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Kid-Approved Honey Garlic Ground Beef Rice Skillet – Easy 20-Min Dinner

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A quick and easy one-skillet dinner featuring ground beef, rice, and a sweet-savory honey garlic sauce. Perfect for busy weeknights, this kid-approved meal comes together in about 20 minutes with simple pantry ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb (450g) ground beef (80/20 recommended)
  • 1 cup (200g) long-grain white rice, uncooked (basmati or jasmine)
  • 2 cups (480ml) beef broth or water
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 tablespoons (60g) honey
  • 3 tablespoons (45ml) soy sauce (low-sodium preferred)
  • 1 tablespoon (15ml) sesame oil (optional)
  • 1/2 cup (75g) frozen peas and carrots, thawed
  • 2 green onions, sliced (for garnish)
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Prep your ingredients: mince garlic, slice green onions, thaw frozen peas and carrots by running under warm water in a colander. Measure out honey, soy sauce, and broth.
  2. Brown the ground beef: Place skillet over medium-high heat, add ground beef, and break it up with a wooden spoon. Cook until nicely browned, about 5-6 minutes. Spoon out excess fat if needed, leaving a little for flavor.
  3. Add the garlic: Reduce heat to medium, add minced garlic, and stir for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Be careful not to burn it.
  4. Stir in the rice: Add uncooked rice and stir for about 1 minute to toast slightly, until it smells nutty.
  5. Add the liquids: Pour in beef broth (or water), honey, and soy sauce. Stir until honey is dissolved and liquid is evenly distributed. Scrape bottom of pan to release browned bits.
  6. Bring to a boil, then simmer: Increase heat to high and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover with lid, and simmer gently for 15 minutes. Do not lift the lid.
  7. Check the rice: After 15 minutes, remove lid and check rice. It should be tender and have absorbed most liquid. If still firm with liquid, cover and cook 2-3 more minutes.
  8. Add the vegetables and sesame oil: Fold in thawed peas and carrots, drizzle sesame oil, and stir gently. Residual heat will warm vegetables in about 1 minute.
  9. Taste and adjust: Add salt, pepper, more honey, or soy sauce as needed.
  10. Serve and garnish: Spoon into bowls and top with sliced green onions. Serve immediately.

Notes

Don’t skip toasting the rice for extra flavor. Keep heat low during simmering to prevent scorching. Let the dish rest covered for 2-3 minutes after cooking for best texture. Leftovers keep up to 4 days in the refrigerator and can be frozen for up to 3 months. Reheat with a splash of water or broth.

Nutrition

Keywords: honey garlic ground beef, rice skillet, easy weeknight dinner, kid-friendly, one-pot meal, ground beef recipe, quick dinner

Find it online: https://perkypan.com/kid-approved-honey-garlic-ground-beef-rice-skillet-easy-20-min-dinner/