Cheesy Beef Enchilada Rice Skillet

If you need a dinner that’s quick, filling and made in one pan, this Cheesy Beef Enchilada Rice Skillet is an easy one to add to your weekly meal plan.

Seasoned ground beef, rice, enchilada sauce, corn and plenty of melted cheese come together in one skillet for a simple dinner that has all those familiar enchilada flavors without the work of rolling and baking individual enchiladas.

Even better, it takes just 10 minutes to prep and about 25 minutes to cook, making it a great option for busy weeknights when you need dinner on the table fast.

Why You’ll Love This Enchilada Rice Skillet

One-pan dinners are hard to beat, especially during a busy week. The beef cooks right in the skillet, and then the uncooked rice, enchilada sauce, broth and corn are added directly to the same pan.

That means less prep, fewer dishes and an easy cleanup when dinner is over.

It’s also easy to customize. Keep it simple with melted cheese on top, or set out sour cream, avocado, cilantro and crushed tortilla chips and let everyone add their own toppings.

Cheesy Beef Enchilada Rice Skillet

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Serves: 4–6

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef
1 small onion, diced
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 cup long-grain white rice
1 (10 oz) can red enchilada sauce
1½ cups beef broth
1 cup frozen corn
1½ cups shredded cheddar or Mexican-blend cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
Optional toppings: sour cream, avocado, cilantro or crushed tortilla chips

Directions

Add the ground beef and diced onion to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook until the beef is browned and the onion has softened. Drain any excess grease.
Stir in the garlic powder and chili powder. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Add the uncooked rice, enchilada sauce, beef broth and frozen corn. Stir everything together until well combined.
Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and cover the skillet.
Simmer for 18–20 minutes, or until the rice is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed. Stir once or twice during cooking to help prevent the rice from sticking.
Sprinkle the shredded cheese evenly over the top. Cover again and cook for another 2–3 minutes, or until the cheese is completely melted.
Remove from the heat and add your favorite toppings. Serve warm and enjoy!

Make It Your Own

One of the best things about this recipe is how easily you can change it based on what you already have in the kitchen.

Want a little more heat? Use a spicy enchilada sauce or add diced jalapeños. You can also stir in black beans for an even heartier meal or swap the corn for another vegetable your family enjoys.

For toppings, try diced avocado, sour cream, fresh cilantro, green onions, salsa or crushed tortilla chips for a little crunch.

What to Serve With Enchilada Rice

This skillet is hearty enough to serve as a complete dinner on its own. If you’d like something on the side, a simple green salad, fresh fruit or roasted vegetables all work well.

You can also serve warm tortillas or tortilla chips alongside it and let everyone scoop up the cheesy beef and rice.

Tips for Perfect Skillet Rice

Keep the skillet covered while the rice cooks so you don’t lose too much of the liquid through evaporation. You’ll want to stir it once or twice, but avoid opening the lid too often.

If the rice isn’t quite tender when most of the liquid has been absorbed, add a small splash of beef broth, cover and let it cook for a few more minutes.

And don’t forget the final layer of cheese! Letting it melt right over the beef and rice gives you that cheesy enchilada-style finish without ever turning on the oven.

An Easy Weeknight Dinner for the Whole Family

This Cheesy Beef Enchilada Rice Skillet is exactly the kind of recipe that makes busy nights a little easier. Everything cooks in one pan, the ingredients are simple and you can have a warm, filling dinner on the table in about 35 minutes.

Add it to your next weekly meal plan for a quick dinner that’s easy to customize with everyone’s favorite toppings.

Save this recipe for your next busy weeknight!