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Turkey Taco Rice Skillet

One-Pan Turkey Taco Rice Skillet

A healthy, fast, and incredibly flavorful one-pan dinner! Lean ground turkey, fluffy white rice, black beans, and corn are simmered with taco spices and topped with gooey melted cheese.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 6
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: american-mexican
Calories: 360

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion diced
  • 1 pound lean ground turkey 93/7 blend preferred
  • 1 packet 1 ounce low-sodium taco seasoning (or 3 tablespoons homemade blend)
  • 1 cup long-grain white rice uncooked and rinsed
  • 1 can 15 ounces black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 cup frozen sweet corn
  • 1 can 10 ounces diced tomatoes with green chilies (like RoTel), undrained
  • 1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese or Mexican blend cheese
  • Fresh cilantro chopped (for garnish)
  • Optional toppings: diced avocado sour cream, extra salsa, and lime wedges

Equipment

  • Large cast-iron skillet or heavy-bottomed frying pan with a tight-fitting lid
  • Wooden spoon or heat-safe silicone spatula
  • Cutting board and sharp chef knife
  • Can opener

Method
 

  1. Saute the Onion: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the diced yellow onion and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until it begins to soften and turn translucent.
  2. Brown the Turkey: Add the lean ground turkey to the skillet. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes, breaking the meat apart with a wooden spoon, until it is completely browned and cooked through. Drain any excess liquid from the pan if necessary.
  3. Add the Spices and Rice: Sprinkle the taco seasoning evenly over the cooked turkey and stir well to coat. Add the uncooked, rinsed long-grain white rice and toast it in the pan with the turkey for 1 minute, stirring constantly to release its nutty flavor.
  4. Simmer the Skillet: Pour in the chicken broth and the undrained diced tomatoes with green chilies. Add the rinsed black beans and frozen corn. Stir everything together gently and bring the liquid to a rapid simmer.
  5. Cook the Rice: Once bubbling, immediately reduce the heat to the lowest setting. Cover the skillet tightly with a lid and let it cook undisturbed for 15 to 18 minutes, or until the rice is perfectly tender and has absorbed all of the liquid.
  6. Melt the Cheese: Remove the skillet entirely from the heat. Take off the lid and sprinkle the shredded cheese evenly over the top of the hot turkey and rice mixture. Place the lid back on for 2 to 3 minutes, letting the residual heat melt the cheese until gooey.
  7. Garnish and Serve: Remove the lid and garnish the skillet generously with fresh chopped cilantro. Serve immediately straight from the pan, offering diced avocado, sour cream, and lime wedges on the side.

Notes

Rice Types: This recipe is specifically timed and measured for standard long-grain white rice. If you choose to substitute brown rice, you will need to increase the chicken broth by about half a cup and increase the covered simmering time to 40 to 45 minutes.
Rinse Your Rice: Do not skip rinsing the uncooked white rice under cold water before adding it to the pan. This removes excess surface starch and prevents the skillet from turning into a gummy, sticky mess.
Make it Spicy: If you prefer a kick of heat, use a hot taco seasoning blend, leave the seeds in a fresh chopped jalapeno during the onion step, or simply use the "hot" version of canned diced tomatoes with green chilies.