Taco Rice

This Taco Rice recipe is filled with vibrant colors and robust flavors. It’s a satisfying one-pot dish that merges the flavors of traditional tacos with fluffy white rice. Just like tacos, it’s perfectly customizable for a one dish family-friendly meal.

Is Taco Rice the Same as Spanish Rice?

Taco rice is more of an entree than a side dish. It includes taco seasoned ground meat that’s typically not found in Spanish rice.

Ingredients to Make Taco Rice Recipe

This simple ground beef Taco Rice is versatile, so feel free to customize it with your favorite taco toppings or mix-ins. It’s a skillet dish that’s perfect for a quick weeknight dinner with the family or a fun South of the border inspired meal to share with friends. The combination of textures featured in this recipe of lean beef and tender rice finished with a variety of toppings, is certain to turn this into a family favorite.

Checkout this quick list of ingredients to make quick and easy Taco Rice: (Scroll down for full printable recipe card.)

• Beef – Lean ground beef adds protein.
• Rice – Dry long grain white rice forms the base of the dish.
• Fresh Vegetables – Sweet onion or yellow onion sautéed with red bell pepper and jalapeno pepper.
• Oil – Olive oil for sautéing the beef and vegetables.
• Garlic – Garlic cloves enhance the flavor of the onion.
• Liquid – Beef stock or beef broth.
• Tomatoes – Rotel tomatoes, you can use hot or mild.
• Taco Seasoning – Two packets of your favorite brand of taco seasoning, plus chili powder, garlic salt and lemon pepper to boost the flavor.
• Cheese – Nacho cheese sauce and shredded colby jack cheese for the melty cheesy taste.
• Topping – Crushed nacho Doritos add crunch and texture.

How to Make the BEST Taco Rice Recipe

• Cook Ground Beef, Onion and Peppers – In a 12-inch oven safe skillet or Dutch oven, brown the ground beef, onion, red bell pepper and jalapeno pepper. Cook the hamburger until no pink remains.
• Rice and Garlic – To the ground beef add the garlic and rice. Stir to combine.
• Liquid and Seasonings – Add the beef stock, Rotel tomatoes, taco seasoning, chili powder, garlic salt and lemon pepper. Mix to combine. Bring to a simmer then lower the heat and cover cooking on low gently bubbling until the rice is tender. Add the nacho cheese. Stir to combine.
• Topping – Top with crushed Doritos and shredded cheese. Pop the skillet under the broiler in the oven until the cheese has melted and is golden.
• Serve – Serve cheesy taco rice immediately topped with sour cream, green onions, avocado, salsa or pico de gallo.

Kitchen Equipment to Make Cheesy Fiesta Taco Rice

• 12-inch oven safe skillet or cast iron skillet with a lid.
• Cheese grater for freshly grate cheese.
• Sharp knife and chopping board.
• Measuring cups and spoons.
• Large spoon for stirring and serving.

Recipe Variations, Tips and Substitutions

• Protein – You can make this recipe using ground chicken, ground turkey or ground pork.
• Beans – You could add black beans or pinto beans to this dish. When doing so, drain and rinse the beans prior to adding them to the rice mixture.
• Seasonings – You could make your own taco seasoning to use in place of using a premade packet taco seasoning.
• Cheese Sauce Substitution – Nacho cheese sauce adds a creaminess to the this hamburger rice. You could also use queso blanco.
• Shredded Cheese – Colby jack cheese is a combination of colby cheese and monterey jack cheese. You can adapt this casserole using cheddar cheese, pepper jack cheese for spice or quesadilla cheese.
• Doritos – You could use tortilla chips in place of crushed Doritos.
• Rotel Tomatoes – You can use salsa, tomato sauce or taco sauce in place of tomatoes.
• Alternate Baking Dish – If you don’t have an oven safe skillet you could transfer the rice mixture to a baking dish to broil the topping.
• Taco Rice Toppings – This ground beef taco rice can be topped with shredded colby jack cheese or cheddar cheese. After baking, you can personalize it with a variety of toppings, such as sour cream, salsa, diced avocado, crumbled queso fresco, chopped cilantro, shredded iceberg lettuce and jalapeños.
• Side Dishes to Serve with Taco Rice – You can also serve this with a green salad, a side of refried beans and corn muffins or wrap it up in a tortilla for a quick burrito.

Storage and Leftovers

• Leftovers – Store leftover Taco Rice in an airtight container chilled in the fridge for up to 3 days.
• Reheating – Reheat in single servings in the microwave.
• Freezer – Freeze leftovers for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator and reheat just before serving.

More Easy Ground Beef Casserole Recipes to Make

• Barbecue flavored Smokey Joes.
• Treat the family to a big bowl of Chili Spaghetti.
• Shepherd’s Pie for St Patrick’s Day or any day that suit your fancy.
• Teriyaki Beef Fried Rice is quick and easy.
• Skip the box and make your own Cheeseburger Macaroni.
• Serve this Ground Beef Stroganoff over tender egg noodles.
• Use a fluffy loaf of bread from the grocery store bakery to make this Stuffed Sloppy Joe Bread.
• Italian Basil Beef and Shells for Italian night at home.
• Meatball Kabobs from Homemade Hooplah.

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

• Skillet
• Measuring Set
• Kitchen Utensils
• Cheese Grater