Description
A budget-friendly, 5-ingredient weeknight dinner that comes together in just 30 minutes. This one-pan meal combines ground beef, instant rice, and frozen vegetables in a savory sauce for a family-friendly comfort food dish.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground beef (80/20 lean)
- 1 cup instant rice
- 1 cup water or beef broth
- 1.5 cups frozen mixed vegetables
- 1 packet beef gravy mix (1.2 oz)
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a half-sheet baking pan with foil or parchment paper.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook for 5-7 minutes, breaking it up with a spoon, until no longer pink. Drain excess grease if desired.
- In a small bowl, whisk together water (or broth), gravy mix, ketchup, and garlic powder until smooth.
- Pour the sauce mixture over the browned beef in the skillet. Stir to combine and let simmer for 1 minute.
- Pour the beef and sauce mixture into the prepared sheet pan. Sprinkle instant rice evenly over the top, then add frozen vegetables. Do not stir; spread ingredients evenly.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until rice is tender and has absorbed most of the liquid.
- If using cheese, sprinkle it over the hot skillet immediately after removing from the oven. Let sit for 2 minutes before serving.
Notes
Do not stir the ingredients before baking to prevent clumpy rice. Use instant rice for the correct cooking time and texture. If the rice is crunchy, cover with foil and bake for an additional 5 minutes. For a lighter version, use leaner beef and skip the cheese. This recipe freezes well for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 18
Keywords: ground beef, rice skillet, budget dinner, weeknight meals, one pan dinner, family friendly, quick recipes, sheet pan meals