Meat Lovers Pizza Rice Skillet (Print version)

A cheesy one-pan rice dinner loaded with beef, sausage, bacon, pepperoni, pizza sauce, and bubbling mozzarella.

# Ingredients:

For the skillet base

01 - 4 slices bacon, chopped
02 - 1/2 lb (225 g) lean ground beef
03 - 1/2 lb (225 g) mild Italian sausage, casings removed if needed
04 - 1/2 medium yellow onion, diced
05 - 1 small green bell pepper, diced
06 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 tablespoon tomato paste
08 - 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
09 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional
10 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
11 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

For the rice

12 - 1 1/2 cups (285 g) long-grain white rice, rinsed and drained
13 - 1 1/2 cups (360 ml) pizza sauce
14 - 2 cups (480 ml) low-sodium beef broth
15 - 1/2 cup (120 ml) water, plus more if needed

For the topping

16 - 1 1/2 cups (170 g) shredded low-moisture mozzarella cheese
17 - 1/4 cup (25 g) grated parmesan cheese
18 - 24 pepperoni slices
19 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or parsley

# Instructions:

01 - Heat a 12-inch oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped bacon and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring often, until crisp. Transfer the bacon to a plate and leave about 1 tablespoon of drippings in the skillet.
02 - Add the ground beef, Italian sausage, onion, and bell pepper to the skillet. Cook for 7-9 minutes, breaking up the meat, until browned and cooked through. Drain extra fat if the skillet looks oily.
03 - Stir in the garlic, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly, until the tomato paste darkens slightly and the garlic smells fragrant.
04 - Stir in the rinsed rice, pizza sauce, beef broth, and water. Bring to a simmer, then cover tightly and reduce the heat to low. Cook for 18-20 minutes, stirring once halfway through, until the rice is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
05 - Heat the broiler. Sprinkle mozzarella and parmesan over the rice, then top with pepperoni and the reserved bacon. Broil for 1-3 minutes, until the cheese is melted and browned in spots.
06 - Let the skillet rest for 5 minutes so the rice settles. Finish with basil or parsley, then scoop and serve hot.

# Good to know:

01 - Best made in a 12-inch oven-safe skillet with a tight lid.
02 - Let the skillet rest for 5 minutes before serving so the rice finishes absorbing the sauce.
03 - Use low-sodium broth because the meats, cheese, and sauce already bring salt.

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