Spanish Rice Recipe with Ground Beef
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Spanish Rice Recipe โ Spanish Rice is a well-loved side dish. But this family favorite Spanish Rice with Beef recipe is a delicious main dish ready in under 30 minutes!
Looking for more easy ground beef recipes? I think youโll love my Classic Chili, Lasagna, and Stuffed Peppers.

One of my favorite dishes to order when we go to our local Mexican restaurant is their Spanish rice. Well, along with the chips, salsa, queso dip, and guacamole! Ha!
Their Spanish rice though always just goes perfectly with whatever I order for my entree โ from enchiladas to whatever their specials are for the day.
But, as much as I love their Spanish rice, it still doesnโt really compete with the version that my Mama has made since as long as I can remember. While theirs is served as a side dish, Mamaโs was always the main attraction, served with a salad or beans.
Her Spanish rice is made with ground beef that takes it to a whole new level!
I love that it comes together in less than thirty minutes and just takes one skillet to prepare. We also love to prepare this for a camp style meal as well. No wonder Mama loved making this recipe so much! Itโs an all-around favorite for sure!
Spanish Rice Recipe
How to Freeze Spanish Rice
Once cooked, allow to cool completely. Portion into freezer-safe container(s) and freeze up to 3 months.
To serve, thaw in the refrigerator overnight, reheat and serve.
Hereโs her Spanish Rice Recipe with Ground Beef. So simple, I think youโll love it, too!
Skillet Spanish Rice with Ground Beef Recipe
Ingredients
- 3/4 pound ground beef
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 medium onion, diced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 3/4 cup uncooked white rice
- 1/4 teaspoon oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 1 (10-ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chiles
Instructions
- Brown ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently. Drain and set aside.
- Drizzle olive oil into the skillet over medium heat. Saute onions until softened, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and rice, stirring frequently until rice is lightly browned. Add ground beef, oregano, chili powder, cumin, salt, black pepper, water, and tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Turn heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes or until all liquid is absorbed.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
Thank you so much for posting & sharing this, canโt wait to give it a try!
It looks and sounds exactly like the Spanish Rice recipe I grew up with!
Iโve been trying to find a recipe like my Momโs for so many years now. Itโs been over 50yrs since Iโve tasted it but youโve brought back warm memories.
Iโll be after making it! Beth
I hope this recipe is like the one you remembered, Beth. This is one my mother made when I was growing up.
This recipe brought back many childhood memories and meals that were stretched to feed all of us.
I first made a batch of your instant pot brown rice and went from there..
thanks ๐
Thanks, Kim, Iโm so glad you enjoyed this and the brown rice.
Made this tonight. Had to use my canned stewed tomatoes because thatโs what I had. Added black beans because why not and some spinach at the end. It was delicious.
Fantastic recipe! There may be others with similar ingredients, but the magic here is the perfect balance of the ingredients. I live in Burgundy, France, so tomatoes with green chiles were not going to happen, but I faked it with a little chopped jalapeno. On the other hand, I used exceptional diced tomatoes from Sardinia, bootlegged in from Italy and basmati rice, so I cannot complain! Well done, Robynโฆ
Thanks so much, Bill. Iโm so happy you liked this recipe. Your ingredients sound amazing!
I am cooking this tonight. Bill: Do you think this would pair well with a medium-aged Barolo?
Turned out better than I thoughtโฆLoved it, the family rated it as a keeper.
Surprising next-day leftover flavors melded in the refrig. was even better yet. If I could only hold off and not eat it on the first day.
Garnished with a bit of shredded cheddar and a tab of sour cream.
Using Jasmin rice and needed to add a bit more water in the second half of cooking.
Thanks, David. I always loved leftovers the next day, too.
Good recipe except underseasoned for my taste which is easy to fix. I just doubled all the seasoning. ๐
Thanks, Jeanne. I try to have the seasoning on the milder side since so many people canโt eat really spicy food. Iโm glad you season it to your taste.
I ate this some as a child too and it was my dad that fixed it. We always complained about his cooking but thinking back some of it was pretty good and this dish was one. I made it tonight and it came out excellent. I followed Susanโs advice and let it cook longer to make the rice a little dry and fluffy since thatโs how I remember it. I ate three big bowls and it was pure comfort. Thank you and Iโm very glad I found this. Itโs one Iโll keep.
Kelly, isnโt it funny how sometimes the foods we didnโt like when we were children are some of our favorites now? Iโm glad this brought back good memories for you.
Would this recipe work with ground sausage in place of ground beef?
I have never used sausage in it, Debbie, but you can if you wish.
Omgโฆthis is very similar to a recipe my Mom used to make about 40 years ago! Itโs so easy to vary as per many of the great comments. I add a green & red bell pepper chopped and use a full 28oz tin of whole tomatoes chopped with a hand blender (no water). My moms recipe also called for a squirt of mustard and some Worcestershire sauce. So tastyโฆ.but I find It needs to simmer (lid on tight) for 30-40 minutes so the rice fluffs up and cooks through. It tastes even better warmed up the next day! Thank you for sharing ๐
Thanks, Susan. This was one of my favorites when I was growing up.
This is just like I remember my mother making. Excellent..
Donโt you love to find recipes that you remember your mother or grandmother making, Kasey? It is a favorite from my childhood. Thanks!
This Iโmis more like what I had growing up and it was the main dish not a side! I use riced cauliflower now to avoid carbs in the rice ! Served with small cheese tortilla itโs a great meal !
Thanks, Don. I loved this when I was growing up, too. Iโm glad it worked with the riced cauliflower for you.
Sounds amazing that way!! I will have to try that next time!