Easy Texas Hash - Retro Recipe

Texas Hash is a recipe I used to make on a regular rotation when I first got married way back when. It's an easy skillet dinner with simple ingredients and big flavors. Making it again, after all these years, brought back so many memories; and isn't that what food is supposed to do?

If you love throw-back, retro recipes, then you're in luck. I have several on my site that I invite you to check out. Recipes like: Avocado Orange Salad, Vintage Rocks Cookies, Mom's Retro Heath Bar Cake, Grandma's Asparagus with Breadcrumbs, and Old-Fashioned Kidney Bean Salad, just to name a few.

The ingredient list for making easy Texas Hash:

*Please note that the exact measurements along with a "shop the recipe" feature from Instacart and Walmart is available inside the printable recipe card.

Spanish Rice or Texas Hash? What's in a name?

Good question, and one that I'm going to take my very best non-educated guess about.

In my best estimation, Texas Hash contains meat; specifically, ground beef along with the rice, peppers, tomatoes, and warm spices, whereas Spanish Rice does not.

However, some Spanish Rice recipes do contain ground beef, so then there's that.

Call it what you want.

All I know is that after you try this easy skillet ground beef and rice casserole, you'll call it delicious, and that's really all that matters.

How this recipe came to be:

Betty Crocker's recipe is the one I used to follow all those many years ago.

I fondly remember that I had Betty's big, green plastic recipe card box sitting on the top of my refrigerator, and would reach for it often.

Betty Crocker called her version of this recipe Texas Hash, which is why I do the same, because those early food and cooking memories are seared deep into my brain.

However, Mr. Food (aka Art Ginsburg), the syndicated American Television chef who specialized in quick and easy cooking recipes in the mid-70s, called his version of this (almost) exact recipe Easy Spanish Rice, with the difference being he added ground cumin and canned, chopped tomatoes into the dish.

Today, I'm sharing Art Ginsburg's recipe from his cookbook - The Mr. Food Cookbook "Ooh, it's so GOOD!!" - which I've had in my cookbook collection since forever.

What was I thinking?

Please don't ask me where my plastic avocado-green Betty Crocker recipe box and all the recipe cards inside went, because I honestly can't (and don't) remember what I did with it.

It's not like me to dispose of (or even donate) any of my cookbooks or recipe collection cards because they have a hold on my heart that I don't quite understand (even if almost all of them ever do is sit on shelves), but apparently I must have.

What in the world was I thinking??!

Why this ground beef skillet dinner works:

• It's easy to make in one skillet on the stovetop.
• It's budget friendly.
• This one pan family-friendly meal contains everything you need for a well balanced meal: protein, carbs, and vegetables.

How long does this recipe take from start to dinner?

Approximately 30 minutes.

Can brown rice be used for this recipe?

Yes, it sure can.

However, if using brown rice, be aware that it takes longer to cook than white long grain rice.

Add an additional 10-15 minutes to the (covered) simmering time if using brown rice to ensure that the brown rice is fully cooked before serving.

What other proteins can be used in place of ground beef?

Ground turkey or chicken are excellent choices to replace ground beef, if desired.

Or, feel free to use ground pork, bulk Italian sausage, or even ground veal if you're so inclined.

Recipe adaptations:

Substitution suggestions:

Don't want to add meat at all? No problem. Leave it out.

A jar of salsa or Rotel is a flavorful substitution for the canned, chopped tomatoes.

Chicken, beef, or vegetable broth may be used in place of water for additional flavor to cook the rice.

Feel free to use any type of onion you may have on hand, or any color of bell pepper. Or, if you like heat, you can substitute jalapeno peppers for the bell peppers.

Add-in suggestions:

Frozen or canned (drained) corn would be a delicious addition, as would canned (rinsed and drained) black, red, navy, or cannellini beans.

I'd also never frown on the addition of shredded cheese, so use whatever variety of shredded melting cheese you prefer and either stir it in before serving or sprinkle it over top and then serve.

And, for added texture (if you're so inclined), why not crush tortilla or corn chips over top right before serving? Now who wouldn't enjoy that?!

How to store leftover Texas hash:

Store any leftover Texas hash in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5-7 days.

Can this be frozen?

It sure can. It's an excellent dish for freezing.

Cool it completely and add it to an airtight freezer container or freezer bag. Label, date, and freeze for up to 4 months.

Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

How to reheat this ground beef and rice casserole?

Thaw if previously frozen.

Reheat in a moderate oven or air fryer (covered) until hot.

May be microwaved. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and heat until hot.

What to serve alongside Texas Hash:

Cool and refreshing Avocado and Kidney Bean Salad is the best! It's a healthy, no-cook dish that goes with just about anything.

Buttermilk Green Chile Cornbread is always a huge hit because of its tender texture! It's slightly sweet, slightly smoky, and 100% delicious!

Cake Mix Blueberry Crisp is a retro recipe I found while recently paging through my 1990 copy of The Mr. Food Cookbook - "Ooh, It's So Good." This vintage blueberry crisp is easy to make with only a handful of simple ingredients.

Recipe Quick Take:

• DIFFICULTY LEVEL - Easy
• PREP TIME - 10 Minutes
• COOK TIME - 20 Minutes
• MAKE AHEAD - Yes
• FREEZER FRIENDLY - Yes
• FLAVOR PROFILE - Warm Southwestern spices with great texture from the browned ground beef and the cooked rice. It's a completely meal with protein, starch, and vegetable in one pan.

I sincerely hope you'll enjoy making, serving, and of course eating this delicious Southwestern inspired ground beef and rice skillet casserole as much as I've enjoyed bringing it to you.

Until we eat again, I hope you have a delicious day!

All of the recipes you'll find here on my website are in loving memory of my son, Greg, who left this earth far too soon and will be forever in our hearts.