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Italian Beef and Rice Skillet

Italian beef and rice skillet that cooks savory, Italian-seasoned ground beef and fluffy long-grain rice together in one pan. Finish with melted mozzarella and fresh basil for a melty, comforting weeknight dinner.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Italian-American
Calories: 610
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Italian beef and rice skillet components
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 onion diced
  • 1 green bell pepper diced
  • 3 garlic minced
  • 1.5 cup long-grain white rice uncooked
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
  • 2.5 cup beef broth
  • 1.5 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 0.5 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 0.25 salt to taste
  • 0.25 pepper to taste
  • 1 cup mozzarella shredded
  • 1 fresh basil for garnish

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Brown the beef and build flavor
  1. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef with diced onion and green bell pepper until cooked through, then drain excess fat.
  2. Stir in minced garlic, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper and cook for 30 seconds to bloom the spices.
Simmer the rice
  1. Add long-grain white rice, diced tomatoes, and beef broth, then bring the mixture to a boil while stirring.
  2. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 20 minutes until the rice is tender.
Melt mozzarella and finish
  1. Fluff the rice with a fork, then top evenly with shredded mozzarella.
  2. Cover and heat for 2 minutes until the mozzarella is melted.
  3. Garnish with fresh basil and serve.

Notes

Pro tip: Use long-grain white rice and keep the skillet covered during the 20-minute simmer for tender, fluffy results. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container up to 3 days; reheat in a skillet with a splash of broth. Freezing is not recommended because rice texture can soften. For a lighter option, swap half the ground beef for extra-lean ground beef or ground turkey while keeping the seasonings the same.