I’m back with another yummy Mexican meal our whole family loves.
I can have this frugal, family-friendly meal on the table in roughly 15-20 minutes since I almost always have the ground beef and rice pre-cooked in my freezer, and the leftovers are a fantastic hot dip for tortilla chips!
If you’re looking for a vegetarian meal or more of a side dish, simply leave out the ground beef. Or, spread the filling between two tortillas and grill it on a George Foreman or panini maker for a quesadilla.
And, like most of my recipes, it freezes well too!
Recipe for Easy One-Skillet Mexican Rice Casserole
serves 6
INGREDIENTS:
- olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 T. minced garlic
- 1 c. peppers, diced
- 1 c. corn (fresh, frozen, canned)
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes,
- 1 can (15 oz) refried beans
- 1 can (12 oz) red enchilada sauce (mild or hot – depending on your preference)
- 1 packet (1.2 oz) taco seasoning
- 2 c. cooked rice (you’ll need to cook it ahead of time — so 1 c. dry rice)
- 2 c. cooked ground beef
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 to 2 c. shredded cheese
- fresh cilantro, sour cream, green onions, avocado, etc. (optional garnishes)
DIRECTIONS:
In a large covered frying pan, heat oil over medium heat.
Add in garlic, diced onions, and peppers. Sauté until veggies are tender.
Add in all the rest of the ingredients (except the cheese). Cook over medium low heat, stirring regularly until everything is combined and heated through.
Add cheese, cover, and let melt (about 3-5 minutes).
Add garnishes and serve!
If you have precooked ingredients in your freezer like I do, you’ll easily be able to get this meal on the table in 15-20 minutes.
However, even if you have to cook up the ground beef and the rice, it’s still a really quick, easy, frugal, and filling meal that would work well for busy week nights or lazy weekends.
We enjoy this meal quite regularly, as a casserole, as a hot dip for chips, as quesadilla filling, and as a side dish with another Mexican main dish.
If you give it a try, I hope your family loves it too!
What are your favorite one-dish meals?
Visit my virtual recipe box for more simple, delicious, family friendly recipes!
Barb Lutke says
I made this again last week and we love it! It makes enough to have a ready made meal in the freezer too!
Andrea says
yes — I always get 2 meals out of it too 🙂 Glad you and your family enjoyed it!
Sue Stein says
The recipe says it serves 6….is that without a 2nd serving? I want to make it for my daughter’s family of 6, but they have hearty appetites! Looks like a meal they will love!
Andrea says
Hi Sue — I suppose it depends on how much one person eats. It’s plenty for our entire family (with leftovers) but our kids are little!
Sue Stein says
An update on my question of how many people this recipe serves: I just served this casserole to 8 of us. We all had plenty and there are leftovers! Thank you so much, Andrea, for this delicious meal! We all loved it.
Andrea says
oh great — thanks for coming back and updating 🙂 That’s helpful!
And I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Kathy says
I have pinned and used many of your recipes and they are always a big hit! I look forward to trying this one.
The ingredients list doesn’t include peppers, but peppers are mentioned in the directions and shown in the photos. I will definitely be using peppers when I try this recipe.
This is my favorite blog!!
Andrea says
I’ll look into that — but yes, I almost always throw some peppers into this recipe. You could use spicier ones too (if that’s what your family likes).
Thanks for your kind words and encouragement!
Shelly says
Looks yummy! With the price of groceries going up these type of meals are wonderful. Can’t wait to try it.
Andrea says
Thanks Shelly — yes, “rice and beans meals” might have to make a comeback with the soaring prices of groceries!
Lana says
I made this Saturday evening, with cauliflower rice, it was very tasty! It did not have the same thick consistency as yours in the picture above, since cauliflower rice doesn’t absorb the same. But still very good. Will be making it again.
Andrea says
yummy! yes, if you use cauliflower rice, you’d probably want to hold back on some of the liquid… glad it still tasted good!
Sheila says
Andrea,
I am a new follower and I have immensely enjoyed reading your blog and seeing all the pics of your sweet family, You are a terrific Momma and a woman wise beyond your years, and I know where your wisdom comes from.
I have made this dish about six times now and everybody loves it! I also made it for a Vegan minus the beef and it was just as good! Thank you for sharing ALL that you do – you are making an eternal difference in the lives of your family and those that read your blog. May God continue to guide you!
Andrea says
Thanks so much Sheila!!!
If you ever need/want to make it vegan again, try using cooked brown lentils in place of the beef — it really is quite tasty!
And that reminds me, I need to put this meal on our menu plan for next week — we all love it!
Marie says
Can’t wait to try this! My husband won’t eat beef so will try it with ground chicken. Thanks for a yummy simple idea,
Andrea says
oh yes, it should work with ground chicken too (or even shredded chicken)!
Brittany says
I made this last night, substituting salsa for the enchilada sauce. It’s awesome! Compliments from the hubs, and he doesn’t usually rave over things.
Andrea says
yay!! I was actually going to say that you could sub in salsa for the enchilada sauce, but didn’t put that in the post. Glad you all liked it 🙂
Deb says
I just started making my own enchilada sauce with this recipe.
https://dinnerthendessert.com/best-homemade-enchilada-sauce-and-quick/
VERY easy and I am more likely to have those ingredients than enchilada sauce.
Might take away from the quick and easy, but still……
Andrea says
thanks so much — this will be really helpful for me too as I usually have those ingredients in the house and not always enchilada sauce 🙂
Michelle says
Just curious….how do the little ones do with it?
I am trying to think of meal ideas for when my daughter gives birth in a few weeks to help her out. She has 3 little ones that are really picky eaters. I am struggling to come up with quick, inexpensive dishes the whole family will eat.
If you have any suggestions I would be ever so grateful.
I WILL be trying this one for sure. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Andrea says
My kids love it – but of course, it’s all what the kids are used to. If they dont’ regularly have Mexican meals, they might not like it.