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With just 10 minutes of prep and a few pantry staples, this one-skillet Texas hash is a quick and easy dinner recipe that kids and adults will love! Ground beef and rice simmer with veggies, spices, and cheese for a simple weeknight winner.
Table of Contents
One pan ground beef dinners are some of our favorite ways to get easy dinners on the table, with minimal dishes to wash at the end! From chili mac to homemade Hamburger Helper and American chop suey, there are so many great options. This Texas hash recipe is another delicious twist, as the ground beef and rice cook in a single skillet on the stovetop. Add some bell peppers, onion, corn, and tomatoes, along with cheddar cheese and zesty seasoning, and you’ve got an affordable and delicious one-pot meal!
What is Texas Hash?
In general, Texas Hash is a simple ground beef and rice skillet dinner that typically includes diced canned tomatoes, bell peppers, and onions. Some versions are transferred to a baking dish so that you can bake them in the oven (like a casserole), some require cooked rice from a separate pot, and others jazz up the flavor with zesty spices.
This particular recipe keeps prep time minimal, thanks to a one-skillet Texas hash in which the rice cooks right in the same pan as the rest of the ingredients. Chili powder, garlic powder, black pepper, and Worcestershire sauce jazz it up, while tomato paste lends a richer tomato flavor.
Ingredients
This is just a quick overview of the ingredients that you’ll need for our favorite texas hash recipe. As always, specific measurements and step-by-step instructions are included in the printable recipe box at the bottom of the post.
- Olive oil: to saute the meat and vegetables.
- Onion and green bell pepper: aromatic veggies that add great flavor, nutrition, and texture to the dish.
- Ground beef: substitute with ground turkey, ground pork, ground sausage, or ground chicken if you like.
- Tomato paste: gives the sauce a thick, rich tomato flavor.
- Water: the liquid that the rice absorbs as it cooks. Feel free to sub with beef broth or chicken broth for even more flavor.
- Canned diced tomatoes and canned corn: for extra flavor in the dish. Swap out the corn and use beans, if you like. I prefer petite-diced tomatoes, which are bite-size, but regular diced tomatoes are also fine.
- Chili powder, kosher salt, ground black pepper, and garlic powder: simple pantry-staple seasonings that jazz up the meal.
- Worcestershire sauce: for salty, umami flavor that pairs nicely with the beef.
- Sugar: to balance the acidity in the tomatoes and add depth of flavor to the dish.
- Long grain white rice: do not use another variety of rice, such as brown rice or instant rice, since those other varieties require different cooking times and different amounts of liquid.
- Cheddar cheese: to finish off the dish. Feel free to sub with another good melting cheese, such as pepper jack, Colby, colby jack, or Monterey Jack.
How to Make Texas Hash
You can’t beat an easy ground beef dinner recipe that cooks entirely in one skillet. Childhood favorites make the best cozy, comforting family dinners! I’ve included the detailed directions for this Texas hash in the recipe card below, but here’s the quick version:
- Brown the ground beef, onion, and green pepper.
- Add the remaining ingredients.
- Simmer, covered, for about 20 minutes, or until the rice is tender.
- Top with cheese.
What to Serve with Texas Hash
Similar to chili, this is a great dish to garnish with additional flavors and ingredients. Here are some toppings that pair well with the Texas hash:
- Grated cheese
- Sour cream
- Diced avocado
- Fresh cilantro
- Sliced green onion or minced red onion
- Hot sauce
- Sliced jalapeño peppers
- Lime wedges
- Tortilla strips or crushed chips
Sides to Serve with Hash
This one-pot meal pairs nicely with any of the following easy sides:
- Jalapeno Cheddar Mexican Cornbread, Cast Iron Cornbread, Fluffy Bakery-Style Corn Muffins, Broccoli Cornbread, Southern Cornbread, Jiffy Cornbread with Creamed Corn, Sweet Cornbread, Pumpkin Cornbread, Cake Mix Cornbread, Skillet Cornbread, Corn Sticks, or Honey Cornbread
- Corn Muffins, Sweet Cornbread Muffins with Brown Sugar, or 3-Ingredient Sour Cream Muffins
- Two-Ingredient Pumpkin Muffins, Pumpkin Bread, or Pumpkin Muffins
- Flaky Buttermilk Biscuits, 3-Ingredient Buttermilk Biscuits, 4-Ingredient Butter Swim Biscuits, 7UP Biscuits, Sweet Potato Biscuits, Cheese Biscuits, Pumpkin Spice Biscuits, Cheddar Biscuits with Chives and Bacon, or Drop Biscuits
- No-Knead Dutch Oven Bread, Jalapeño Cheddar Bread, or Cheddar Chive Beer Bread
- Mixed Greens with Dijon Vinaigrette, Caesar Salad, Wedge Salad, House Salad with Candied Pecans, or Caesar Salad
- Homemade Coleslaw or Vinegar Coleslaw
- Fritos or other corn chips
- Saltine crackers
- Easy Homemade Guacamole with tortilla chips and salsa
Storage Tips
Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
You can also freeze leftover hash in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Just remember that rice will swell in the freezer, resulting in a mushy texture when thawed.
