This beef and rice skillet is loaded with Greek flavor and ready in under an hour. It’s the perfect weeknight meal and so easy to put together.
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This dish tastes like a deconstructed stuffed pepper. Gemista, the classic Greek stuffed Vegetable dish, can be a labor of love. It is delicious and great for meal prep. Especially because it tastes even better the next day. However, sometimes you just need a meal on the table, super-fast! This is one of those meals.
All of the ingredients in this dish are staples in my kitchen:
- ground beef
- rice
- onions
- olive oil
- bell peppers
- canned tomatoes
- herbs
RECIPE VARIATIONS:
Life’s about options and this is one of those recipes that can be turned into so many new variations. Here are a few ideas:
- Swap out the ground beef for ground poultry (chicken or turkey) or lamb
- Use your favorite veggies: carrots, frozen green peas, zucchini, corn, or broccoli would all be delicious.
- Use brown rice instead of white. Make sure to adjust the cooking time and liquid accordingly. Brown rice takes much longer to cook.
- Add some cheese: feta, parmesan, or even mozzarella. I lean towards the feta but, it’s your kitchen and your dinner table.
- Use any small pasta instead of the rice.
- Add some spice by throwing in some sliced jalapenos.
Serve this dish with a side of feta, tzatziki, and a salad.
If you followed my Freezer Prep post and have some meat sauce in your freezer, it will work perfectly in this dish and cut the cooking time in half! Just warm it through in the pan then, add the veggies and rice and enjoy! Read it HERE.
I hope that you give this easy and delicious recipe a try. If you do, let me know what you think in the comments section and I would love to see pics of your recreations!! They bring joy to my life. Share your pics with me on Instagram or Facebook.
Greek-Style Beef & Rice Skillet: Pilafi me Keema
This beef and rice skillet is loaded with Greek flavor and ready in under an hour. It's the perfect weeknight meal and so easy to put together.
Ingredients
- 1-pound lean ground beef
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 5-6 garlic cloves, chopped
- Salt to taste
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
- 7 ounces diced tomatoes
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
- 1 and ½ cups Basmati rice
Instructions
- Rinse the rice in a large bowl 4-5 times or until the water runs clear. Soak the rice in cool water for 15 minutes or until the meat is ready.
- Combine olive oil and onion in a large skillet and cook over medium heat until soft and golden. About 8 minutes.
- Add garlic and cook for 3-4 minutes or until soft.
- Add ground beef and cook over medium-high heat for 3 minutes.
- Season with salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes. Add tomatoes and cook (covered) for about 10 minutes or until the tomatoes are soft.
- Add the diced bell peppers and cook for 5 minutes or until softened. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Add the parsley and mix it together.
- Drain the rice and add it to the pot along with 1 and ½ teaspoons of salt and 1 and ½ cups of water.
- Bring the mixture to a boil. Cover the skillet with the lid and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 15 minutes.
- Fluff the rice and serve with feta, tzatziki, and a salad. Enjoy!
Thank you Dimitra! I just cooked this amazing pilaf with ground beef exactly as per your YouTube recipe. I simply added cinnamon & allspice just to make sure the meat is fragrant. I know these 2 spices are from within the Greek kitchen. What I loved The most about your recipe is the water to rice ratio (1:1!) … you see, I always thought it was 1:1.5 , which explains why I’ve been getting slightly sticky rice. Your ratio makes each rice separated. This was a great lesson for me. I will now try to apply what I learned from you to other rice pilafs, including Biryani. I know Biryani has a more elaborate process, but this will be an express version with very similar results.
5 star for this recipe of yours thank you so much for sharing this I am surely going to try making this for my kids as they really love greek style beef rice.
Hi..I have visited Greece a lot of times..and I am in love with greek food..thanks Dimitra
Wanted to know how many calories it has the rice and beef
Thanks Dimitra! It is an excellent quick dish for a weeknight dinner after work. I can bring the leftovers to work as lunch the next day. It is delicious. I have used ground turkey thigh instead of beef and frozen green peas instead of chopped red pepper. Next time, I will try to use chopped red pepper and frozen green peas together.
I’m making this for my Family dinner this week, however I’m confused how to use the tzatziki. Can someone please explain? Do I put it on the side to add to the dish? Thanks in advance.
Yes, the tzatziki can be served as a side 🙂 I love to mix it with the rice.
This is an excellent recipe! I made it again yesterday for dinner and we just love it. I can’t count how many times I’ve made this and every time it’s as delicious as the first . It’s added to my Favorites as are many of Dimitras Dishes Recipes. I love your blog , your easy to follow recipes, making them and eating them . Thank you so much for sharing your recipes us . 5 stars!!!!
Love to hear it! I really appreciate the time and effort you put into making my recipes 🙂
This is a wonderful recipe and I’ve made it many times . A family favorite go to that we all absolutely love . Dimitra have you thought about putting your wonder Greek Recipes into a cook book ? I for one would buy it . Love your blog !!!!
Thank you so much for your incredible support and kind words! I’m thrilled that your family loves the recipe. A cookbook is something I’ve definitely considered, and hearing your enthusiasm really encourages me. I’ll keep you posted on any exciting developments. In the meantime, if there’s anything specific you’d like to see on the blog or have any questions, feel free to reach out. Thanks again for being here!!
Hi Dimitras,
I made this yesterday and looking at the recipe I noted only salt and pepper was used for seasoning. I added Oregano and some Greek seasoning but still found it a little bland……It did taste good but next time I’ll crank it up a bit with some cumin and paprika.
I have cooked many of your dishes and enjoyed them all…you’re my go to for traditional Greek cuisine.
Hi there,
Thank you for trying the recipe! I’m glad to hear you enjoyed it overall. Your idea to add cumin and paprika sounds fantastic—those spices will definitely add some extra flavor. If you ever need more seasoning tips or ideas, feel free to reach out. I’m happy to help make your cooking experience even better!
Hi Dimitras,
I read the reviews and decided to Greekify the dish with cumin, oregano, paprika and some Greek seasoning. Unfortunately even with these additions the dish seemed a little bland. If I make this again I would add beef broth instead of water and maybe some tomato paste.
I’ve made many of your recipes and enjoyed them all and really like your YouTube videos.
My favourite is the one skillet Greek chicken………I didn’t heed your advise and grabbed the hot skillet handle, Still enjoyed the meal through the pain….Cooked it many times since and have never made the same mistake.
Keep up the good work
Thank you so much for your lovely message! I really appreciate your support and that you’ve been enjoying the recipes.
Greekifying the dish with cumin, oregano, and paprika sounds like a great idea! Sometimes a little extra flavor boost like beef broth and tomato paste can really make a difference, so I agree that would be a wonderful addition next time. It’s all about adjusting to your taste!