Quick & Easy Mexican Ground Beef Recipes: One-Pan Skillet Delight

This Mexican ground beef recipe, boosted by taco seasoning, is your ticket to a flavorful, healthy, and incredibly easy one-pan meal, ready on your table in just 30 minutes! Packed with beans, rice, vibrant peppers, and a generous blanket of melted cheese, it’s a ground beef dinner that will quickly become a family favorite.

Delicious and Easy Mexican Ground Beef Skillet Recipe Ready to Serve.

Why You’ll Love This One-Pan Mexican Ground Beef Dinner

Mexican Ground Beef Recipes are a go-to for anyone seeking a quick and satisfying meal, and this skillet version takes it to the next level. It’s the perfect blend of convenience and deliciousness, offering:

Speed and Simplicity: A true one-pan wonder, minimizing both cooking and cleanup time – ideal for busy weeknights.
Nutrient-Rich Goodness: Loaded with vegetables and protein, making it a healthy and balanced meal option.
Crowd-Pleasing Comfort: The melted cheese adds that irresistible comfort food touch that everyone craves.
Ultimate Versatility: Serve it in countless ways – from simple bowls to loaded nachos, tacos, burritos, or even stuffed vegetables!

This versatile Mexican beef skillet is your answer for:

Effortless weeknight dinners when time is short and dishes are dreaded.
Exciting game day snacks to feed a hungry crowd – serve it with tortilla chips for dipping! Or, for a heartier option, explore our Mexican ground beef casserole.
Smart and delicious meal prepping, providing you with flavorful lunches or dinners throughout the week.

Let’s dive into the simple ingredients and straightforward steps to create this healthy and flavorful ground beef dinner.

Crafting Your Mexican Ground Beef Skillet: Ingredients You’ll Need

Ingredient Checklist:

Red Onion: Adds a sweet and pungent base flavor. Yellow onion works as a substitute if needed.
Garlic: Essential for authentic Mexican flavor. Fresh cloves are highly recommended for the best taste.
Bell Peppers: Choose your favorite colors! We love the sweetness of red and yellow peppers, but green adds a nice slightly bitter note. Poblano peppers can also be used for a bit more depth.
Ground Beef: The star of the dish! Opt for good quality ground beef, ideally 85/15 or 80/20 lean-to-fat ratio. The fat content enhances the overall flavor and richness. Grass-fed beef is an even healthier choice if available.
Taco Seasoning: The magic shortcut! Taco seasoning simplifies achieving that classic Mexican spice profile without individually measuring numerous spices. Keep it stocked for this recipe and other favorites like Mexican shredded beef. You can also easily make your own homemade taco seasoning mix for complete control over ingredients and spice level.
Tomato Sauce: Adds a touch of liquid and tomato flavor to create a light “sauce” for the skillet.
Tomato Paste: Concentrated tomato flavor that brings depth and richness that tomato sauce alone can’t provide.
Green Chiles: For a mild kick and authentic Southwestern flavor. Green chiles are a delicious addition to chili and other Mexican dishes, and also work wonderfully in this ground beef and sweet potato skillet.
Black Beans: A staple in Mexican cuisine, adding protein and fiber. Pinto beans are a great alternative if preferred. Both work wonderfully in dishes like Mexican taco lasagna.
White Rice: Our go-to rice for quick skillet meals because it cooks quickly, in under 20 minutes, directly in the pan.
Broth: Provides the liquid needed to cook the rice. Chicken or beef broth adds flavor, but water can be used in a pinch.
Black Olives: Optional, but sliced black olives add a briny, salty element that complements the other flavors.
Cheese: The crowning glory! Sharp cheddar or a Mexican cheese blend are excellent choices for melty, gooey goodness. Adjust the amount to your cheese preference.
Fresh Cilantro: Essential for garnish! Cilantro’s fresh, bright flavor perfectly balances the richness of the Mexican spices and cheese.

One-Pan Mexican Ground Beef Recipe with Beans, Rice, Peppers, and Taco Seasoning.

Step-by-Step Cooking Instructions for Mexican Ground Beef Skillet

This one-pan recipe boasts simple directions for a hassle-free meal!

Sauté Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped red onion, minced garlic, and bell peppers. Sauté until the vegetables begin to soften, about 3-5 minutes.
Brown the Beef: Push the vegetables to one side of the skillet and add the ground beef to the empty space. Cook, breaking it up with a spatula, until browned and cooked through. Drain any excess grease.
Spice it Up: Stir in taco seasoning, tomato sauce, tomato paste, green chiles, and black beans. Mix everything together well, ensuring the beef and vegetables are coated in the flavorful sauce. Cook for another 2-3 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
Simmer with Rice: Add white rice and broth to the skillet. Stir to combine everything, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover the skillet, and simmer for 12-15 minutes, or until the rice is tender and has absorbed the liquid.
Melt the Cheese: Remove the lid, sprinkle black olives (if using) and grated cheese evenly over the top of the skillet. Cover again and cook for a couple more minutes, or until the cheese is melted and gooey.
Garnish and Serve: Garnish generously with fresh cilantro and serve hot!

