One Pot Marry Me Beef
This incredible meal features Laura’s Lean ground beef and fluffy rice in a creamy, herby sauce that’s laced with parmesan cheese and chewy-sweet sun-dried tomatoes! Made in one pot and ready in under 30 minutes!
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Laura’s Lean. All opinions are 100% mine.
Marry me beef is a show-stopping meal made with everyday ingredients. This easy ground beef dish is made with ingredients you can find in your local grocery store. And the ingredient list is short! This creamy, savory meal is high in protein and nutrients, undeniably wholesome, and ready in the blink of an eye! That means this is the ideal meal for any busy weeknight, whether it’s date-night or family-time! Plus, you’ll have just one pan to clean!
Where does the “marry me” come from? Traditionally, this dish is made with chicken, and there are two rumors that explain the quirky name. The first is that a group of magazine food editors were recipe-testing and one said, “I could literally marry this dish”. The second rumor is simply put: This savory meal is so incredible, when you serve it to your partner, a marriage proposal will surely follow.
What kind of beef should you use? I chose Laura’s Lean 96% lean/4% fat ground beef because it’s extra lean and a great option for those following a low-fat diet. In fact, Laura’s Lean 96% lean/4% fat ground beef has been heart-check certified by the American Heart Association, which means it meets the strict criteria needed to qualify for the certification. You can also use Laura’s Lean 92%lean/8% fat – all Laura’s Lean products are lower in total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol than most other beef products, and, when preparing nutritious meals, I always opt for clean, lean, high-quality protein. Plus, lean beef cooks in less time (when compared to higher fat beef) and it produces much less grease, which is especially important when making one-pot meals!
This meal is gluten-free! That’s not the case with traditional marry me chicken because the poultry is breaded with flour. It’s the flour that thickens the sauce, creating a satiny gravy. When you swap in ground beef, there’s no need for breading, and thus no need for flour.
This dish is as wholesome as it is delicious. Yes, I used heavy cream, but there’s just enough to create a creamy mouthfeel, not enough to send calories and fat soaring. In fact, this wholesome meal is brimming with better-for-you ingredients, including Laura’s Lean 96% lean/4% fat ground beef, nutrient-packed sun-dried tomatoes, calcium-rich parmesan cheese, and reduced sodium beef broth.
How should you serve your marry me beef? Since the creamy beef mixture is studded with fluffy rice, the meal is almost complete. For side dishes, I suggest vibrant vegetables, such as a crisp green salad, or broccoli, spinach, kale, asparagus, green beans, and green peas. Your vegetables can be steamed, roasted, and/or grilled, so choose what works for you and your family.
One Pot Marry Me Beef
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef, or Laura’s Lean 92% lean/8% fat ground beef
- 2-3 cloves garlic, minced, or 1 teaspoon dried minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, or more/less to taste
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 3/4 cups beef broth, preferably reduced-sodium
- 1/4 cup chopped, oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained before chopping
- 3/4 cup long grain white rice
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 3 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese, preferably freshly grated, plus more for serving
- Chopped fresh basil for serving
Instructions
- Brown the beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking up the meat as it cooks. Add the garlic, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper and stir to coat. Cook for 1 minute, until the herbs are fragrant.
- Add the sun-dried tomatoes and rice and stir to combine. Cook for 30 seconds to toast the rice.
- Add the broth and bring to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan and incorporating them into the broth.
- Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 20 minutes, until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender, stirring every 5 minutes.
- Stir in the cream and parmesan cheese. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.
- Garnish with fresh basil and serve with extra parmesan cheese on the side.
Delicious and easy! One of our family staples!
Wonderful! Thank you!