Italian Beef and Rice Skillet

INGREDIENTS

4          slices bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces

1           lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef

1           medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)

1           small bell pepper (any color), chopped (1/2 cup)

2           cloves garlic, finely chopped

1/2        teaspoon salt

2           cups water

1           can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained

1           can (2.25 oz) sliced ripe olives, drained

1 1/2     teaspoons Italian seasoning

2           cups uncooked instant white rice

1           cup shredded mozzarella cheese (4 oz)

 

 

DIRECTIONS  

1 In 12-inch skillet, cook bacon over medium-high heat until almost crisp. Add beef, onion, bell pepper, garlic and salt; cook 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently, until beef is thoroughly cooked; drain. 2 Stir in water, tomatoes, olives and Italian seasoning; heat to boiling. Stir in rice. Reduce heat to medium; cover and simmer about 5 minutes or until rice is tender. 3 Sprinkle with cheese; cover and let stand until melted.

A few slices of bacon adds a nice smoky flavor to this easy one-dish beef and rice meal. In place of plain diced tomatoes, you can use Italian-style diced tomatoes, tomatoes with garlic or tomatoes with celery and green bell pepper. Chop some fresh herbs that you may have, such as parsley, basil or oregano, or a combination of herbs, and mix into the shredded mozzarella before sprinkling on top of the rice dish.