Homemade Beef Rice-a-Roni is a super simple skillet meal that your whole family will love. Skip the box and use whole ingredients that you can actually pronounce and that you probably have in your pantry and fridge right now.
Homemade Beef Rice-a-Roni
Rice-a-roni has a pretty special place in my heart. My mom used to make it when I was a kid, and even as an ultra-picky eater, I LOVED Rice-a-Roni nights.
I still do, but these days I like to add my own flavors into the mix and make it from scratch. It’s almost as fast as it is coming from a box, but there are no funky ingredients to contend with, and you can fully control the final results.
Embrace the comfort of home with our Homemade Beef Rice-a-Roni, a dish that embodies the heartiness of lean ground beef mingled with the soft textures of rice and orzo. Perfect for a fulfilling family meal, this recipe is a nod to the joy of simple, yet delicious cooking.
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Why you’ll love this dish…
- Accessible Ingredients: Your pantry likely holds all you need to create this dish.
- Appeals to All: Loved by grown-ups and kids alike, it’s a true crowd-pleaser.
- Tailorable: Tweak the recipe with your preferred veggies or herbs.
Try with our easy Greek Salad!
Beef Rice-a-Roni shopping list
Wondering if you have to hit the store? Here’s the list of items you’ll need to make this recipe. For specific amounts, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Lean Ground Beef
- Salt
- Pepper
- Onion Powder
- Garlic Powder
- Diced Medium Onion
- Minced Cloves Garlic
- Butter
- Diced Crimini Mushrooms
- Long-Grain Rice
- Orzo
- Beef Broth
- Sherry
- Diced Carrots
- Minced Fresh Parsley
Try our Smoked Cream Cheese!
How to make Beef Rice-a-Roni at home
Wondering what you’re getting yourself into when you make this dish? Here’s a quick overview of the process! Make sure you follow the instructions at the recipe card at the bottom of the post while you’re cooking.
- Sauté the beef with seasonings and veggies until golden.
- Separately, toast the rice and orzo until golden.
- Mix the beef with the grains, add broth, sherry, and carrots, then simmer.
- Cook covered until the grains are soft and fluffy.
- Garnish with parsley and it’s ready to enjoy.
Have some Grilled Zucchini with this!
Beef Rice-a-Roni FAQ
How do you store the leftovers?
Keep them fresh in the fridge in a sealed container for up to three days.
What’s the best way to reheat the leftovers?
Warm it up on the stove or microwave, adding a bit of broth for moisture.
Try some Over The Top Chili!
Serve this with…
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Homemade Beef Rice-a-Roni
Homemade version of this family favorite meal. Homemade Beef RIce-a-roni is going to become a family favorite!
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 6 medium crimini mushrooms, diced
- 1 cup long-grain rice
- 1 cup orzo
- 4 cups beef broth
- 2 tablespoons sherry
- 1 cup diced carrots
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
Instructions
- In a large high-sided skillet over medium-high heat, add the ground beef and season with the salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. Add the diced onion and mushrooms and cook along with the ground beef.
- In a separate skillet over medium heat, melt the butter, mix in the rice and pasta, and cook, stirring frequently, until the pasta is lightly browned.
- Add to the ground beef mixture along with the beef broth, sherry, and carrots. Cover, reduce the heat to low, and let simmer for 10-15 minutes or until the rice and pasta are tender.
- Fluff with a fork and stir in the fresh parsley before serving.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 365Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 83mgSodium: 936mgCarbohydrates: 27gFiber: 2gSugar: 4gProtein: 29g
Nutrition data provided here is only an estimate. If you are tracking these things for medical purposes please consult an outside, trusted source. Thanks!
Jackie
Wednesday 25th of March 2020
Good but too salty. Maybe next time I'll use low sodium broth and leave out the boullion since it's always sooo salty even the low sodium versions.
Nicole Johnson
Wednesday 25th of March 2020
Yeah, if you are sensitive to sodium or salt, you'll want to adjust accordingly. This recipe was not too salty for our family of nine, as written, but your mileage may vary! Thanks for stopping by!
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KC the Kitchen Chopper
Sunday 3rd of August 2014
Wow, does this bring back memories. Used to make this all the time. Thanks for sharing your "out of the box" recipe. I'm sure it's much better than the original. Please come and link up again to #theWeekendSocial. Happy to have you! Pinned!