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French Onion Rice Skillet — Savory, Comforting & One-Pan Easy
If you love the rich, caramelized flavor of classic French onion soup but want an easier, more versatile dinner option, this French Onion Rice Skillet delivers all that flavor in a cozy one-pan meal. Leftover/precooked rice mixed with sweet onions, savory beef, rich beef broth, and melty cheese for a comforting, satisfying dish perfect for busy weeknights or casual family dinners.
This dish takes inspiration from French onion soup, combining fragrant caramelized onions and hearty rice in a skillet. I prefer using precooked/leftover rice in this dish, but it can be made with uncooked rice (1 cup uncooked rice) with an additional 3/4 cup of liquid and a longer cook time (18-20 minutes).
Why You’ll Love It
One-pan meal: Fewer dishes = less cleanup.
Hearty and comforting: Great served on its own or alongside a crisp salad.
Rich flavor: Caramelized onions and savory beef broth deliver a classic French onion flavor without the fuss.
Family-friendly: Kids and adults alike love the cheesy finish.
Budget-smart: Affordable ingredients you likely already have on hand.
Ingredients
-1 tablespoon butter (or olive oil)
-1 medium onion, thinly sliced
-1 pound ground beef
-2 cups precooked long-grain white rice
-2 1/4 cups French Onion soup or beef broth
-1 package dry onion soup mix
-Salt and pepper, to taste
-3/4 cup shredded cheese (Swiss, Gruyère, mozzarella, or your favorite melting cheese)
Instructions
1. Caramelize the Onions:
Add the sliced onions and the butter to the skillet, cook over medium-low heat until they soften, about 5–8 minutes. Stir occasionally until they start to caramelize.
2. Brown the Beef:
Add the ground beef. Cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until no longer pink. Drain any excess fat.
3. Add the Rice:
Stir the cooked rice into the skillet, mixing well with the onions and beef so it’s evenly coated.
4. Add Broth and Seasoning:
Add the French Onion Soup or broth and the dry onion soup mix, then season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir once to combine.
5. Simmer Covered:
Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium/low. Cover the skillet and simmer for about 15 minutes, or until most of the liquid has been absorbed.
6. Add the Cheese:
Sprinkle the shredded cheese evenly over the top of the rice. Cover again and let it sit on low heat for a few minutes until the cheese is melted and gooey.
7. Serve:
Serve hot — this dish pairs beautifully with crusty bread or a simple green salad.
Tips for Perfect Results
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Cheese choices: Swiss or Gruyère give a classic French onion flavor, but mozzarella or cheddar work well too.
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Add herbs: Fresh thyme or parsley sprinkled on top adds a bright note.
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Make it a casserole: Transfer to a baking dish and bake at 350°F for 10–15 minutes for a bubbly, browned top.
Variations to Try
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French Onion Chicken Rice Skillet: Swap in diced chicken breast or thighs instead of ground beef.
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Vegetarian Version: Replace beef with cooked mushrooms and use vegetable broth.
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Beef & Mushroom: Add sliced mushrooms when cooking the onions for extra richness.
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Extra creamy: Stir in a splash of cream or a dollop of sour cream before serving.
Storage & Reheating
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Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3–4 days.
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Freezer: This dish freezes well — cool completely, then freeze in freezer-safe containers for up to 2 months.
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Reheat: Warm in the microwave or on the stovetop with a splash of broth to loosen the rice.
This French Onion Rice Skillet is a delicious bridge between the classic flavors of French onion soup and a comforting skillet dinner that’s easy enough for weeknight meals. With minimal ingredients and maximum flavor, it’s sure to become a go-to in your recipe rotation.
French Onion Rice Skillet
Ingredients
- 1 Tbs butter
- 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 2 cups cooked long-grain white rice
- 2-¼ cups French onion soup or beef broth (If using French Onion soup concentrate, add enough water to equal 2-¼ cups of liquid.)
- 1 pkg dry onion soup mix
- ¾ cup Shredded Mozzarella, Swiss, Provolone, or Gruyere cheese (cheese of your choice or a mixture)
Instructions
- Saute onion in butter, add ground beef breaking up, and cook until brown and no longer pink. Drain off any grease.
- Stir in the French onion soup or beef broth, rice, and dry onion soup mix. Cover and simmer on Med/Low to Medium, stirring occasionally until the liquid is absorbed and the mixture has thickened. Around 15 minutes.
- Remove from heat and sprinkle cheese on top of the dish. Cover with the lid and let the cheese melt for around 2 minutes.
