Ground Beef and Carrot Rice Skillet
A straightforward one-pan meal that brings together seasoned ground beef, sweet diced carrots, and fluffy white rice. Everything cooks in a single skillet, the rice absorbing all the savory drippings while the carrots soften and sweeten. It's the kind of dinner that feels like a warm blanket after a long day, filling and uncomplicated. You can toss in other safe vegetables if you have them, or keep it simple with just the beef, carrots, and rice. No fuss, just good home cooking.
By TasteBuds
Recipe details
- Yield
- 4 people
- Prep time
- 10 minutes
- Cook time
- 30 minutes
- Total time
- 35 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef, preferably 85/15 or 90/10 lean
- 2 medium carrots
- 1 cup white rice, long-grain or jasmine
- 2 cups water
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper, freshly ground if possible
- 1 tbsp olive oil (only if using very lean beef)
Instructions
- Peel and dice 2 medium carrots into small, even pieces (about ¼-inch cubes).
- Rinse 1 cup white rice under cold water in a fine-mesh strainer until the water runs clear, then drain well.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. If using very lean beef, add 1 tbsp olive oil. Add 1 lb ground beef and break it up with a wooden spoon, cooking until browned and crumbly, about 6 minutes.
- Add 2 medium carrots, diced to the skillet with the beef and stir to combine. Cook for 2 minutes, letting the carrots start to soften.
- Stir in 1 cup white rice, rinsed and drained, 2 cups water, 1 tsp salt, and ½ tsp black pepper. Give everything a good stir to distribute evenly.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet with a lid, and simmer for 18 minutes without lifting the lid.
- Remove the skillet from the heat and let it sit, still covered, for 5 minutes. This allows the rice to finish steaming and absorb any remaining liquid.
- Fluff the rice with a fork, taste, and adjust salt and pepper if needed. Serve warm.