This colourful ground Beef and Rice recipe will be a terrific addition to your ground beef recipes collection! It’s like a pilaf, except loaded with more veggies and packed with more flavour.
I’m a big fan of beef mince – it’s economical and convenient (no chopping!). And this is a great quick way make turn a packet of beef mince into a complete meal!
Ground beef and rice
Flavoured rice. Seasoned beef. AND veggies.
All made in ONE POT.
How handy is that?? This ground beef and rice recipe is a complete meal, with barely any chopping. Full of bright colours, plenty of nutrition, simple and fast to make.
And it tastes SO GOOD!!!
This ground beef and rice is a quick recipe that’s full of flavour and a complete meal in one pot!
I’m a big fan of rice in all forms. Chicken and Rice, rice soup, risotto, flavoured rices (Mexican Red Rice is a firm favourite along with Mushroom Rice!), Arancini balls.
In fact, I’m yet to meet a rice dish that I don’t like!!
But as regular readers know, I’m a rice snob. I may be Aussie, but I’ll always be a rice snob owing to my Japanese background. Dry bread and over cooked veggies I can handle.
Mushy rice – I can’t stomach it.
Rice. Snob. 🍚
So cooking rice in one pot like I do with this ground beef recipe (along with all sorts of other stuff) means getting the liquid to rice ratios right (and using the right rice) so you end up with perfectly cook fluffy grains of rice that have soaked up all that flavour.
See? Fluffy. Not soft and mushy!!!
How to make it
This is made like a pilaf, starting off by sautéing onion and garlic for the flavour base. Then the beef and capsicum/bell peppers are added, then the rice and liquids and seasoning.
Give it a good mix, plonk the lid on and leave it to do its thing.
No peeking! It’s one of the biggest rice cooking mistakes – if you peek, steam escapes which affects the rice cooking process!
We can never have enough ground beef recipes for quick dinners!
Today’s Beef and Rice recipe is intended to be a quick, no fuss (yet super tasty!) midweek meal. Hence why it’s made in one pot, with ground beef, a combination of fresh and frozen veggies and a mound of baby spinach. Minimal chopping, yet plenty of flavour, a complete meal.
No need for toppings or garnishes. I actually don’t even know what I’d dollop on top. Maybe sour cream or yoghurt. I personally don’t think it needs it because the rice is well seasoned, but it’s optional! – Nagi
PS Foodie translation: Ground beef = beef mince, though I’ve noticed some butchers in Australia nowadays are starting to call it ground beef.
PPS This recipe will work well with any ground / mince meat. Pork, chicken, turkey, even lamb.
And more One Pot Ground Beef / Mince recipes
Cheeseburger Casserole (Homemade Hamburger Helper)
Chili Mac – mash up of Mac and Cheese with Chilli Con Carne, so good!
Asian Beef and Ramen Noodles – one skillet, 15 minutes
Taco Soup – don’t knock it until you’ve tried it, it’s amazing!
Browse all One Pot recipes and Ground Beef / Mince recipes
Beef and rice recipe
Watch how to make it
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Beef and Rice with Veggies
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion , diced (any type)
- 1 red capsicum / bell pepper , diced (large)
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 500g (1 lb) ground beef (mince) , lean
- 2 1/2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp EACH cumin, black pepper
- 1 tsp each onion powder, dried oregano (or other herb of choice)
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1 dried bay leaf
- 1 1/4 cups (225g) long grain white rice , uncooked (Note 1)
- 2 cups (500 ml) beef broth , low sodium
- 2 cups (300g) diced frozen veggies , I used corn, pea, carrot mix (Note 2)
- 3 big handfuls baby spinach (~ 90g/3 oz) , or other leafy greens (Note 3)
Instructions
- Heat oil in large pot over high heat. Add onion, capsicum and garlic. Cook for 1 minute.
- Add beef, cook until brown, breaking it up as you go.
- Add tomato paste, salt, pepper, onion powder, oregano, cumin and cayenne pepper. Cook for 1 minute.
- Turn heat down to medium. Add rice and beef broth, mix well. Add frozen veggies and bay leaf, then stir.
- Place lid on, lower heat to medium low so it’s simmering gently. Cook for 12 – 15 minutes (might even take longer) until all liquid is absorbed (tilt pot to check). The rice should be just cooked, but will be wet.
- Remove from heat. Quickly toss spinach on top of the rice and put the lid back on. Leave to rest for 10 minutes.
