Easy Mexican Pile Up Recipe 

An easy-peasy recipe on a budget, even in the smallest of kitchens. 

Who doesn’t love Mexican food?

Making it yourself, I promise, will leave you feeling accomplished. In addition to Mexican food being amazing, this dish will cost you next to nothing in groceries and will fill you up, and it reheats well!

Ingredients:

1-1 1/2 lb. Ground Beef

4-6 Limes (squeezed), depending on size rendering about 1 cup.

1 bunch of Fresh Cilantro

1 Onion - chopped

2 Tbsp of chopped Garlic

1 packet of Sazon (with annatto, found in the ethnic aisle)

1 Tbsp of Vegetable Oil

1 can of Beans (Red Kidney or Black, your choice)

2 cups of Rice (Brown or White)

1 Tbsp of Chili Powder 

OK! Here’s how we do this!

I did the healthier-ish version of this (with brown rice), but for you all, I’ve included both, so you decide!

1. Add the vegetable oil to a pan and heat.

2. While the oil is heating we work on the onion, cutting it up into small pieces then adding it in a heated pan with the oil. You’re going to want to sweat the onions until they get a little translucent. 

3. While you’re sweating the onions, you’re going to do some additional prep work. Finely chop the cilantro and garlic and set aside.

4. Once the onions are at this translucent point, you add in the meat.

5. When the meat starts to brown slightly, add in the garlic, finely chopped cilantro, half a packet of Sazon and chili powder and stir. 

6. Once the seasoning is mixed in, add half of the squeezed lime juice. Make sure this is fresh, it really affects the taste if it’s not, but if you need to substitute you can! At this point turn the heat down just below medium. Stirring frequently.

Starting the Rice

Now, I have a rice cooker, but if you don’t, you can cook in a pan. It takes about the same amount of time between a rice cooker and pan. 

7. After you’ve added your garlic, cilantro, lime juice and seasonings, you can start your rice. However, if you do brown rice, you should probably start the rice first before anything else, because it takes the longest. Just follow the directions on the package for either one. 

8. Towards the end of the cooking time on the rice, open the beans, add them to a pot (or microwave them, covered) and let them simmer. If it's red beans, add 1 packet of Sazon, black beans can be served as is, and salt to taste.

9. Letting the meat continue to cook on low, stir occasionally until the rice is done, adding the last of the lime juice, to taste as you like it. We like it very lime-y in this house! 

10. When the rice is done, you serve it in a bowl. Add rice, beans and then the meat. 

You can always add freshly cut up tomato, shredded cheese, cilantro, onions and /or sour cream on top, to suggest a few. It's delicious any way you serve it!

Enjoy!