Cheeseburger Rice

If you associate beef-and-rice skillets with the bland boxed mix from the grocery store, this zippy cheeseburger rice recipe will blow your mind. It’s just as easy as the pantry version, but it prioritizes flavor. With instant rice, a simple sauce and plenty of shredded cheddar, this cheesy ground beef recipe tastes complex without being complicated. Anyone who loves cheeseburgers will love this 30-minute meal, and you can riff on it endlessly to keep things interesting—like a skillet cheeseburger stir-fry that can be jazzed up with your favorite toppings, including bacon and pickles.

Cheeseburger Rice Ingredients

Josh Rink for Taste of Home

• Ground beef: Use the same ground beef you would for your favorite burger recipes. An 80% lean blend brings flavor and won’t dry out.
• Barbecue sauce: Any sweet, smoky barbecue sauce brand is a shortcut to a flavorful meal.
• Seasonings: A mix of prepared mustard, dried minced onion and pepper adds zip to the hearty mixture of beef and rice.
• Instant rice: Start with uncooked instant rice, which will soak up the spices and rich beef juices as it cooks.
• Shredded cheddar cheese: As the skillet simmers, the cheese melts into the sauce, giving it a creamy, savory, rich texture. Cheese you shred yourself melts better, but bagged shredded cheese does just fine here.
• Dill pickles: Look for the tastiest pickle brands for the punchiest flavor.
• Bacon strips: Cook and crumble your favorite brand of bacon, or use precooked bacon pieces.

Directions

Step 1: Cook the beef

In a large skillet set over medium heat, cook the ground beef until it’s no longer pink. Drain off the excess grease.

Step 2: Build the skillet

Add the water, barbecue sauce, mustard, onion and pepper to the skillet. Bring the mixture to a boil. Stir in the rice and sprinkle in the cheese. Reduce the heat to a simmer, then cook the skillet, covered, for five minutes.

Step 3: Garnish with crunch

Sprinkle the cheeseburger rice with pickles and bacon.

Editor’s Tip: Add the pickles and bacon at the end to ensure that they remain crunchy.

Josh Rink for Taste of Home

Cheeseburger Rice Variations

• Change the spices: The original recipe keeps the spices straightforward, but the beef and rice can handle almost anything, from smoked paprika, cayenne and garlic powder to dried herbs, such as oregano or marjoram.
• Play with toppings: Lean into the recipe inspiration with burger toppings! Think crispy fried onions, caramelized onions, pickled onions, chopped tomatoes, shredded lettuce, arugula, pickled jalapenos or relish.
• Change the cheese: Any good melting cheese—whether Gruyere, white cheddar or pepper jack—would be tasty here.
• Lighten it up: Instead of ground beef, use ground chicken or turkey for a lighter version.

How to Store Cheeseburger Rice

Leftover cheeseburger rice can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You could also tightly cover the skillet itself with foil and put it in the fridge.

How long does cheeseburger rice last?

Leftover cheeseburger rice lasts up to four days in the fridge.

How do you reheat cheeseburger rice?

It’s easy to reheat cheeseburger rice in the microwave. Pop it into a microwave-safe dish, sprinkle it with a teaspoon of water and cover the dish with a paper towel. Microwave it on high until it’s steaming, about two minutes. Stir it once, halfway through the reheating.

Cheeseburger Rice Tips

Josh Rink for Taste of Home

Can you use leftover rice to make cheeseburger rice?

You can definitely use leftover rice to make this cheeseburger rice skillet—even brown rice, which boasts extra fiber. If using cooked rice, reduce the water in the recipe to 1/2 cup. Add the rice as directed in Step 2. Cook the cheeseburger rice, covered, for five minutes. Check that the rice is heated through and steaming. Add additional water, if needed, so the dish is moist and saucy.

What else can you serve with cheeseburger rice?

This one-skillet dish is almost a complete meal with protein and a grain. You’ll just need a tasty vegetable side, like smoky cauliflower or Southwest corn. There’s no need to get complicated, though; the skillet is saucy enough to flavor a simpler side, such as steamed broccoli, green beans, peas or corn (fresh, frozen or canned would all be good). Or serve it with a green salad for a fresh contrast to the cozy dish.