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With just a handful of everyday ingredients, you can have dinner on the table lickety split. Taco Rice has ground beef, rice, tomato soup, seasoning and cheese made all in one skillet. Serve with tortilla chips, Fresh Tomato Salsa, sour cream and lettuce for a well rounded meal.
But First, What is Taco Rice?
Taco Rice is a take on a Japanese inspired, Okinawan dish with the ingredients of a Tex-Mex taco. Ground beef, lettuce, cheese, and tomatoes are served on a bed of rice and salsa on top. This version of Taco Rice is amazing and sure to be a new family favorite.
What to Serve with Taco Rice
Taco Rice is pretty versatile – serve it with chips, add it to tortillas as burrito filling, add it to hard or soft taco shells as taco filling, or in a tostada shell or taco salad. Taco Rice can also be made meatless for a vegetarian option. If you want to use ground turkey or pork, that works fine too.
How to Make Taco Rice
In just 30 minutes and a handful or ordinary ingredients, you’ll have dinner on the table! For full recipe details including an ingredients list and measurements, see the printable recipe card down below. Here is what you can expect when making this recipe.
1. Cook Ground Beef, Onion + Garlic
Brown ground beef and onion together in a large skillet. Once that has browned, add garlic and saute a couple minutes longer.
Stir in taco seasoning, rice, broth (or water), and tomato soup.
Do I have to use canned soup?
No. This is one of the rare recipes I have that use canned condensed soup because that was how my mom always made it, but feel free to substitute with tomato sauce, diced tomatoes or even salsa.
2. Simmer Until Rice is Cooked
Place lid on skillet and simmer on low until rice is cooked through (follow your package directions). It’ll be about 15 minutes.
Can I use Minute Rice?
Yes. Minute Rice will work with this recipe. Just adjust your cook time according to the package directions. You can also use brown rice, if you prefer.
3. Top with Cheese + Serve with Optional Toppings
Add shredded cheese and give everything one last stir.
Serve over a bed of lettuce, with tortilla chips and/or you choice of optional toppings listed below.
Optional Topping Ideas
While these are all optional, here are few topping ideas that go great with Taco Rice.
- lettuce, shredded
- tortilla chips
- tomato, diced
- sour cream
- green onion, diced
- My Classic Guacamole Recipe
Storage Directions
Place any leftover Taco Rice in an airtight container and into the fridge for up to 4-5 days.
To Reheat, microwave until heated through.
To Freeze, place in a freezer safe, airtight container. Taco Rice will stay fresh for up to a month. Allow to thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
More Delicious Recipes a Try…
Enjoy this tasty dinner! It’ll be a great addition to your meals this week. Have a great day, friends! 🙂
If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you would give it a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.
Taco Rice
Ingredients
- 1 med onion diced
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 1 cup rice uncooked
- 2 cups chicken broth or water
- 1 can condensed tomato soup (or substitute salsa)
- 1 cup cheese grated, any (sharp cheddar, mexican blend, etc.)
optional toppings
- lettuce shredded
- tortilla chips
- tomato diced
- sour cream
- green onion diced
- guacamole
Instructions
- Brown onion and ground beef together in a skillet.
- Add garlic and saute a few more minutes.
- Stir in taco seasoning, rice, broth (or water), and tomato soup.
- Place lid on skillet and simmer on low until rice is cooked through (follow your package instructions)…about 15 minutes.
- Add cheese and give everything one last stir.
- Serve over a bed of lettuce, with tortilla chips and/or your choice of optional toppings listed above.
This is a five star and a keeper recipe. I made with ground beef and another with Morning Star crumbles. I didn’t have enough salsa on hand so made Lauren’s salsa recipe (also a 5 star). Only modification, I added 1 & 1/2 cups of chopped mixed bell peppers. Amazing dish!!!
So glad you loved it Pholly! Thank you for your comment and 5-star rating. 🙂
The best taco rice I’ve tried. It’s easy to make too. Thank you
Thank you so much Louise! 🙂
Hi Lauren,
I really enjoyed this recipe! I just included it in my latest recipe roundup post about ways to use leftover taco meat.
You can see how I linked to your recipe here: https://www.seasonalcookbook.com/21-crazy-ways-to-use-leftover-taco-meat/
Thanks for a great recipe!
Bill
Thank you for sharing Bill!
I fixed this for supper tonight. It was easy, quick, & we thoroughly enjoyed it. I substituted tomato sauce for the tomato soup, since I didn’t have soup on hand.
Carol, glad you enjoyed it! And yes, I’ve subbed out tomato sauce a few times as well. Still tastes great!
This is a family favorite. My 14yo requests it weekly. I now double it and add a can of black beans and corn. Delish! Thanks for the quick and easy recipe!
Janet, you’re so welcome!! Love to hear that your teenager loves it too! 🙂