- Fluff rice and mix through wilted spinach with a fork. Adjust salt if desired. Serve!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
LIFE OF DOZER
I drive 100km to the outskirts of Sydney just to take Dozer to this dog wizard, Neil Barnsley of Animal Holistic Therapies. “Enthusiastic” playing + abnormally long legs for a Golden Retriever + being double jointed = regular “active dog” injuries. Whereas conventional vets order costly X-rays (that are only useful if they know where the injury is) or being unable to provide an exact diagnosis, will give a general instruction to keep him quiet (easier said than done!!!), Neil Barnsley has a 100% hit rate in pinpointing exactly where and what Dozer’s ligament/joint/muscle injuries are, through touch alone.
It’s fascinating to watch. Truly a dog genius. And (much) better value than normal vets too – a standard consult is $60, and there’s no expensive medication or Xray costs because he’s a natural therapist!
PS Yes that’s Dozer getting acupuncture. Not even I’VE had acupuncture!!!!🤣
I just sat down to watch the video again… this time with a bowl of the stuff right in front of me for comparison, and I felt so proud of myself! I had to leave out the cayenne, because I’m very sensitive to hot stuff, but it still gives off plenty of warmth through the pepper, and is honestly perfect for the cold weather we’re having. Thank you for sharing another lovely recipe! You never disappoint!
I’m so glad to hear that Einzel! You clearly NAILED IT!!! N xx
Nagi, you are an alchemist! In a way of sorts I suppose.
It’s good, it’s good for you, it helps your well being…
See?
This is REALLY good. REALLY good! Did I say “REALLY GOOD!???”
😂
I live in Canada, in the province of British Columbia and have fallen in love with your recipes—-ALL of them! I look forward to my emails from you. My husband loves the Salisbury steak recipe and so do I! Thanks so much for the economy and the easily available ingredients. Love that Dozer! Barb
Ohhh! I love hearing that Barb, thanks so much for letting me know! (Both the FOOD and DOZER!) N x
Nagi,
I’m also an advocate of acupuncture, very effective. In CA, we just don’t have that sort of therapy for pets, regardless of centuries of effectiveness for humans. We’re decades behind in alternative complementary medicine for our pets.
This recipe looks great, just one question. You browned the beef but didn’t drain the fat. Is that because you’re using very lean, low-fat beef (like a custom-ground chuck) or does the oil from the beef add to the overall flavor and doesn’t need to be drained because of all the veg and rice, which should absorb a great deal.? I can’t decide which is better, so if you can, I’d love to hear back about this. I could just give it a try, but honestly, ground beef here in the states is never really the best available. Should I go for the custom chuck-ground? Pricier, but who cares if it makes a super-easy and tasty dinner? Thanks, Flap/CA
Hi FLAP! To be honest, I would not drain the fat even if I didn’t use lean beef because fat is where the flavour is! In all honesty, if you mixed beef fat with pork meat, you would swear you were eating beef 🙂 But if your beef is very fatty then yes by all means, drain some of the fat! N x
Just checking do we wash the rice first before we add it to the pot? Thanks for all the great recipes.
Hi Geni! I don’t because rice here in Australia is sold in packets and it’s clean, and because I use long grain starch, excess starch doesn’t need to be rinsed off because it’s not a sticky rice 🙂 N x
Hi Nagi
Thanks for another great recipe. We just loved this one too. Quick and easy to make after work and very tasty. I was lucky that I got the leftovers to take to work for lunch. Thanks Liz xx
I’m so pleased to hear you enjoyed this Liz! Thanks so much for letting me know! N x ❤️
Made this for dinner tonight and my partner almost finished the whole pot on his own 😂. I added some chopped chorizo for extra zing. Thanks for the stellar recipe Nagi! x
CHORIZO!!!! Slam dunk! 🙌🏻
Yum, yum, yum! There are few meals that my whole family all will eat. This was another one of your recipes that I can cook without complaints. Thank you 🙂
I absolutely love hearing that!!! I’m so pleased, thanks for letting me know Kristina! N x
So simple and cheap but an amazing recipe! I made this last night and this is the only time in 33 years of marriage that I have witnessed my wife go for seconds!
I’m going to have another go tomorrow night with Pork Mince because I’ve still got 500ml of stock left over.
