Cheesy Italian Rice Dinner (Printer-Friendly)
Hearty Italian-inspired dish with beef, marinara, cheese, and tender rice in one pan.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Meats
01 -
1 pound lean ground beef
→ Cheeses
02 -
1/3 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
03 -
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
→ Spices
04 -
1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
05 -
1/2 tablespoon onion powder
06 -
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
07 -
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
→ Vegetables
08 -
1 green bell pepper, small diced
09 -
1 small sweet onion (e.g., Vidalia), small diced
10 -
2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Liquids
11 -
2 cups beef broth, low or no sodium preferred
12 -
32 fluid ounce jar marinara sauce
→ Grains
13 -
1 cup long grain white rice
# Steps to Follow:
01 -
In a medium bowl, combine ground beef, parmesan cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper until thoroughly mixed.
02 -
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the meat mixture, diced bell pepper, and diced onion. Cook until the beef is fully browned, breaking it into crumbles. Drain excess grease.
03 -
Stir in minced garlic and cook for one minute until aromatic.
04 -
Pour in beef broth and marinara sauce, stirring to combine. Raise heat to bring mixture to a boil.
05 -
Stir in long grain white rice. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer gently for 25-30 minutes. Stir every 10 minutes to prevent sticking until rice is tender and most liquid is absorbed.
06 -
Remove skillet from heat, stir in half of the shredded mozzarella cheese until incorporated.
07 -
Sprinkle remaining mozzarella cheese evenly over the top. Cover and allow cheese to melt before serving.
# Helpful Hints:
01 -
Minute rice can be substituted; reduce broth by 1 cup to avoid excess liquid. Leftovers store well refrigerated up to 3 days and can be frozen for 3 months.