Reheat the leftovers in a skillet or saucepan, covered, over low heat, just until warmed through. Do not reheat it for too long, or the rice will become overdone, gummy, and mushy. You can also reheat individual portions in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
Texas Hash Recipe Variations
- Simmer the rice in beef broth rather than water for even more flavor.
- Add extra seasoning, such as smoked paprika, cumin, cayenne, red pepper flakes, onion powder, or hot sauce for a bolder flavor. Just taste and adjust as you go!
- Use a clove of fresh garlic (minced) rather than the garlic powder.
- In lieu of the ground beef, try ground turkey, ground sausage, ground pork, or ground chicken.
- Texas hash with beans recipe: swap out the canned corn and use canned, rinsed pinto beans, kidney beans, pink beans, or even navy beans, black beans, or garbanzo beans instead.
Tips for the Best Recipe for Texas Hash
- Use a large skillet with a tight-fitting lid. I like this 3.5-quart cast iron braiser.
- This recipe is designed for and tested with long grain white rice. Do not substitute with other varieties (such as brown rice or instant rice), because other varieties will require different amounts of liquid and different cooking times.
- Don’t omit the sugar. In order to achieve great tomato flavor, it’s important to balance acidity and sweetness. Too much acid or too much sugar yields a hash that tastes one-dimensional. The right amount of sugar perfectly balances the acidity of the tomatoes. Start with about 1 teaspoon of sugar here, and add more to taste, if necessary.
- The cheese garnish and other toppings are optional, but they sure add great flavor! You can use shredded sharp cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, Pepper Jack, Colby, Colby Jack, or any other good melting cheese.
- Adjust the heat. The chili powder gives this recipe for Texas hash a little bit of kick, but it’s still mild and kid-friendly. If you prefer a spicy hash, add a dash of cayenne, crushed red pepper flakes, diced jalapeno, or hot sauce.
More Easy Ground Beef Recipes to Try
One-Skillet Texas Hash
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 cup water
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can petite diced tomatoes, not drained
- 1 (8.75 ounce) can corn, drained
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Ground black pepper, to taste
- ½ cup uncooked long grain white rice
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Optional garnish: chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large cast iron skillet that has a tight-fitting lid over medium-high heat. Add the onion, bell pepper, and beef. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the meat is no longer pink, and the vegetables are tender, about 7-9 minutes. Drain off excess grease.
- Add tomato paste; cook and stir for 1 more minute. Add water, diced tomatoes with their juices, corn, chili powder, salt, sugar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and pepper. Bring to a boil.
- Once the liquid boils, reduce the heat to low, stir in the rice, and cover. Cook for 18-20 minutes (or until the rice is tender), adjusting the heat as necessary to keep the mixture gently simmering.
- Remove the lid; fluff rice with a fork. Much of the liquid should be absorbed at this point. If it’s too wet for your liking, just simmer uncovered for a couple more minutes.
- Remove the skillet from the heat. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if desired. Sprinkle cheese on top, cover with the lid, and let the cheese melt for a minute or two. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve!
Notes
- Use a large skillet with a tight-fitting lid. I like this 3.5-quart cast iron braiser.
- This recipe is designed for and tested with long grain white rice. Do not substitute with other varieties (such as brown rice or instant rice), because other varieties will require different amounts of liquid and different cooking times.
- Don’t omit the sugar. In order to achieve great tomato flavor, it’s important to balance acidity and sweetness. Too much acid or too much sugar yields a hash that tastes one-dimensional. The right amount of sugar perfectly balances the acidity of the tomatoes. Start with about 1 teaspoon of sugar here, and add more to taste, if necessary.
- The cheese garnish and other toppings are optional, but they sure add great flavor! You can use shredded sharp cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, Pepper Jack, Colby, Colby Jack, or any other good melting cheese.
- Adjust the heat. The chili powder gives this recipe for Texas hash a little bit of kick, but it’s still mild and kid-friendly. If you prefer a spicy hash, add a dash of cayenne, crushed red pepper flakes, diced jalapeno, or hot sauce.
Very good recipe, Question, what do you serve with it? Any sides?
We list lots of side options in the post! Cornbread, muffins, bread, and coleslaw are some of our go-to options.