Around the Campfire
This rice skillet is a flexible one-griddle dinner that turns rice, beef, corn, beans, and seasoning into a filling camp meal.
Why This Recipe Works
Ground beef browns first, then cooked rice and vegetables warm through together. Using cooked rice keeps the campsite cook fast and predictable.
Quick Facts
- Serves: 4
- Heat zone: Medium
- Best for: Rice skillets, family dinners, leftovers
- Teaches: One-griddle sequencing
Shopping List
- Ground beef
- Cooked rice
- Corn
- Black beans
- Taco seasoning
Home Prep
Cook rice at home and chill completely. Portion beans, corn, and seasoning before the trip.
Cooler Packing
Keep beef cold and cooked rice sealed.
Equipment
- Blackstone griddle
- Spatula
- Scraper
- Foil pan or bowls
Heat Zones
Use medium heat so everything fries instead of steaming. Keep a cooler zone for holding cooked items while the rest finishes.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef (80/20 or 85/15)
- 3 cups cooked white or brown rice, cold
- 1 cup canned corn, drained
- 1 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat the griddle to medium.
- Add 1 pound ground beef and cook, breaking it up, until browned and cooked through to 160°F.
- Add 3 cups cooked rice, 1 cup corn, 1 cup black beans, and 2 tablespoons taco seasoning to the cooked beef.
- Stir ingredients together and spread out evenly on the griddle. Cook, stirring occasionally, until everything is heated through and starting to brown, about 5–7 minutes.
- Serve hot.
Doneness
Ground beef should reach 160°F and rice should be hot throughout.
Common Mistakes
- Using wet fresh rice.
- Adding rice before the beef browns.
- Over-seasoning before tasting.
Serving Suggestions
Serve with tortillas, salsa, cheese, lime, chips, or salad.
Variations
- Add peppers and onions.
- Use chorizo.
- Serve as burrito filling.
Dietary Adaptations
- Gluten-free: Verify seasoning.
- Dairy-free: Skip cheese toppings.
- Vegetarian: Skip beef and add more beans.
Scaling
Cook in batches so rice heats instead of steaming.
Weather Notes
Wind cools rice quickly; keep batches manageable.
Leftovers
Use leftovers in wraps, bowls, breakfast burritos, or quesadillas.
Kid Helper Tasks
Kids can add toppings and build bowls away from the griddle.
Dragonfly Tip
Cold cooked rice makes skillet meals easier at camp.
Dragonfly Challenge
Serve it once as a bowl and once in a tortilla. Pick the better camp format.