Cheesy Ranch Ground Beef and Rice

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Our Cheesy Ranch Ground Beef and Rice is a dinner that’s not just easy to make but it’s bursting with flavor! This dish is a lifesaver on busy weeknights and a surefire hit with picky eaters. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to sneak in some veggies!

Skillet filled with cheesy ranch ground beef and rice.

This delicious dish is a spin on our cheesy hamburger rice casserole. While both recipes might sound similar, they’re actually quite different.

The ranch ground beef and rice features blanched broccoli, adding extra nutrients and a bit of bulk. Unlike the Tex-Mex flavors of the casserole, this dish is all about that irresistible ranch flavor.

Now, let’s talk about the cheese. Sharp cheddar cheese, to be exact.

It melts beautifully over the beef, rice, and broccoli, creating an ooey, gooey layer of deliciousness that you won’t want to skip.

The combination of ranch seasoning with the savory ground beef and the slight crunch of broccoli is pretty much perfect.

Tips for Cheesy Ground Beef and Rice

Tips

Prep in Advance: Pre-cook your rice and blanch your broccoli ahead of time. This will make the final cooking process even quicker making this dish perfect for those busy weeknights.

Blanching the Broccoli: To achieve perfectly blanched broccoli, ensure the water is at a rolling boil before adding the florets. Shocking them in ice water after boiling keeps them bright green and crisp-tender.

Room Temperature Sour Cream: Use sour cream at room temperature to prevent it from curdling when added to the hot skillet.

Oven-Safe Pan: If you have an oven-safe skillet, use it! That way when you add the cheese, you can just pop the skillet into a hot oven for a couple of minutes and let the cheese melt.

Close up view of beef and rice casserole on a spoon.

What to Serve this With:

This dish is packed with protein and carbs, making it a complete meal on its own. But if you’re looking to round it out with a delicious side, I’ve got some fantastic recommendations for you:

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

To make this dish creamier, try adding an extra dollop of sour cream or a splash of heavy cream when you combine the ingredients.

You can also mix in some cream cheese for an ultra-creamy texture. If you add more dairy, you may also need to add more ranch seasoning mix.

Absolutely! Brown rice adds a nutty flavor and extra fiber. Just ensure it’s pre-cooked before adding it to the ground beef mixture.

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

The best way to reheat is in a skillet over medium heat. Add a splash of milk or cream to keep it creamy and stir occasionally until heated through.

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Skillet filled with ranch flavored ground beef and rice.

Cheesy Ranch Ground Beef and Rice

5 from 1 vote
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Author: Kimberly
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 4 Servings

Ingredients

Instructions
 

  • Bring a pot of salted water to a boil, and add the broccoli florets. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until they turn bright green and soften slightly. Drain and set aside.
    2 cups broccoli florets
  • In a large skillet (use one with a lid) over medium heat, cook the ground beef until no longer pink. Drain excess grease and return the beef to the skillet.
    1 pound lean ground beef
  • Lower the heat to low-medium and add the ranch seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, and sour cream. Stir to combine.
    1 ounce packet ranch seasoning mix
    1 teaspoon garlic powder
    ½ teaspoon onion powder
    4 ounces sour cream
  • Add the blanched broccoli and white rice, and stir until well combined. Remove from heat.
    1 ½ cups long grain white rice
  • Top with cheese, add a lid to the skillet and allow the cheese to melt (about 3-5 minutes).
    1 ½ cups sharp cheddar cheese
  • Serve immediately.

Suggested Equipment

Notes

  • The calories listed are an approximation based on the ingredients in the recipe card and a serving size of 1.5 cups. Actual calories will vary.

Nutrition

Serving: 1.5cups | Calories: 676kcal | Carbohydrates: 66g | Protein: 41g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 129mg | Sodium: 911mg | Potassium: 695mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 885IU | Vitamin C: 41mg | Calcium: 381mg | Iron: 4mg
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5 from 1 vote

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Recipe Rating




2 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I made this tonight for dinner and my family and I loved it. my youngest is a 10 year old sometimes picky eater and he had seconds. thank you for this amazing recipe! will definitely make it again!

    1. Thank you for commenting and rating the recipe Holly! We’re glad everyone enjoyed the cheesy beef and rice dish. Have a lovely day 🙂