This Taco Rice Skillet Dinner includes everything you love about tacos including ground beef (or lighten up with ground turkey), cheese, salsa, rice and all the toppings and it is made as a one pot meal!

The only thing taco this skillet doesn't have is the shell. Although, admittedly, sometimes we scoop it up with tortilla chips and that is kind of like a shell.

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Prepared taco rice dinner in a skillet sitting on a wooden cutting board. There is a bunch of green onions to the right of the skillet.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information please visit my disclosure page

This is truly a family friendly dinner and because it is made in one pot, the clean up is quick and easy.

This skillet dinner recipe is a great alternative to serve on Taco Tuesday, as is my Instant Pot Taco Pasta, Taco Meatloaf, Taco Salad and Taco Pizza.

And if you're looking to cut meat out for whatever reason, this Lentil Taco Bowl is a great way to still get those taco flavors in.

Is it obvious yet that I love taco flavored dishes?

If you want an alternative that is ground beef and rice without all the taco flavor, perhaps give this Hamburger Rice Casserole a try.

A close up view of an orange serving spoon with the taco rice on it. Cheese is dripping down from the spoon.

Taco Rice ingredients

Of course you can add in whatever typical taco toppings you like but here is the base recipe ingredients.

Meat - lean ground beef or sub in ground turkey for a lighter version
Cheese - shredded cheese of your choice, I like a blend such as cheddar-jack
Produce - onion, garlic
Rice - medium or long grain rice - not instant
Flavor makers - beef broth, salsa and taco seasoning

How to make Taco Rice

For the full instructions, see the recipe card below but here is a run down.

Brown the meat in a non-stick skillet, add the onion cook just until starting to soften and then the garlic.
Stir in everything else except the cheese. Bring to a boil, cover and knock it down to a simmer.
Once it is done, add the cheese and top with any toppings you like.

What to eat with Taco Rice

I say this taco rice skillet is a meal in itself, however if you want to feel better, serve with a garden salad.

As I mentioned at the top, sometimes the kids scoop up the taco rice with tortilla chips for the crunch. You can do that too.

The other thing you can do, my husband's preference, is to jam it all inside a flour tortilla and eat it as a wrap.

I prefer to just gobble it down with a big spoon! To each their own.

Suggested toppings

The sky is the limit when it comes to toppings but here are a few of my favorites:

Sliced jalapenos
Guacamole
Black beans (stirred right in at the end)
Green onions
Sour Cream
Hot sauce
Cilantro
Olives

I replaced my big non-stick pan in March 2023 and it is wonderful. If you are in the market for a new versatile pan I suggest the Ninja Foodi NeverStick Possible Pan.

Printable Recipe Card