One-Pot Spiced Beef and Rice Pilaf with Caramelized Onions

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-08-07 · Updated 2026-08-07

A savory one-pot dish combining ground beef, aromatic spices, and fluffy rice topped with sweet caramelized onions for a hearty meal. This Middle Eastern-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 55 minutes, pairs ground beef, long grain white rice, yellow onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 1/2 cups long grain white rice
• 1 large, thinly sliced yellow onion
• 4 cloves, minced garlic cloves
• 3 cups beef broth
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp, chopped fresh cilantro

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add 1 large thinly sliced yellow onion and cook, stirring frequently, for 15 minutes until deep golden brown and caramelized. Remove half the onions and set aside for garnish.
2. Step 2: To the pot with remaining onions, add 1 lb ground beef and 4 minced garlic cloves. Cook, breaking up the meat, for 6-7 minutes until browned and cooked through.
3. Step 3: Stir in 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp ground coriander, 1 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Cook spices for 1 minute until fragrant.
4. Step 4: Add 1 1/2 cups long grain white rice to the pot and stir for 2 minutes to toast the grains with the beef and spices.
5. Step 5: Pour in 3 cups beef broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer gently for 18-20 minutes until the rice is tender and liquid absorbed.
6. Step 6: Remove from heat and let rest covered for 5 minutes. Fluff the rice with a fork, then stir in 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro.
7. Step 7: Serve the pilaf topped with the reserved caramelized onions for a rich, flavorful finish.