Description
How to make jailhouse rice with ground beef, onions, and simple seasonings that creates the ultimate comfort food on any budget.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef, 80/20 blend
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1½ cups long-grain white rice, uncooked
Liquid Components
- 3 cups beef broth, low sodium
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
Finishing Touches
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 green onions, sliced thin
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, optional
Instructions
- Brown Beef: Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking apart with spoon, until browned and no pink remains, about 6-8 minutes.
- Sauté Aromatics: Add diced onion to beef and cook until softened and golden, about 4-5 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds more.
- Add Seasonings: Stir in tomato paste, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and cayenne. Cook for 1 minute until spices are fragrant and tomato paste darkens slightly.
- Add Rice: Add uncooked rice and stir to coat with the beef mixture. Let it toast for 2-3 minutes until some grains look slightly golden around edges.
- Add Liquids: Pour in beef broth and diced tomatoes with their juice. Stir well, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and cover tightly.
- Simmer Rice: Cook covered for 18-20 minutes until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed. Don’t lift the lid during cooking or steam will escape.
- Rest and Serve: Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes. Fluff with fork, taste for seasoning, and garnish with green onions and cheese if using.
Notes
- Don’t lift the lid while rice cooks or steam escapes and rice won’t cook evenly.
- Store in refrigerator up to 4 days or freeze for 3 months in airtight containers.
- Ground turkey or chicken can substitute for beef with same cooking method.
- Add frozen vegetables in last 5 minutes of cooking for extra nutrition.
- Taste and adjust seasonings before serving since salt needs vary by broth brand.
- Let rice rest 5 minutes after cooking for best texture and fluffiness.
Allergy Information: None
Nutrition
- Calories: 385 calories
- Fat: 14g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Protein: 24g