Homemade Crunchy Taco Hamburger Helper
Try this Homemade Crunchy Taco Hamburger Helper recipe, or contribute your own.
Try this Homemade Crunchy Taco Hamburger Helper recipe, or contribute your own.
- 1/2 cup salsa
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 large shallot or 1/2 small onion chopped
- 1 recipe homemade taco seasoningâ (recipe in notes be don't add water
- 1-3/4 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup long grain white rice such as basmati or jasmine
- toppings: crushed tortilla chips salsa, sliced avocado, chopped green onions
- Carbohydrate 1.91553946928701 g
- Cholesterol 84.6411050788205 mg
- Fat 17.216041436969 g
- Fiber 0.409600006449771 g
- Protein 24.6263635124536 g
- Saturated Fat 8.84635046994822 g
- Serving Size 1 1 Serving (141g)
- Sodium 365.31813795887 mg
- Sugar 1.50593946283724 g
- Trans Fat 1.54622858528524 g
- Calories 265 calories
Step-by-step
- Brown ground beef with shallot in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Drain then return to the skillet.
- Add taco seasoning, salsa, and chicken broth then bring to a boil.
- Add rice then place a lid on top and reduce heat to medium-low.
- Simmer for 15-20 minutes or until rice is tender then remove from heat and stir in cheddar cheese until melted.
- Place lid back on the skillet then let sit for 5 minutes before serving with toppings.
Undercooking the ground beef before draining prevents the fond from developing properly in the skillet, sacrificing essential depth of flavor. Building this dish relies on a skillet hot enough to brown the meat thoroughly over medium-high heat while rendering excess fat. Incorporating dry long-grain white rice straight into the boiling broth allows each grain to absorb the seasoned liquid evenly without becoming gluey, provided the heat drops promptly to medium-low. Fresh aromatics like shallots yield a sharper, more delicate bite than standard storage onions, though standard yellow onions work with a slightly longer sauté time.
Pairing and Texture Management
Serving this savory skillet requires contrasting textures and bright acidity to balance the richness of melted sharp cheddar cheese and ground beef. Crunchy toppings such as crushed tortilla chips and sliced avocado supply necessary structural variety against the tender rice grains. Crisp cabbage slaws dressed in lime juice cut through the dairy heavy finish more effectively than heavy green salads. Allowing the covered skillet to rest undisturbed for five minutes off the heat ensures the starches fully set before portioning.
- Ensure chicken broth is at a rolling boil before adding rice to prevent uneven softening.
- Stir cheddar cheese off the heat source to prevent the proteins from breaking and turning oily.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.
