There’s something just so comforting about a hearty skillet dinner that comes together quickly and uses just one pan. This One Pot Taco Beef and Rice Skillet Recipe combines bold taco flavors, tender beef, and fluffy rice for a mess-free meal that's perfect any night of the week.

The image shows a black cast iron pan filled with a single layer of cooked rice mixed with ground meat, corn, diced red and green bell peppers, and small pieces of green onions scattered on top. The rice has a reddish-orange color, likely from a sauce, and is mixed evenly with the other ingredients. A wooden spoon rests inside the pan, partly submerged in the rice mixture. The pan is set on a white marbled surface with a blue and white patterned cloth partially visible underneath the pan. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make One Pot Taco Beef and Rice Skillet Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve One Pot Taco Beef and Rice Skillet Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
One Pot Taco Beef and Rice Skillet Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I still remember the first time I made this dish—it was a total lifesaver for busy weeknights when I wanted something satisfying without piling up dirty dishes. The flavors are spot on, and the whole house smells incredible as it cooks.

Simple One-Pot Cooking: Everything cooks in one skillet, so it’s fast cleanup and hassle-free.
Hearty and Nutritious: Ground beef pairs with veggies and rice for a well-rounded meal everyone will enjoy.
Bold Taco Flavors: The cumin, paprika, and chili powder blend creates that classic taco vibe you crave.
Cheesy Comfort: Melty cheddar and creamy quark add richness and a lovely smooth texture.

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in this One Pot Taco Beef and Rice Skillet Recipe plays its part to build flavor, texture, and that filling quality. Plus, you don’t need anything fancy to pull this off. Here's why I trust these staples:

Flat lay of raw extra lean ground beef formed into a neat mound, a medium white onion finely diced in a simple white ceramic bowl, a small white bowl filled with bright red smooth passata, a freshly diced red bell pepper and green bell pepper arranged side by side on a white ceramic plate, a white ceramic bowl containing bright yellow frozen sweetcorn kernels, uncooked long-grain white rice in a small white ceramic bowl, four fresh spring onions with green tops intact, a small white bowl holding creamy white quark, a small heap of grated sharp cheddar cheese on a white ceramic plate, and small piles of ground cumin, paprika, chili powder, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper each carefully portioned on a white ceramic plate, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Extra lean ground beef: Keeps the dish rich and protein-packed without too much grease.
Onion: Adds a touch of sweetness and depth when browned with the beef.
Passata: A smooth tomato base that blends easily without overpowering the spices.
Red and green peppers: These bring a fresh crunch and color contrast to the skillet.
Frozen sweetcorn: Adds a subtle sweetness and texture burst.
Uncooked long-grain rice: Cooks right in the sauce, absorbing all those amazing taco flavors.
Water or stock: Stock will supercharge flavor, but water works fine in a pinch.
Spring onions: Freshly sprinkled on top, they add zing and a lovely pop of green.
Quark: I love this creamy addition that melts into the dish for smoothness without heaviness.
Cheddar cheese: Nothing beats that melty, savory cheese pull that brings it all together.
Spices — cumin, paprika, chili powder, oregano, garlic & onion powders, cayenne: The heart of the taco flavor, balanced to be warm and mildly spicy.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

This One Pot Taco Beef and Rice Skillet Recipe is super flexible, which makes it fun to experiment with. Over time, I've personalized it depending on who I’m feeding and what I have on hand—you should try mixing it up too!

Variation: I sometimes swap the beef for turkey or chicken mince to lighten it up, and it tastes just as great.
Spice Adjustment: If you like it milder, cut down the cayenne or skip it altogether; for heat lovers, I add an extra pinch!
Extra Veggies: Adding chopped zucchini or mushrooms gives it an earthy boost and sneaks in more veggies.
Dairy-Free Option: Leave out the quark and cheese, or use a plant-based cheese and creamy spread.

Step-by-Step: How I Make One Pot Taco Beef and Rice Skillet Recipe

A white plate holds a serving of seasoned rice with small pieces of browned meat mixed in, along with bits of red and yellow bell peppers, and small chunks of green vegetables. The top is scattered with chopped green onions adding a fresh color contrast. A silver fork with a wooden handle rests on the plate's edge. The plate sits on a patterned cloth with blue and red designs, placed on a wooden table. In the background, a red pot with blurred contents and a wooden spoon are visible against a white marbled texture surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Step 1: Browning the Beef and Onion

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add your extra lean ground beef and the finely diced onion. Cook, breaking up the beef with your spoon, until the meat is browned evenly and the onions are soft. This step is key because browning builds flavor — so don’t rush it! Drain any excess fat if you prefer a leaner dish.

