This One Pot Taco Rice Dinner is a simple family-friendly meal. Serve it with your favorite taco toppings for an easy Mexican-inspired dinner.
Taco night gets easier with this One Pot Taco Rice Dinner. Brown the meat, add rice and seasonings, simmer until the rice is tender, then serve in bowls with all the fixings. This straightforward recipe is perfect for weeknights and pairs well with classic sides like Mexican street corn and creamy queso.
One Pot Taco Bowl Recipe
This cheesy taco rice bowl is an easy, flavorful meal for busy evenings—especially Taco Tuesday. Gather the following ingredients:
- Ground beef: Use lean ground beef for less grease (93% lean works well).
- Taco seasoning: One store-bought packet or about 2 tablespoons of homemade taco seasoning.
- Beef broth: Enough to cook and flavor the rice; chicken broth can be substituted if needed.
- White rice: Long-grain white rice, uncooked.
- Salsa: Your favorite mild or spicy variety.
- Taco fixings: For topping individual bowls—cheese, lettuce, sour cream, avocado, tomatoes, red onion, cilantro, etc.
How to Make One Pot Taco Rice Dinner
- In a large skillet, brown and crumble the ground beef over medium heat. Drain excess grease.
- Return the pan to the heat and stir in the taco seasoning, beef broth and salsa.
- Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat, then stir in the rice and return to a low boil.
- Cover, reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes without lifting the lid.
- Remove the lid and let the pot sit for 3 minutes, then fluff the rice with a fork.
- Serve in bowls and top with your preferred taco fixings.
Family Dinner Idea
This one pot taco rice is ideal for family meals or casual gatherings. Set out bowls of toppings and let everyone build their own. Popular toppings include diced avocado, shredded cheese, lettuce, red onion and a drizzle of white queso. Add extra salsa, sour cream or cilantro as desired.
Tips for Success
- Drain grease easily: Use tongs to hold a paper towel and blot the pan to soak up excess grease, then discard the towel on a plate to avoid splashing or clogging the sink.
- Make it cheesy: Stir 1–2 cups of shredded cheese into the finished pan if you want a uniformly cheesy taco rice, or leave the cheese on the side so everyone can add their preferred amount.
- Don’t lift the lid: Cooking time is about 25 minutes total (20 minutes simmering plus 3 minutes resting). Lifting the lid early can extend the cooking time; if the rice isn’t fully done after the recommended time, replace the lid and cook another 5–10 minutes.
Other One Pot Dinner Ideas
- Biscuit-topped Italian ground beef casserole
- Cheesy nacho beef skillet
- Family-favorite chili mac
- Sloppy Joe noodle skillet
Print or save the recipe card below for full ingredient amounts and step-by-step instructions. If you try this recipe, leave a rating to share how it turned out.
Recipe Card
One Pot Taco Rice Dinner
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 oz. packet taco seasoning
- 3 cups beef broth
- 2 cups uncooked long grain white rice
- 1 cup salsa
- Taco fixings for serving (sour cream, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, avocados, red onion, etc.)
Instructions
- In a large pan, brown and crumble the beef over medium heat. Drain excess grease. Stir in taco seasoning, then broth and salsa.
- Bring to a boil over high heat. Stir in the rice; return to a low boil. Cover, reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes without removing the lid.
- Remove the lid and allow to set 3 minutes before fluffing with a fork.
- Serve in individual bowls with your preferred taco toppings such as cheese, lettuce, red onion, salsa, avocados and sour cream.
Notes
- Nutritional information is an estimate and does not include toppings.
- You may use 1½ cups of rice instead of 2 cups; do not change the cooking time.