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I call this recipe cheesy taco rice because honestly, it’s the best I could come up with, HA. Out of all the different ways I have made tacos, this one is my favorite. In this post, I am going to show you how to make a new recipe for your Taco Tuesday dinner I call cheesy taco rice.

cheesy taco rice

I have tried to come up with a better name other than just tacos because this is so much more than just tacos. I have turned this recipe into a taco salad, tostadas, and even regular tacos. The taco salad version is my favorite, especially when I add crushed-up Doritos.

Now that I think about it, I add crushed-up Doritos to all my taco meals. They are the best. So you should now and forever start adding them to all of your taco dinners as well if you don’t already.

My son always pitches a fit and yells at me (calm down Karen it’s not an actual cuss mama out yell or anything, he’s just voicing his opion) when I tell him I am making cheesy taco rice. He is so funny. He complains about how he doesn’t like those tacos and that I need to make the regular tacos. And nope nope nope he is not going to eat them. Allow me to show you how that goes…

Here is how our conversation goes (he is 9):

Kelly: What’s for dinner?

Me: Tacos (I say with a smirk because I know how he feels about this version, haha)

Kelly: THE REGULAR ONES???

Me: I’m making the tacos I usually make for dinner.

Kelly: So the regular tacos, not the ones with all that cheese???? (I wish I could also add the look on his face as he says all this because it’s hilarious)

Me: The ones I usually make. (because this recipe has been my go too lately for all taco nights)

Kelly: Good! (then he goes off to play while I cook)

Then sometime later he comes back into the kitchen

Kelly: Is dinner ready yet? (he looks in the pan and sees what I made) OH COME ON!! Nope, Nope, Nope! I am not going to eat that.

Me: HAHAHAHAHAHAHA, yes you will and you will love it like you always do.

He stomps off, I fix him a bowl (he always eats it taco salad style) and once I set it down in front of him he doesn’t complain once. He eats every single bit that I put in that bowl. And sometimes he will even ask if he can have some more. He’s so funny, I just love him!

Let’s move on to the recipe and you can decide for yourself.

Cheesy Taco Rice

  • Ground Beef
  • Onion
  • Mexican Style Rice A Roni
  • Beef Broth
  • Rotel
  • Shredded Mexican Cheese
  • Salt and Pepper
  • Garlic Powder
  • Onion Powder
  • Butter
  • Doritos
  • Optional: lettuce, tomato, salsa, sour cream, guacamole, jalapenos, pico, etc.

The first thing you are going to want to do is to chop up about half an onion and toss it in a pan with 1 1/2 lbs of ground hamburger meat.

Make sure your pan is at least two inches deep and you are able to fit a lid on top. I use this one from Amazon and it’s pretty great, 6-quart Farberware Jumbo Pan with Helper Handle and lid.

Cook until the meat is no longer pink and the onion is translucent. Once finished cooking, make sure you drain all the grease and return back to your pan.

After you return the cooked meat back into the pan add one box of Mexican Style Rice a Roni (definitely make sure the box says Mexican Style on it) along with the seasoning packet it comes with, 1 can rotel with green chilis, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder (measure those 4 seasonings with your heart), 2 cups beef broth, and 2 tbsp butter.

Mix everything up really well without making a mess. Then add a lid to your pan of goodness and simmer on low for 30 minutes.

Once the timer goes off, turn off your stove and give your beef mixture a stir. You will then sprinkle one to two cups of shredded cheese evenly all over the meat (more is better I say). Don’t mix it up. Add your lid back to the pan and let it sit there for an additional 10 minutes to allow all the cheese to melt.

Use whichever cheese brings you joy. I usually use Mexican-style cheese because I like a variety. But I don’t always have that on hand so good ol’ sharp cheddar is good too, as you can see that’s what I had on me during the making of this post.

After the 10 minutes is up and your cheese is nice and melty you shall begin serving it up.

How you serve it up is totally up to you. I like to make a salad out of mine. My daughter likes to make hers into a tostada. Sometimes I go the tostadas route myself but usually mine goes in a bowl.

Top it with whatever you would like; sour cream, pico, jalapenos, refried beans, lettuce, tomato, salsa, more cheese, just whatever! We usually just add lettuce, more cheese, salsa, and crushed-up Doritos (we are a family with a boring pallet for taste haha). It is so damn good!! Just FYI Doritos give it that extra YUM, trust me (wink). Enjoy!

Here are a few more family-favorite recipes you should give a try:

Chicken Pot Pie Casserole

Crockpot Pot Roast

Homemade Lasagna

loaded taco salad

Cheesy Taco Rice

A Cheesy taco rice recipe for Taco Tuesday. Assemble it as a taco salad, a tostada, or even a taco. It's delicious no matter how you eat it.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Mexican

Equipment

  • deep pan with lid

Ingredients
  

  • lbs Ground Beef
  • ½ Onion (chopped)
  • 1 can Rotel With Green Chilis
  • 1 box Mexican Style Rice A Roni
  • 2 cups Beef Broth
  • 2 tbsp Butter
  • 2 cups Shredded Cheese (Sharp or Mexican)
  • Garlic Powder
  • Onion Powder
  • Salt and Pepper
  • Bag Doritos (optional)

Instructions
 

  • In a deep pan on medium heat cook ground beef and onion until the meat is no longer pink and the onion is translucent. Drain grease.
  • Then add salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Measure with your heart. Mix seasonings in with the hamburger.
  • Next add the box of rice a roni along with its seasoning packet, can of rotel, butter, and beef broth. Stir until its mixed together.
  • Cover with a lid and simmer on low heat for 30 minutes.
  • Once finished simmering, remove from heat, give it a good stir and cover with shredded cheese. Replace the lid and let it sit for 10 miutes or until the cheese has completely melted.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

This can be made eaten as is or made into a taco salad, regular tacos (hard or soft), or tostadas.
Doritos are not a must but highly recommended to give it a little something extra flavor-wise. So delicious. 
Also, don’t forget all the toppings. To list off a few: lettuce, tomato, salsa, pico, sour cream, guacamole, jalapenos, cheese, black olives, refried beans, etc. 
Keyword cheesy taco rice, cheesy taco skillet, taco salad with doritos, taco tuesday recipes