Step 2: Season and Mix in the Veggies

Next, sprinkle in the cumin, paprika, chili powder, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper. Stir well to coat the beef thoroughly with those fragrant spices. Then add the diced red and green peppers, passata, and frozen sweetcorn. Give everything a good mix to combine those vibrant flavors.

Step 3: Add Rice and Liquids, Simmer Gently

Pour in the uncooked long-grain rice and the water (or stock, if you want extra flavor). Stir carefully to distribute the rice evenly. Bring the skillet to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover it, and let it simmer gently until the liquid is nearly absorbed. This should take around 20 minutes—try not to peek too often to keep the steam locked in!

Step 4: Rest and Melt in the Cheese

Turn off the heat but keep the skillet covered for another 10-12 minutes. This resting time lets the rice finish cooking perfectly in the steam. Then stir in the quark and grated cheddar cheese until everything melts into a creamy, cheesy delight.

Step 5: Garnish and Serve

Finally, sprinkle freshly diced spring onions over the top for a fresh bite. Scoop into bowls and enjoy that comforting mix of spicy beef, tender rice, and cheesy goodness.

Top Tip

Over the years, I’ve found a few little tricks that really make this dish shine and save me some heartaches along the way.

Don’t Skip the Rest: Letting the skillet sit covered with the heat off is what makes your rice perfectly tender without being mushy.
Use Stock When You Can: Swapping water for beef or vegetable stock amps up the flavor in those simmered rice grains.
Evenly Dice Veggies: Cutting the peppers and onions uniformly ensures they cook at the same rate and you get that lovely texture with every bite.
Slow Your Simmer: Keeping the heat low during simmer helps avoid the rice sticking or burning at the bottom of the pan.

How to Serve One Pot Taco Beef and Rice Skillet Recipe

Garnishes

I always go for fresh spring onions and a dollop of sour cream or extra quark on top to cool off some of that spice. A squeeze of fresh lime juice really brightens everything up, too—you might not think of it until you try it!

Side Dishes

I like pairing this skillet with a simple side salad or crunchy tortilla chips for dipping. Roasted veggies or even a light guacamole make lovely accompaniments as well.

Creative Ways to Present

For get-togethers, I’ve served this in individual mini cast iron skillets—it’s a fun way to keep portions warm and look a little fancier. You could also stuff it into warm tortillas or serve alongside nacho toppings to turn it into a taco night feast.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once cooled, I store leftovers in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days. The flavors actually deepen overnight, making for an even tastier meal the next day.

Freezing

This recipe freezes beautifully! Just portion it into freezer-safe containers and defrost overnight in the fridge before reheating. It’s a great option for batch cooking and busy weeks.

Reheating

I usually reheat leftovers gently on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring often to prevent sticking. If it feels dry, adding a splash of water or stock helps bring back the creamy texture.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make this One Pot Taco Beef and Rice Skillet Recipe gluten-free?

Absolutely! This recipe uses naturally gluten-free ingredients like rice and spices. Just double-check your passata and stock to ensure they’re gluten-free, and you’re good to go.

Can I use brown rice instead of white rice?

You can! But keep in mind brown rice usually takes longer to cook and requires more liquid, so adjust cooking time and water accordingly. Alternatively, parboil the brown rice separately and mix it in towards the end.

How spicy is this recipe?

It’s nicely balanced with a mild to medium spice level. You can easily adjust the heat by changing the amount of cayenne pepper or chili powder depending on your family’s preference.

Can I make this recipe vegetarian or vegan?

For a vegetarian version, swap the ground beef for a plant-based mince or texture protein like lentils. To make it vegan, also replace the cheddar and quark with vegan cheese alternatives or omit them altogether—adding a splash of coconut cream can help keep it creamy.

Final Thoughts

This One Pot Taco Beef and Rice Skillet Recipe is one of those go-to meals that I’m always excited to make and share. It’s flavorful, comforting, and ridiculously easy to customize. I hope you enjoy making it as much as I do—once you try it, you’ll see why it quickly becomes a household favorite.