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Close-up of a colorful portion of Mexican rice casserole on a wooden board.

One Pot Mexican Rice Casserole

A flavorful and easy-to-make Mexican-inspired casserole that combines rice, ground meat, beans, and spices in one pot for a satisfying meal.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Calories: 550
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 pound ground beef or turkey or substitute with black beans or lentils for vegetarian
  • 1 cup long-grain rice (uncooked)
  • 1.5 cups chicken or vegetable broth
  • 15 oz can diced tomatoes (with juice)
  • 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup corn kernels (fresh, canned, or frozen)
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste (optional for richer flavor)
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 0.5 teaspoon paprika
  • 0.5 teaspoon oregano
  • to taste Salt and pepper

Method
 

  1. Heat oil and cook onion until soft. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.
  2. Add ground meat and cook until browned. Drain excess grease if needed.
  3. Stir in spices, tomato paste, then add rice, tomatoes, and broth. Bring to a boil.
  4. Add beans and corn, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer 18-20 minutes until rice is tender.
  5. Remove from heat, sprinkle cheese, cover, and let melt for 2-3 minutes. Serve hot.

Notes

For a vegetarian version, substitute ground meat with additional beans or lentils.