight Nagi……mmmmmm delicious! I always mess up cooking the raw rice with the other ingredients in a recipe…..but, this time I’ve been successful! YEH!!
Thanks for another quick and delicious meal…….will be making this again – for sure!
Gail
P.S. hope Dozer is continuing to recover…….I am thankful that you care for him so well, and I’m sure he is too!
That’s so great to hear Melody! I’m so happy to hear that! And Dozer is doing just great Gail, thanks for asking! N x ❤️
Hi Nagi, can I do it in a rice cooker? Like a one pot rice? If yes, I suppose just put everything in? Thank you!
I would still do all the browning in a normal pot then tip it all in the rice cooker to cook the rice! 🙂
Hi Nagi, I have 2 lbs of ground beef and I’m wondering if I should double all the other ingredients? And if so, how long will the cooking time be? I plan to make it today. Thanks
Just made this. And it was outstanding . I have to hold myself back from eating more . It was nice a chance of flavors for me cause usually if I make rice with other stuff it’s south East Asian inspired ( biryani etc) this was sooooo good !
I’m glad to hear you enjoyed this Taz!!! Thanks for taking the time to let me know 🙂 N x