Description
One-Pot Mexican Rice Casserole from Ina Garten brings comfort and zest to dinner tables. Hearty ingredients blend seamlessly, creating a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) ground beef
- 1 cup (185 g) long grain white rice
- 1 ½ cups (355 ml) beef broth
- 8 oz (226 g) tomato sauce
- 1 cup (100 g) shredded cheese
- ½ cup (120 ml) salsa
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 15 oz (425 g) can of corn, drained
- 2 tbsps taco seasoning
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Meat Preparation: Brown ground beef and onions in a spacious skillet over medium-high heat, seasoning with salt and pepper until meat is fully cooked and no longer pink, about 6-7 minutes.
- Seasoning Infusion: Drain excess fat, then return skillet to heat. Coat beef with garlic powder and taco seasoning, ensuring even distribution of flavors throughout the meat.
- Liquid Integration: Combine uncooked rice, beef broth, corn, tomato sauce, and salsa directly into the seasoned meat mixture. Stir thoroughly to create a cohesive blend of ingredients.
- Cooking Process: Bring mixture to a rapid boil, then immediately reduce heat to low. Cover skillet with a tight lid and simmer for 18-20 minutes, allowing rice to absorb liquid and become perfectly tender.
- Cheese Finale: Sprinkle shredded cheese over the top of the casserole. Cover and let residual heat melt the cheese until it creates a smooth, golden blanket across the dish, approximately 2-3 minutes.
Notes
- Meat Browning Technique: Ensure ground beef is cooked completely with no pink color to guarantee food safety and enhance overall flavor profile.
- Drainage is Key: Carefully remove excess fat after browning meat to prevent a greasy final dish and maintain a clean, appetizing texture.
- Rice Absorption Trick: Watch liquid levels closely during simmering to achieve perfectly tender rice without becoming mushy or dry.
- Cheese Melting Hack: Let residual heat melt cheese naturally for a smooth, even coating that prevents overcooking or burning the cheese topping.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg