A complete meal made in one pot – this Beef and Rice recipe will be a terrific addition to your ground beef recipes collection! Beef mince is economical, convenient (no chopping!) and makes a fantastic meal when cooked with seasoned rice and plenty of veggies. And it’s quick to make too!
How close is too close for food photos??? Back when I had a monthly spread in Super Food Ideas magazine, I was briefed specifically to pull back and take photos from further away, showing most of the entire plate / pot of food, rather than super close ups.
It made sense. The magazine is A4 size, so seeing a full page photo like this would almost be scary – like Attack of the Rice. Nightmares of a Rice Avalanche tumbling out of the pages of a magazines.
If you’re reading this on a phone, it might not look scary to you. But imagine that photo on a giant computer screen.
Scary? Or tasty? 🙂
The main reason I shoot close ups is because I want to show detail. For example, so you can see how the rice is beautifully fluffy rather than mushy. Because, 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.
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.
PPPS All my ground beef recipes –> Ground Beef (Mince) Recipes
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Beef and Rice with Veggies
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 red onion (or brown, yellow or white) , diced
- 1 red capsicum / bell pepper (large) , diced
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 500 g / 1 lb lean beef mince (ground beef)
- 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
- 2 cups / 300g diced frozen veggies (I used corn, pea, carrot mix) (Note 2)
- 2 large 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
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
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!!!!🤣
Gladis says
Just found your amazing recipes! Question, can I use chicken broth instead of beef broth?
NKenge says
have you tired this with turkey or venison or bison ?
Suzie says
Super recipe (once again). This freezes well. I made a batch for freezing in 4 containers for my son to take camping for him and mates so that their first night meal was sorted. The frozen pots helps keep the meat etc they took chilled too while they travelled. Another Nagi success 🙂 Thank you x
Nagi says
That’s terrific to hear Suzie! Glad you enjoyed this! N x
Nancy says
I have been searching for a tasty beef and rice dish for years and have finally found it! No can soup or minute rice to be found. Thank you so much! Your recipes are perfect 🙂
Neetha says
Hi Nagi, I dont have any capsicum, is there anything else I can use instead? I have lots of tomatoes and carrot.
Nagi says
Absolutely! Use any other veg you can dice and cook like capsicum 🙂 N x
Ev says
Another winner! Hubby had 3 servings, my son inhaled his dinner! There’s just enough leftover to take to work for lunch. But who gets to take it?!
Thanks for this recipe.
Christina says
I have everything but the beef broth, help! Dont have chicken either. No time to run to the store. Will water be ok?
Nagi says
Water + stock powder will be fine! N x
Nancy says
Excellent flavour and very easy to make. This recipe makes enough for two meals for my husband and I !
I will omit the 1/4 cup rice next time – I had to add extra water as rice was not cooked when the broth was all absorbed.
Nagi says
I’m pleased to hear you enjoyed this Nancy! Sorry to hear the rice wasn’t soft enough for your taste 🙂 N x
Erin says
This recipe is SO good. I wasn’t paying close enough attention and cooked it a bit longer than I should have. However, that caused the rice sitting on the edges of the pan to get a nice brown crust which added some tasty texture. I’ll definitely be making this again!
Nagi says
That’s so great to hear Erin! I’m so pleased you enjoyed this, thank you for letting me know! N x
Ruby says
I tried this receipe last night and it was delicious! I didn’t have any cayenne pepper so I substitued with red chilli powder. Our family likes spice and it turned out amazing. Thank you! I will definitely check out your other recipes.
Nagi says
That’s great! Glad you enjoyed it Ruby! 🙂 N x
Sasha says
What can I sub for tomato paste? I’m allergic to tomatoes
Hannah says
I use a red bell pepper, and put it in the blender. I don’t like the tomato taste so I do that for consistency
Gail says
Made this tonight Nagi……mmmmmm delicious! I always mess up cooking the raw rice with the other ingredients in a recipe…..but, this time I’ve been successful! YEH!!
Thanks for another quick and delicious meal…….will be making this again – for sure!
Gail
P.S. hope Dozer is continuing to recover…….I am thankful that you care for him so well, and I’m sure he is too!
Nagi says
That’s so great to hear Melody! I’m so happy to hear that! And Dozer is doing just great Gail, thanks for asking! N x ❤️
LinSiew says
Hi Nagi, can I do it in a rice cooker? Like a one pot rice? If yes, I suppose just put everything in? Thank you!
Nagi says
I would still do all the browning in a normal pot then tip it all in the rice cooker to cook the rice! 🙂
Dianne says
Hi Nagi, I have 2 lbs of ground beef and I’m wondering if I should double all the other ingredients? And if so, how long will the cooking time be? I plan to make it today. Thanks
Taz says
Just made this. And it was outstanding . I have to hold myself back from eating more . It was nice a chance of flavors for me cause usually if I make rice with other stuff it’s south East Asian inspired ( biryani etc) this was sooooo good !
Nagi says
I’m glad to hear you enjoyed this Taz!!! Thanks for taking the time to let me know 🙂 N x
Sonia says
Made this tonight with my 10 year old daughter. We loved it and it was so quick and easy. Lots of yummy flavours, very satisfying indeed. YUM! Thank you Nagi, we will be trying a few more of your recipes this week.
Nagi says
Aww love hearing that your daughter helped! Junior Masterchef!! N x
brooke says
Shared this with a friend and we both agreed: Nagi, you are a Genius! Thank you for another terrific recipe …Oh yes, my husband made this again for the family… and we all LOVED it !!
Nagi says
OK, I should be all humble and gracious but I can’t help it, I’m sitting here at the coffee shop grinning away!! N xx
Samina says
This is superb. I made it tonight and everybody wanted seconds! We had it with a little bit of grated cheese and yoghurt on top. Yum yum yum. We’ll be having this on a regular basis, thank you Nagi!
Nagi says
Yesssss! So glad you enjoyed it Samina! N xx
Lee-Ann Palm says
Hi Nagi, we are a household of two, can I freeze the leftovers?
Nagi says
Yes! Freezes so great, microwave with cling wrap to reheat 🙂 N x