One-Skillet Taco Rice with Ground Beef, Black Beans and Cheddar
Brown 1 pound of ground beef and an onion in a 12-inch skillet over a medium camp stove flame, stir in taco spices, rice, tomatoes, beans and water, then cover and simmer on low for 18 minutes. Rest it 5 minutes, top with cheddar-jack and let it melt. Total time is about 45 minutes, and the beef must reach 160°F.
This is a one-pan dinner for the end of a long day. Rice cooks right in the beef and tomato juices, so it soaks up all the flavor and you wash one skillet.
It uses pantry cans, a few spices and a block of cheese. Mix the spices at home and the camp work is about 10 minutes of chopping and stirring. Top it with crushed chips and a squeeze of lime, and it feeds four hungry people.
One-Skillet Taco Rice with Ground Beef, Black Beans and Cheddar
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 35 min
- Serves
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Heat
- Medium, then low flame
- Pack weight
- 4 lb
- Campfire
- Camp stove
- Backpacking
- Cooler required
- One burner
- Some water
- A few dishes
- Prep ahead
Ingredients
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Gear you'll need
- 12-inch cast-iron or heavy skillet with lid (or foil)
- Single-burner camp stove
- Instant-read thermometer
- Wooden spoon
- Cutting board and knife
- Can opener
- Empty can for grease
Steps
-
Mix the spices
Stir the chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder and salt together in a small cup. If you mixed it at home, just open the bag.
-
Brown the beef
Heat the oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium. Add the beef and onion, then break the meat up and cook 7 to 8 minutes, until no pink remains.
-
Check the temperature
Check the beef with a thermometer. Ground beef is safe at 160°F. If there is a lot of grease, spoon it into an empty can and wipe the spoon with a paper towel.
-
Toast the spices
Add the garlic and spice mix and stir for 1 minute. Add the dry rice and stir to coat it in the fat.
-
Add the liquids
Pour in the tomatoes with their juice, the beans and the water. Stir well and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom.
-
Simmer covered
Bring to a boil, then cover with a lid or foil and turn the flame to low. Cook 18 minutes without lifting the lid more than once to peek.
-
Rest and fluff
Take the skillet off the heat and keep it covered for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork. If the rice is still crunchy, add 1/4 cup water, cover and cook 3 more minutes.
-
Melt the cheese
Sprinkle the cheese over the top, cover and wait 2 minutes until it melts.
-
Top and serve
Scatter on the scallions and crushed chips. Serve straight from the skillet with lime wedges.
Trail Notes
Mix the spices at home in a small bag. Dice the onion and mince the garlic, then store them in a sealed container in the cooler for up to 2 days.
Keep the raw beef on the bottom of the cooler in a sealed bag, below 40°F, away from cheese and veggies. Cook it the first or second night, or freeze it solid before you leave. Wash your hands and the cutting board after handling it.
Use ground turkey and cook it to 165°F. Or skip the meat, double the beans and add a can of corn for a vegetarian version.
Never pour grease or rinse water on the ground. Wipe the skillet with a paper towel and pack it out with the grease can. Strain food bits from your dishwater and scatter the water well away from camp and water sources.
Round out your camp day
Picked to work with the same kit as this recipe.
BreakfastCast-Iron Cinnamon Sugar Biscuit Donut Bites
LunchCast-Iron Kielbasa and Cabbage Skillet with Whole-Grain Mustard
Snack or treatCast-Iron Chili Mac Corn Chip Pie with Cheddar and Pickled JalapeñosMore one-burner camping meals →Planning a trip? Get the free 3-day meal plan →
Campers ask
Can you cook rice in a skillet at a campsite?
Yes. Use a snug lid or foil, keep the flame low and don't lift the lid often. Resting it off the heat for 5 minutes finishes the rice.
How do you keep taco rice from burning on a camp stove?
Scrape up the browned bits before covering and turn the flame to its lowest setting. A heavy skillet spreads the heat better than a thin pan.
What internal temperature should ground beef reach when camping?
Cook ground beef to 160°F, checked with an instant-read thermometer in the thickest part of the cooked crumbles. Color alone can fool you.
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