Pioneer Woman Mexican Rice Casserole: A Flavorful Family Favorite

This Mexican Rice Casserole is inspired by the hearty, home-style cooking you’d expect from the Pioneer Woman herself. It’s an easy, cheesy, and utterly delicious one-pot meal that brings the vibrant flavors of Mexico right to your kitchen. Perfect for a weeknight dinner, this ground beef and rice skillet is sure to become a family favorite.

A vibrant and cheesy Mexican rice casserole, showcasing the melted cheese topping and colorful ingredients.

If you’re a fan of simple, flavorful meals like Ree Drummond’s recipes, you’ll adore this Mexican rice casserole. It takes the comforting elements of classic Mexican dishes and combines them into an easy-to-make casserole. Similar to the ease of a Chile Relleno Casserole or the satisfying nature of Mexican Goulash, this recipe offers a complete meal in one pot, minimizing cleanup and maximizing flavor.

Why This Mexican Rice Casserole is a Pioneer Woman Style Winner

This recipe embodies the spirit of Pioneer Woman cooking – it’s approachable, uses everyday ingredients, and delivers big on flavor. It’s a fantastic choice for busy families because:

One-Pot Wonder: Just like many of Ree Drummond’s beloved skillet meals, this casserole cooks entirely in one pot on the stovetop. Less dishes mean more time enjoying dinner and family.
Packed with Flavor: Loaded with taco-seasoned ground beef, vibrant vegetables, and cheesy goodness, this casserole is bursting with authentic Mexican taste. It’s reminiscent of a deconstructed taco in casserole form!
Family-Friendly: Kids and adults alike will love the cheesy, savory flavors. It’s a great way to introduce Mexican cuisine to picky eaters in a familiar and comforting format.
Customizable Spice Level: Whether your family prefers mild flavors or a bit of a kick, you can easily adjust the spice level to suit everyone’s taste.

A close-up view of the Mexican rice casserole, highlighting the melted cheese and the texture of the rice and beef mixture.

Ingredients for Your Pioneer Woman Inspired Mexican Rice Casserole

To create this delicious Mexican rice casserole, you’ll need simple, pantry-friendly ingredients:

Ground Beef: The heart of this casserole, providing a hearty and savory base. 80% lean ground beef works well, but you can use leaner if preferred.
Aromatic Vegetables: Onion, bell pepper, and garlic create a flavorful foundation.
Mexican Flavor Boosters: Taco seasoning and salsa are key to achieving that authentic Mexican taste. You can use store-bought taco seasoning or make your own for salt and spice control.
Veggies for Texture and Nutrition: Corn and black beans add sweetness, texture, and extra nutrients to the casserole. Frozen or canned corn can be used, and canned black beans are convenient and readily available.
Long Grain White Rice: Essential for a perfect casserole texture. Long grain rice cooks evenly and absorbs the flavorful broth without becoming mushy.
Beef Broth: Provides the liquid for cooking the rice and infuses the casserole with rich beef flavor.
Green Chilies: Adds a mild, tangy heat. Use canned diced green chilies for convenience.
Cheesy Topping: Shredded Mexican blend cheese (Cheddar and Monterrey Jack) creates a melty, irresistible topping.

Ingredient lay flat of all the components needed for the Mexican rice casserole, including ground beef, vegetables, spices, and canned goods.

Step-by-Step Guide to Making Mexican Rice Casserole Pioneer Woman Style

This recipe is incredibly easy to follow, perfect for even beginner cooks. Here’s a step-by-step visual guide:

Sauté Aromatics: In a large skillet or Dutch oven, sauté chopped onion and bell pepper in oil until softened. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant.

Onions and bell peppers sautéing in a skillet, the first step in building the flavor base of the casserole.
Brown the Ground Beef: Add ground beef to the skillet and cook until browned, draining off any excess grease.

Ground beef being browned in the skillet, preparing it to be seasoned and combined with other ingredients.
Season and Combine: Sprinkle taco seasoning over the cooked ground beef and stir to coat. Add corn, black beans, salsa, tomato paste, and green chilies. Stir to combine all ingredients.

Corn, black beans, salsa, and green chilies being added to the skillet with the ground beef, creating a colorful mixture.
Add Rice and Broth: Stir in uncooked long grain rice and beef broth.

Uncooked rice and beef broth being poured into the skillet, ready to be simmered and cooked.
Simmer to Perfection: Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 18 minutes, or until rice is cooked and liquid is absorbed.