WOW OH WOW! You rockstar John! 🤩
I love your recipes, you are very talented and creative. You have explained everything in so much detail and love the fact that you have notes which are helpful when it comes to alternatives. I look forward to many more of your simple yet tasty recipes!
Mona xx
Hi Mona! Thanks so much for your lovely message, I’m so glad you are enjoying my recipes!! N xx
Nagi, YOU ARE A GENIUS .. my husband made this tonight. Delicious and AMAZING!!! Thank you again for your terrific blog and recipes.. All best, Brooke
HIGH FIVE!!!! Your husband is a rock star!! N xx
Oh Nagi, where have you been all my life!!! I’m only relatively new to this cooking thing & one of my most hated things is having to THINK about what to have for dinner every. single. night. That was until you came along. I now print your recipes and have them in a folder. LOVE that your recipes are so simple yet full of flavour. The videos really help – it’s always good to see how you do it as being a novice sometimes I’m not exactly sure.
Looking forward to this mince one. I really try never to use any packet stuff because gross…. who knows WHATS in those things. But knowing the combo of herbs & spices doesn’t exactly come naturally. I’ve found different websites & recipes from time to time but yours are my consistent go to!! Thank you, thank you, thank you xxx
Sarah 🙂
ps. Love seeing your pics of Dozer – and I’m going to keep Neil in mind as well. I’ve got a very bouncy black lab who is just adorable but all that bouncing sure puts his joints under strain and the vet already told me to expect him to get arthritis as he ages. I live in the Southern Highlands so getting to Neil will also be a mission but by the sounds of things, totally worth it. Thanks again 🙂
Hiiii Sarah! I was just in the Southern Highlands last month, just near Bowral! I love it down there. So beautiful. 🙂 Depending on where you are in the Southern Highlands, it’s probably faster for you to get to Neil than me!! He’s about 30 minutes south of Penrith. So glad you found me Sarah, and that you’re enjoying my recipes! N x
Thanks for your recipes, and the up date on Dozer.
You’re so welcome Jonathan! N x
Once again – your never fail recipes make our evening. I cooked this tonight for unexpected guests and it was a winner. Kids and adults all loved it.
You’ve tried it already?? YOU ROCK Pippa!!!! N xx
I was trying to figure out what to make for dinner and this popped in my inbox! It was very easy and filling and tasted good! I love that it is packed with veggies. I had a spinach/baby kale blend so I used that because it’s what was on hand. This recipe seems like it would be easy to adjust with different flavors and spices to mix it up too. And the ride turned out perfectly!
Rice not ride! 🙂
Ha!!! But it read ok!! 😂 So glad you enjoyed this Alexis, thanks for reminding me to add a tip in above switching the spinach with other leafy greens! N xx
Ok was gonna do spag bog tonight but guess not LOL. I will try it with a bit of taco seasoning.
YES!! I am absolutely going to share a taco version one day! N xx
Hi Nagi,
We made this for dinner tonight, yummy 😋
This is a keeper.
You may want to add to the recipe when to add the bay leaf. You show it clearly in the video.
Thanks for the way your recipes have improved our eating 😃
(Hi to Dozer too)
Gerry
Oops! Thanks for picking that up Gerry! N xx
Doesn’t Dozer look relaxes! And I have had acupuncture and it has worked a treat 🙂 ! And if some of that is a placebo effect, the result matters, does it not . . . the safely achieved result ? You have managed to ‘hide’ an admirable amount of veggies of different colours (so necessary) into the dish . . . well, I would have to parboil my rice and then finish a la you as I only eat the ‘brown stuff’ 😉 !
Really?? I’ve never ever had it!
Never had brown rice? That I do not believe: good carb v bad carb 🙂 !! I keep a little Arborio or similar in the pantry for risottos, but never for other recipes . . . 🙂 !
YUMI food! That’s good way get rid of veggies, no need to worrie about topping just tuck in. I’ll join you and Dozer do not mind acupuncture . My mobile vet was fantastic with cat Maza, cheap visits and Medes only if needed. Also has provided extra service by phoning every w/ end to find out what’s taking place. Due to age she went of the food but having vet on a go was REALY big help didn’t have to stress her with traveling. Hope all your efforts are paying off. Have your self good week you deserve.!
Mobile vet?? Now THAT’S a great idea!!! N xx
Oh my gosh I needed this recipe. Gonna make it tonight. I have everything for it. Thank you. Something new to add to the rotation. Thank you!!!! ♥
Hope you love it Norma!! N xx