Enjoy your incredibly easy Mexican ground beef skillet! Cleanup is a breeze with just one pan, and dinner is ready in about 30 minutes.

Serving Ideas for Your Mexican Ground Beef Recipe

This versatile skillet can be enjoyed in so many delicious ways:

Classic Bowl: Simply scoop a generous serving into a bowl and enjoy as is. It’s a hearty, healthy, and satisfying meal on its own!
Loaded Bowls: Elevate your bowl with toppings! Think of it as a burrito bowl bar. Add guacamole, sour cream, pico de gallo, fresh lime wedges, or your favorite salsa, like this vibrant pineapple habanero salsa.
Nachos Supreme: Transform this skillet into ultimate nachos! Pile tortilla chips on a platter and spoon the Mexican ground beef mixture over the top. Add extra cheese, of course, and broil briefly for extra meltiness. These nachos rival even carne asada nachos!
Taco Night Made Easy: Since we’ve already seasoned the beef with taco seasoning, this recipe is naturally perfect for tacos! Warm up taco shells or tortillas and fill them with the Mexican ground beef mixture. Add your favorite taco toppings.
Burrito Bliss: For a hearty burrito, use burrito-sized soft tortillas and fill them with the Mexican ground beef. Add rice, beans, and other fillings for a custom burrito creation that’s better than takeout!
Stuffed Vegetable Delight: Use this flavorful mixture as a stuffing for vegetables. Hollowed-out zucchini (especially round zucchini), bell peppers, or even onions (check out these Mexican stuffed onions for inspiration) are fantastic options.

With so many serving options, you can see why this Mexican ground beef skillet is ideal for meal prepping. Enjoy it differently each day of the week!

Comforting Mexican Ground Beef Skillet with Gooey Melted Cheese Topping.

Storing Your Mexican Ground Beef Skillet

Storage Instructions:

Allow the skillet to cool to room temperature completely before storing. Transfer the Mexican ground beef mixture to airtight containers.

Refrigerate: Store in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Freeze: For longer storage, freeze for up to 2-3 months.

Just like this ground beef stir fry, this Mexican skillet is perfect for making ahead and enjoying later!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I use brown rice instead of white rice?

Yes, you can substitute other grains like brown rice, quinoa, millet, or couscous. However, cooking times and liquid ratios will need adjustment. Brown rice, for example, takes significantly longer to cook than white rice. White rice is ideal for quick one-skillet meals like this.

Can I use other types of ground meat?

Absolutely! Any ground meat will work. Try ground lamb, bison, venison, or elk for red meat options. Ground chicken, turkey, or pork are great leaner alternatives.

How can I make this recipe vegetarian?

For a plant-based version, simply omit the ground beef and double the amount of black beans. To boost protein, consider using quinoa instead of rice. Alternatively, explore this flavorful Mexican vegetable soup recipe for a completely vegetarian Mexican meal.

Is this recipe spicy?

The spiciness level largely depends on the taco seasoning you choose. Check the label of your taco seasoning to gauge its heat level. This recipe itself doesn’t include additional spicy peppers. If you prefer a spicier dish, add a chopped jalapeño or a pinch of cayenne pepper.

Discover More Healthy Ground Beef Recipes

Easy Ground Beef Pasta Skillet
Spicy Udon Noodle Skillet
Burger In a Bowl
Healthy Sloppy Joes
Beef Kafta

Mexican Ground Beef Skillet Recipe

By: Gina Matsoukas

Servings: 4 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes

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Mexican ground beef recipe.

A simple and healthy ground beef recipe ready in one pan and just 30 minutes. Enjoy this Mexican ground beef skillet for a quick weeknight dinner or as a party snack with chips!

Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 medium red onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 bell peppers, or poblano peppers, chopped
1 pound 85% lean ground beef
1 package taco seasoning (about 3 tablespoons)
8 ounces tomato sauce
2 tablespoons tomato paste
4 ounce can green chiles
15 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup white rice
1 cup beef or chicken broth
1/2 cup sliced black olives
1 cup grated cheese, cheddar or Mexican blend
Freshly chopped cilantro for garnish

Instructions

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, and bell peppers and sauté for 3-5 minutes until slightly softened. Push vegetables to one side of the pan.
Add ground beef to the empty side of the skillet. Break it into small pieces and cook until browned, about 5-7 minutes. Drain excess grease.
Mix beef and vegetables together. Add taco seasoning, tomato sauce, tomato paste, green chiles, and black beans. Stir until well combined and cook for 2 minutes.
Add rice and broth. Stir to mix and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 12-15 minutes, or until rice is tender and cooked through.
Remove lid, add olives and cheese over the top. Cover again for a couple of minutes until cheese is melted.
Garnish with cilantro before serving.

Recipe Notes

For this recipe, you’ll need at least a 12″ skillet. A large sauté pan with straight sides will also work well.

Nutrition Information

Nutritional information is an approximation and automatically calculated.

Additional Information

Course: Main Dishes
Cuisine: Mexican

About the Author: Gina Matsoukas

Founder and Writer at Running to the Kitchen | About

Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer, photographer, and recipe developer focused on healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh, seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets including MSN, Huffington Post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health, and Food Network.