This totally qualifies as a Pantry Staples meal. Beef + Black Beans + Salsa + Rice = simple, crazy cheap, yet delicious meal. Hope you enjoy this super simple ‘pantry staples’ dinner that you might even be able to make tonight…without having to run to the store!
Salsa, Black Bean and Beef Skillet Dinner
Yield – 4 servings
Preparation Time – 15 minutes
Cooking Time – 70 minutes
Ingredients
- 3/4 lb. ground beef or chuck ($1.27)
- 1/2 onion, chopped ($.15)
- 1 cup brown rice ($.40)
- 2 1/2 cups water
- 2 cups cooked black beans ($.40) (or 1 can, drained)
- 1 cup salsa – mild, medium or hot! ($.75)
- 1 can diced tomatoes ($.29)
- 1 tsp ground cumin ($.05)
- 1 tsp garlic powder ($.05)
- Salt and pepper
- 1 cup shredded cheese, any variety ($.50) Used a pinchful for Steve’s bowl, which is pictured above…the rest of us had the cheeseless variety…I’m using the $.99/bag Kraft cheese from a few weeks back
- 1 package frozen corn ($.80)
Directions
- In a large skillet or saucepan, brown the ground beef with the chopped onion. Drain, rinse and set aside.
- In the same saucepan, add the brown rice and water. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, add the browned beef, black beans, salsa, undrained diced tomatoes, ground cumin, garlic powder and salt and pepper, to taste. Once boiling together, reduce heat to medium low, cover and cook for 50 minutes, or until rice has cooked through. (NOTE: If you wish to use instant brown rice or white rice, let cook for the time suggested on the packaging.)
- Once the rice has cooked through, uncover and simmer to let any remaining liquid cook off.
- Prepare frozen corn as directed on package.
- Serve Salsa, Black Bean and Beef Skillet with a side of corn.
Total Cost: $4.26
Is it just me or is Black beans not listed in the ingredients??? How much black beans should one use? This recipe looks DELICIOUS!!!!
@Amy,
I accidentally left them out. I have updated.
Not sure if you noticed or not but there is no black beans in your recipe. I was just wondering how much and when to add them. Looks yummy though.
@Megan,
I updated.
We just made something similar using leftover pork roast. It was fantastic! You are totally correct, definitely a pantry meal.
I am a little confused. I didn’t see black beans listed in the recipe but they were in the name and the pictures. How much do you add and when?
@Kristi Temple,
I updated the post. I apologize 🙂
Hey, this looks really yummy! I just may make it tomorrow since this has been one of those weeks that I didn’t get my menu planned for the whole week. I think I was just lacking inspiration. 🙂 But I have all of these ingredients on hand and my family would love this dish!
I like to keep cooked beans in my freezer. I get them in the WinCo bins and then cook big batches in my crock pot. Most of the dry beans at WinCo are under $1 a pound, so it makes it a frugal way to add more protein to our diets.
I did notice on your recipe that you didn’t add in the black beans to your ingredients list or to your instructions of when to add them. Was that just a typo?
Thanks for the recipe!
Jane
@Jane,
Yes…I accidentally left them out. I have updated 🙂
I think you are missing the black beans in the ingredient list and the instructins… Or the title is wrong (but the picture shows black beans, and it looks yummy!).
@Marie @ Filling My Family,
Thanks…I updated 🙂
How many and when do you add the black beans (I looked twice to see if I missed it- did -?)?
@Makenzie,
Sorry! I updated 🙂
This looks SO good! I’m definitely going to try it. 🙂 I think I might add some rice, too.
And black beans. 😉
@Lindsey@Kindred Spirit Mommy,
LOL! The black beans would help 😉
@Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom, I couldn’t resist! lol
Hi Erin,
I love your site, you get 2 thumbs up from this frugal guy.This recipe looks very tasty! I will definitely be making it this week. I’m thinking of serving it on top of Frito’s corn chips to give it a Tamale feel.
Cheers! Justin
This would be well-liked at our home, with a side of tortillas! (Yes, double-carb…but hey, that makes for full bellies for the kids, so I’m okay with it once in a while!)
This is simmering away on my stovetop right now! I threw the corn right in the pot since I was looking for a one dish meal and subbed the ground beef for shredded chicken since it’s what I had defrosted. I plan on wrapping the leftovers in tortillas and freezing for a quick re-heatable burrito for lunches. It smells amazing! Thanks!!
Do you really rinse the meat and onion mixture? I’ve never heard of doing that before.
This sounds like an amazing meal. It will be on the menu plan for next week.
@Michelle Koenig,
After I drain the meat, I rinse it in the strainer with scalding hot water…to get off any extra grease!
Erin
This looks amazing!
I have several ideas to use and re-use this combo!!!
I plan on adding chicken instead!!! (Because tonight we are having chicken in yogurt)
I love this website!!!
This meal looks absolutely fantastic! I will definitely have to try it out sometime at home this week.
I made this meal this evening and it was de.lic.ious! Thank you so much! I will definitely be adding this to my “go-to” dinner list! I am excited for the leftovers tomorrow! Yum! 🙂
I made this tonight & the whole family really loved it 🙂 Definitely a keeper!
Made this and it was VERY tasty … we used mild salsa and it could’ve used a little bit more kick. Next time we’ll have hot sauce on the side for those who want it. Thanks!
We were extrememly low on money, and had no idea what we were going to do for dinner, and then I saw this recipe. We had all these things in our home! When it was done cooking, it didn’t look very good to me (Although nothing really does since I’m pregnant) but as soon as I tasted it, I loved it! I added black olives to this, and everyone in my family loved it, including my super picky husband, and my super picky 2 year old son.
All those prices are between twice as much to 5 times as much here! But the recipe still looks good and I’m going to try it tonight.
This recipe was very delicious! We topped this off with tortilla chips which gave it a nice crunch.
OMGOSH the best. I had corn out of the garden, tomatoes, onions and Beef was our black angus!! AWESOME only I left out the cheese b/c he don’t like it 🙂 BUT I added some to mine at supper time an it was awesome 🙂 THANKS for an excellent get it done, back to work supper 🙂
I only had to buy the cheese and cumin the rest I had on hand or grew it in the garden. And the beef was homegrown too 🙂
Cost : shoot maybe 3.75 b/c we raised the beef 🙂
I’ve made a similar dish for years, but sans the black beans as my family will NOT eat them. I’ve made it with pintos and a couple of times with Anasazi beans. I buy beans in 100 pound bags and the can about 40 quarts so if I want a quick bean dish I don’t have to plan ahead to soad the beans and cood them all day. That way, I also know I’m just getting beans and not a jar full of preservatives and salt.
Love this recipe. Our family has been making this for a while now and it is a family favorite.
Pretty yummy, nothing spectacular, but like a healthier Hamburger Helper. Super easy though!