Description
Sizzling Tex-Mex beef cauliflower skillet delivers bold southwestern spices and hearty comfort in one pan. Savory ground beef, roasted cauliflower, and zesty seasonings create a quick, delicious meal you’ll want to devour again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1.5 pounds (680 grams) ground beef
Vegetables:
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small jalapeno, finely chopped (optional)
- 4 cups cauliflower rice (fresh or frozen)
Seasonings, Sauces, and Extras:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 (14.5 ounces / 411 grams) can diced tomatoes, drained
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
- Salt & black pepper, to taste
- 1 lime, juiced
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare a spacious skillet and warm olive oil over medium flame, creating a sizzling foundation for the dish.
- Introduce diced onions, vibrant bell peppers, minced garlic, and finely chopped jalapeño to the pan, gently sautéing until the vegetables soften and release their aromatic essences.
- Incorporate ground beef into the vegetable medley, methodically breaking down the meat with a cooking utensil to ensure even crumbling and consistent browning.
- Allow the beef to transform from pink to a rich, caramelized brown, indicating complete cooking while developing deep flavor complexity.
- Eliminate any accumulated excess fat to maintain a clean, concentrated taste profile.
- Enhance the mixture with tomato paste, diced tomatoes, and a vibrant blend of spices: chili powder, earthy cumin, smoky paprika, fragrant oregano, and a hint of fiery cayenne.
- Activate the spices by stirring and cooking briefly, enabling them to release their full spectrum of flavors and create a robust sauce.
- Gently fold in cauliflower rice, allowing it to absorb the rich, spicy essence of the surrounding ingredients.
- Simmer the entire skillet contents, cooking the cauliflower rice until it reaches a tender consistency without becoming soggy or losing its distinct texture.
Notes
- Swap ground beef with plant-based crumbles for a vegetarian version that maintains the hearty texture and protein content.
- Toast whole spices before grinding to unlock deeper, more complex flavor profiles in the Tex-Mex seasoning blend.
- Use fresh cauliflower rice instead of frozen for better texture and to prevent excess moisture that could make the dish soggy.
- Select lean ground beef (90/10) to reduce fat content while keeping the dish flavorful and nutritionally balanced.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 16g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 90mg