Lisa's Favorite Mexican Rice

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• cooking spray
• 2 teaspoons olive oil, or to taste
• 1/2 onion, chopped fine
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 pounds ground beef
• 1 (1 ounce) packet taco seasoning mix
• 4 cups cooked rice
• 1 (16 ounce) package southwestern-style mixed frozen vegetables
• 1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained (optional)
• 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
• 1/2 cup salsa
• 1/4 cup sliced kalamata olives

Recipe

Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 40 mins Ready Time: 55 mins


• preheat oven to 350 degrees f (175 degrees c). prepare a casserole dish with cooking spray.
• heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. saute onion and garlic in hot oil until the onion is tender, about 5 minutes; add ground beef and continue to cook while breaking beef into small pieces with a wooden spoon until the beef is completely browned, 5 to 7 minutes. season beef mixture with the taco seasoning mix.
• stir beef mixture, rice, vegetables, kidney beans, 1 cup cheddar cheese, salsa, and olives together in the prepared casserole dish. sprinkle remaining cheese over the mixture.
• bake in preheated oven until the cheese is melted and the dish is hot in the center, about 30 minutes.