Nice and easy meals are where it’s at for me these days! I love being able to throw everything in a skillet or pot and come out with a dish that everyone likes and hits all or most of the food groups. So you know where I’m going with this recipe. 🙂
A loooong time ago, like probably 10 years, my husband and I were into having the Zatarains rice and beans mix with homemade tortillas on the side. It was a go to for a while. Well it popped into my head a while back and, of course, I didn’t have it in the pantry so I thought I should try my hand at making it homemade.
Now I honestly can’t remember what the seasonings in it tasted like but I went simple in the version I came up with. You could always add in your favorite flavors into this dish. It’s kind of a blank canvas!
You start with a little bit of oil (any will do) and some diced onions. Saute those for a few minutes and then add in your garlic. Stir it for about a minute then add in your ground meat. I used ground turkey but beef also works well in this dish.
Once the meat is cooked through add in some salt and pepper to your taste. Now, the next step can go 2 different ways. I like to cook the rice in my instant pot and then at it to the cooked meat at this point. If you don’t have a instant pot or rice cooker or you want to truly keep this a one dish meal you can add the 1 1/2 cups of dried rice to the pan along with 3 cups of water. Bring it up to a simmer and then cover it until the rice is tender and fluffy, ~15 minutes. Either way works fine, I just like the texture of the rice when I cook it separately.
After you add in the rice, add in the beans. Taste test to make sure it has enough salt and pepper and then stir in the shredded cheese. Remove from the heat and once the cheese is melty it’s ready to serve!
If you are looking for a quick and easy meal that hits the spot, then you’ve got it with this recipe. If you have the time you should think about making homemade tortillas along with it. You can use this recipe as a burrito filling along with some sour cream and salsa. So tasty that way!
It should be obvious by now that I love quick and easy options for dinner! What are your favorite go-to easy meals? I’m always looking for new ideas!
Rice and Beans
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground turkey or beef
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 1/2 cups uncooked rice
- 2 cups black or pinto beans ~ 2 cans
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
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I like to cook the rice in my instant pot because the consistency seems to be better. If you cook it separately you'll want to start it first. You could also add your rice into the the skillet after you brown the meat along with 3 cups of water. Cover and cook until all of the water has absorbed into the rice.
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Start by heating a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 Tablespoon of oil to the skillet and then add in the onions. Saute for about 3-5 minutes or until they start to soften.
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Add in the garlic and stir for another minute. Then add in your ground meat. Brown the meat until cooked through and then add salt and pepper to taste.
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Add in your cooked rice or read the note above on how to cook it all in the same pan.
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Stir in the beans, taste to make sure there is enough salt, and then stir in the shredded cheese.
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Remove from the heat and serve!
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