Healthy Ground Beef & Rice Casserole

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 small red onion, diced
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
• 1 medium green bell pepper, diced
• 1 1/4 cup jasmine rice, uncooked
• 2 teaspoons cumin
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 2 teaspoons oregano
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 2 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 (15-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 cup frozen corn
• 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 1/2 cups chopped spinach
• 1 1/2 cups shredded Mexican cheese

Instructions

1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
2. Add in the diced red onion and sauté for about 5 minutes until softened.
3. Add in the garlic and ground beef, cooking until the beef is browned and fully cooked.
4. Add the diced bell peppers and sauté for about 3-4 minutes until slightly softened.
5. Stir in the uncooked rice, cumin, chili powder, paprika, oregano, and salt.
6. Add the chicken broth, crushed tomatoes, corn, black beans, and 1/2 cup of shredded cheese. Stir to combine.
7. Bring the mixture to a low boil.
8. Cover, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for about 20 minutes. Stir halfway through to ensure the rice cooks evenly.
9. Once the rice is fully cooked, stir in the chopped spinach.
10. Top the skillet with the remaining Mexican cheese, cover, and let it melt for 1-2 minutes.
11. Garnish with freshly chopped cilantro and serve!

Notes:

• Storage:
  • Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days.
  • Freezer: Freeze for up to 3 months.
  • Reheating: Add a splash of water or broth, and microwave for 2-3 minutes (from fridge) or 4-5 minutes (from freezer).
• Make it Low-Carb: Swap the jasmine rice with cauliflower rice and reduce the broth to 1/2 cup.
• Swap Protein: Ground chicken or turkey are great alternatives.
• Vegetarian Option: Use plant-based crumbles or tofu instead of beef.
• Save Time: Use microwave rice packets instead of uncooked rice. Add it with just 1/2 cup broth and reduce cooking time to 5 minutes.