Name: Leftover Rice Tacos
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1 pound ground beef; 1 1.25 oz packet taco seasoning mix; 1/2 cup water; 1 15 oz can whole kernel corn (drained); 2 cups leftover white rice; 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese; 8 6 inch flour tortillas; 1 16 oz jar salsa

Baked Ground Beef Tacos using a whole container of leftover rice! These easy cheesy tacos are ready in 25 minutes and are DELICIOUS!

cheesy tacos made with leftover rice and salsa on plate

What to do with leftover rice?

Leftover rice is one of the best parts of takeout because it just keeps on giving! Use leftover rice to make these delicious cheesy tacos that use a whole container of leftover rice. I make these tacos with both Chinese and Indian takeout rice.

My family loves these Leftover Rice Tacos so much I think they sometimes like it better than the actual takeout! You need to try these because I think they’ll become a favorite on your dinner menu list!

tacos in yellow baking dish with salsa and cheese on top made with leftover rice.

How much rice is in a takeout carton?

A takeout box has about 2 cups of rice in it, which is exactly what you need for this recipe. If you have a little less rice (like 1 or 1.5 cup – that’s ok too!).

How long is leftover rice good for?

Leftover rice is best used within 4 days when you’re storing it in the refrigerator. Did you know you can also freeze leftover rice for 2 months?

Ingredients

Ground beef. We prefer these tacos with ground beef, but you can also use ground pork, turkey or chicken!
Taco Seasoning. You’ll need 1 packet.
Water
Corn. You’ll need 1 can of corn. If you only have frozen corn that’s ok too!
Leftover Rice. You’ll need 2 cups!
Shredded Cheddar Cheese. You can use white or orange cheddar cheese.
Flour Tortillas. You’ll need (8) 6 inch tortillas.
Salsa. Use your favorite jarred salsa, pick something that’s tasty!

How to Make Rice Tacos

Cook ground beef in a large skillet until browned.

ground beef in skillet that's been browned.

Add taco seasoning..

And corn…

And leftover rice….

And finally cheddar cheese. I love using sharp cheddar cheese on tacos that I shred myself in my food processor.

beef, corn, taco seasoning, rice and white cheddar cheese in skillet

Continue to heat on the stove until the cheese is completely melted.

melted cheese with ground beef and corn in skillet.

Spread a little bit of the beef and rice mixture in the bottom of a 11×8 baking dish.

ground beef mixture on bottom of baking dish.

Start to make the tacos by adding the beef mixture into each tortilla, followed by some cheddar cheese. Add them to the baking dish, it should be a tight fit.

tortillas being made on cutting board with beef and cheese

If any ground beef or cheese is left, sprinkle it on top of the tortillas.

ground beef being poured from skillet on top of tacos.

Now add a jar of salsa on top.

jar or salsa being poured on top of tacos

Bake until cheese is melted, about 10 minutes.

baked tacos with melted sharp cheddar cheese on top with tomato salsa

Serve warm! And enjoy! These are delicious! I hope you love these Leftover Rice Tacos!

tacos with salsa and rice on pink plate.

Recipe Tips

I like to make my own shredded cheese by adding a block of cheese into my food processor. This makes it more thick and crumbly and melts beautifully! This has been a game changer for our tacos!
I usually use a tomato based salsa (mild for the kids), but you could use a jar of salsa verde if you want a kick!
If you want to make vegetarian tacos, you totally can! Skip the ground beef and either 1) double the rice or 2) substitute 2 cans of beans (black or pinto) for the ground beef. Want to make your own homemade black beans?

More Leftover Recipes

Leftover Spaghetti Casserole
Leftover Cilantro Lime Rice
Mashed Potato Patties (for leftover mashed potatoes)
Leftover Thanksgiving Casserole
Leftover Ham and Cabbage Soup
Moist Buttermilk Cornbread (for leftover buttermilk)
50 Ways To Use Leftover Egg Yolks

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Baked Ground Beef Tacos using a whole container of leftover rice! These easy cheesy tacos are ready in 25 minutes and are DELICIOUS!

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Leftover Rice Tacos

Baked Ground Beef Tacos using a whole container of leftover rice! These easy cheesy tacos are ready in 25 minutes and are DELICIOUS!

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

serves

Ingredients

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
In a large skillet cook ground beef over medium-high heat, until beef is browned and fully cooked. Drain and put back into skillet on stove, reducing heat to medium.
Add taco seasoning, water, corn, rice and 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese. Cook until the cheese is completely melted in the mixture.
In an 11×8 casserole dish, spoon 2 tablespoons of beef mixture on the bottom of the dish, spreading around to lightly cover.
Grab the tortillas and add about 3 tablespoons of beef mixture into each one, and then sprinkle a little cheddar cheese on top. Fold the tortilla up and place in baking dish. Continue until all of the tortillas are gone.
If any ground beef/rice mixture is left, add it on top of the tortillas. Pour jar of salsa on top, all over the tortillas. Finally, add any additional shredded cheese you have left on top.
Bake for 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted and tacos are crispy. Remove from oven and serve.