Dr Mobeus
Budget Beef Mince and Rice Skillet
Beef mince is not the cheapest ingredient, but 250g stretched across four portions with rice and beans becomes genuinely affordable at 73p per person. This is a one-pan meal which means less washing up, and it cooks in 25 minutes. The trick is using a small amount of mince for flavour and letting the rice and beans do the heavy lifting on filling you up. It is loosely Mexican in flavour and you can adjust the spice level to suit whoever is eating.
Total cost: £2.90 (£0.73 per portion) – Serves 4 people. Prep: 5 mins | Cook: 25 mins
Budget Beef Mince and Rice Skillet
A one-pan dinner that uses a small amount of beef mince stretched with rice, beans and spices. Filling, flavourful and under 75p a portion.
Ingredients
Method
- Heat the oil in a large frying pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and pepper and cook for 3 minutes.
- Add the beef mince and brown it for 5 minutes, breaking it up with a wooden spoon.
- Add the garlic, cumin and chilli powder. Stir and cook for 1 minute.
- Pour in the chopped tomatoes, drained kidney beans, rice and hot water. Stir well and bring to the boil.
- Reduce the heat to low, cover with a lid or foil and simmer for 15 minutes until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed.
- Season with salt and pepper. Serve topped with grated cheese if you have it.
Tips and Variations
Use the cheapest beef mince you can find – the fat renders out during cooking and adds flavour. This reheats perfectly the next day. Add a handful of frozen sweetcorn for extra veg. Serve with a dollop of sour cream or natural yoghurt. No kidney beans? Black beans or baked beans work too.
Is it cheaper to make this from scratch? Use our Cook vs Buy Calculator to compare the real cost of homemade vs shop-bought.