The casserole simmering in the skillet, showing the rice and beef mixture cooking down.
Melt the Cheese: Sprinkle shredded Mexican cheese over the casserole. Cover and let it sit for 3-5 minutes, or until cheese is melted and gooey.

The finished Mexican rice casserole with melted cheese, ready to be served and enjoyed.
Garnish and Serve: Garnish with chopped tomatoes, green onions, or cilantro, if desired. Serve hot and enjoy!

Tips for the Best Mexican Rice Casserole

Accurate Measurements: For perfectly cooked rice, ensure you measure the rice and beef broth accurately. The liquid to rice ratio is crucial in this one-pot casserole.
Don’t Skip the Boil: Bringing the mixture to a boil before simmering is important for proper rice cooking.
Spice Customization: Adjust the spice level by choosing mild, medium, or hot salsa, and by controlling the amount of taco seasoning or making your own blend.
Serving Suggestions: Serve this casserole with your favorite toppings like sour cream, guacamole, or extra salsa. It pairs wonderfully with a side salad or some warm tortillas.

More Easy Ground Beef Dinner Ideas

If you love easy ground beef dinners, try these other family-friendly recipes:

Ground Beef Stroganoff: A comforting and creamy classic, ready in just 30 minutes.
Beef Enchilada Taco Boats: Fun and flavorful handheld meals perfect for game day or a casual dinner.
Eggroll In A Bowl: A quick and healthy one-skillet meal that fits various dietary needs.
Brown Sugar Meatloaf: A sweet and savory twist on classic meatloaf, sure to become a new family favorite.
Texas Tamale Pie: A hearty casserole with a saucy ground beef filling and cornbread topping.

Other Delicious Beef and Rice Recipes

Explore these other flavorful beef and rice recipes for more meal inspiration:

Beef Tips and Rice: Tender beef tips in a savory gravy served over rice, a comforting and satisfying meal.
Porcupine Meatballs: Classic comfort food meatballs with rice cooked right inside, simmered in a flavorful tomato sauce.
Taco Rice Bowl by Life Tastes Good: A quick and customizable taco bowl perfect for weeknight dinners or meal prep lunches.

This Pioneer Woman inspired Mexican Rice Casserole is more than just a recipe; it’s an invitation to gather your family around the table for a delicious and comforting meal. Enjoy the vibrant flavors and easy preparation of this fantastic dish!

Recipe

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Mexican Beef And Rice Casserole

Mexican Beef And Rice Casserole is an easy, cheesy, delicious ground beef skillet dinner loaded with Mexican beefy taco flavor that your whole family will love!

Course Main Dishes
Cuisine Mexican
Keyword Beef and Rice Casserole, ground beef casserole, Mexican Beef And Rice Casserole, Mexican Rice Casserole

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes minutes
Total Time 40 minutes minutes

Servings 6
Calories 424kcal
Author Michele @ Flavor Mosaic

Ingredients

1 Tablespoon oil
1/2 onion , chopped
1 green bell pepper , chopped
2 cloves garlic , minced
1 pound ground beef
salt and pepper (to taste)
3 Tablespoons taco seasoning (either 1 store-bought packet or homemade)
1-1/2 cups red salsa
2 Tablespoons tomato paste
1 cup corn , drained
1 (16-ounce) can black beans , drained
1 (4-ounce) can green chilies
1 cup long grain white rice (uncooked)
2 cups beef broth
2 cups shredded Mexican Blend Cheese (Cheddar, Monterrey Jack)

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Instructions

In a large skillet, over medium heat, cook the chopped onion, and bell pepper in oil for about 5 minutes or until the onion and bell pepper are softened.
Add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute stirring frequently to prevent the garlic from burning.
Add the ground beef and cook for another 5 minutes. After the ground beef is cooked, drain the extra grease.
Sprinkle taco seasoning over the cooked ground beef and stir until the ground beef is covered with the taco seasoning.
After the ground beef is seasoned and cooked, add the drained corn, black beans, salsa, tomato paste, and green chilies and stir until all ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the dish.
Add the uncooked rice and beef broth.
Cover and bring the rice mixture to a boil and then reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 18 minutes.
Sprinkle shredded Mexican Cheese over the casserole. Cover for about 3 to 5 minutes to allow the cheese to melt.
Garnish with chopped tomatoes, green onions, or cilantro. Serve hot!

Video

Notes

Serving Suggestions Mexican Appetizers Mexican Side Dishes Mexican Desserts

Nutrition