Nutrition
- 8 CUP UNCOOKED / 16 CUP COOKED CAPACITY – Cooks up to 8 cups of uncooked rice, yielding up to 16 cups cooked. Use only the included rice measuring cup, as standard cups differ. See guide for ratios.
- STEAMING BASKET - The included steaming basket lets you make healthy meals with vegetables, fish, and more. Also includes measuring cup and spoon
- REMOVABLE NONSTICK BOWL - The nonstick cooking bowl is completely removable for easy dishwasher cleanup; the tempered glass lid with hanger allows for easy serving and clean countertops
- AUTOMATIC KEEP WARM - The rice stays ready for serving! The unit automatically switches to the “keep warm” function after cooking is complete, keeping fluffy rice ready to serve long after cooking
- TWO HEAT SETTINGS - Cooking stops when all moisture is absorbed, then the rice cooker switches to warming mode
- Multifunctional - Use-6 digital cooking programs including white rice, brown rice, steam, slow cook, quinoa and oatmeal functions.
- Compact Capacity -4 cup uncooked (2 Qt) capacity yields up to 8 cups of cooked rice. Its space saving design is perfect for preparing small meals or tasty sides.
- Effortless Operation - The Multi Use Programmable Rice Cooker is user friendly with digital panel & LED display, features 6 One-Touch Programs, automatically switches to keep warm for 12 hours and 12 hour delay timer is designed for flexible meal planning.
- Easy to Clean - Stainless steel external housing is easy to wipe clean. With the non-stick coating, the cleaning of the inner pot is like a breeze. The inner pot and all of the included accessories are dishwasher safe.
- Safety Features - Built-in Overheating Protection. Made of BPA-Free Food Grade Material. Cool touch handle ensures your safety when you open the cooker.
- HEALTHY SKILLET - Switzerland ILAG nonstick surface. Free of PFOA, PFOS, lead, cadmium and other toxic materials that can leach into food, safe & healthy.
- SUPER NONSTICK - The surface of the saute pan with lid is smooth and super nonstick, pancakes just slide right off the pan effortless. Only less oil is needed for cooking, for a healthy, low-fat diet.
- INDUCTION COMPATIBLE - The nonstick deep frying pan is made of heavy-duty cast aluminum that won't warp. Its induction base is suitable for all stovetops, including induction cooktop, and it heats fast and evenly.
- HEAT RESISTANT HANDLE & TEMPERED GLASS LID - The bakelite handle of the ceramic non toxic frying pan with lid features woodgrain design, and it is comfortable to grip and stays cool while cooking. The explosion-proof glass lid prevents splashing and ensures maximum visibility.
- EASY TO CLEAN - The nonstick surface and no rivets design make the non toxic frying pan with lid easy to clean in seconds with a towel, soap and warm water. Recommend hand wash to extend the non stick surface life.
- DURABLE, DISHWASHER SAFE COOKING PAN: This dishwasher safe nonstick jumbo cooker's heavy-duty construction heats fast and evenly
- PREMIUM NONSTICK CHEF PAN: Durable, top-quality nonstick interior provides easy food release and fast cleanup
- STURDY HELPER HANDLE: Double-riveted handles provide a confident grip; helper handle aids in moving the extra large nonstick pan
- OVEN SAFE: Oven safe to 350°F, this nonstick jumbo cooker includes a shatter-resistant glass lid
- COMPLIMENTS OTHER FARBERWARE COOKWARE: This nonstick jumbo cooker complements skillets, sets and other items throughout the Farberware collection
- Lipton Recipe Secrets Onion Soup and Dip Mix has a tasty onion broth flavor
- This dry onion soup mix has a rich onion flavor that makes it perfect for French onion soup or cream of onion soup
- This instant soup mix is a great seasoning mix or savory base for burgers, meatloaf, and many more recipes
- Use this dry onion dip mix into your favorite French onion dip or spinach dip
- To use this dry instant soup mix as a soup base, mix one envelope with 4 cups of water and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally Simmer on low for 5 minutes
- One 1 ounce packet of Onion Soup & Dip Seasoning Mix
- Some of your favorite Happy Belly products are now part of the Amazon Grocery brand! Although packaging may vary during the transition, the ingredients and product remain the same. Thank you for your continued trust in our brands
- Can be used to make onion soup and onion dip
- Contains: Soy, Wheat
- Amazon Grocery has all the favorites you love for less. You’ll find everything you need for great-tasting meals in one shopping trip.
