Bacon Cheeseburger Rice

This bacon cheeseburger rice became my lifeline during those hectic weeknights when everyone was starving but I had zero energy left for complicated cooking. I was trying to figure out how to make something that tasted like the cheeseburgers my kids always wanted but in a format that would actually fill them up and use ingredients I had on hand. After some experimenting with getting the rice texture right and balancing all those classic burger flavors, we created this incredible one-pan meal that’s become our Monday night tradition. Now whenever someone mentions being hungry for “real food” but I’m too tired to think, this is what saves the day.

My friend Sarah made this when her picky teenage son brought three friends over unexpectedly and she panicked about feeding four hungry boys. She said they demolished the entire skillet and kept asking what restaurant it came from because they couldn’t believe something that good was homemade. Now her son specifically requests this when his friends come over because it makes him look like he has the coolest mom.

Getting Your Ingredients Right

• Ground beef ratio matters: 80/20 gives you the best flavor without making everything greasy
• Yellow mustard is key: Adds that classic burger tang that makes this taste authentic
• Minute rice works perfectly: Don’t try to substitute regular rice because the timing will be all wrong
• Good bacon makes a difference: Pre-cooked bacon saves time, but crispy homemade bacon tastes so much better
• Sharp cheddar for flavor: Mild cheese gets lost with all the other strong flavors
• Beef broth over water: Creates way more flavor than just using plain water for the rice

Making It Step by Step

Building the meat base

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add ground beef with diced onions. Cook everything together, breaking up the meat as it browns, until there’s no pink left and the onions are soft and translucent. This takes about six to eight minutes of stirring and crumbling.

Adding aromatics

Stir in minced garlic and cook for just one minute until it smells amazing. Don’t let it burn or it’ll taste bitter instead of fragrant. Drain off any excess grease so the final dish isn’t oily.

Seasoning the foundation

Sprinkle seasoned salt over the meat mixture and stir to distribute evenly. This adds the savory flavor that makes everything taste like an actual cheeseburger instead of just seasoned ground beef.

Creating burger flavors

Add tomato sauce, ketchup, and yellow mustard to the skillet, stirring until everything’s well combined. These condiments are what make this taste like a deconstructed cheeseburger instead of regular ground beef and rice.

Incorporating the rice

Add minute rice and beef broth to the mixture, stirring everything together until the rice is evenly distributed. Bring to a light simmer for two to three minutes until the broth gets absorbed and the rice is tender.

Adding the good stuff

Stir in half the shredded cheese and half the chopped bacon, mixing until the cheese melts and everything’s combined. This creates the creamy, cheesy base that holds everything together.

Final topping layer

Top with the remaining cheese and bacon, then cover the skillet and let it sit off the heat for a few minutes until the steam melts the cheese on top. This creates that perfect melted cheese layer that looks so appetizing.

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