Pin it
This filling One-Pan Creamy Honey BBQ Beef Rice has become my favorite dish for crazy weeknights when I want something tasty without much hassle. The mix of juicy beef, velvety rice, and that sweet-zingy honey BBQ sauce makes every mouthful perfectly balanced.
I came up with this dish during an extra busy week when I needed to wow my spouse's parents but couldn't spend ages cooking. They loved it so much they wanted the instructions before they left, and now they use it as their go-to meal for leftover beef too.
What You'll Need
- Flank steak: cut it thin across the grain to make sure it stays tender
- Soy sauce and Worcestershire: these work as a quick marinade that gets deep into the meat
- BBQ sauce: pick a good quality one without corn syrup for the tastiest results
- Honey: brings natural sweetness and helps the meat get that nice shine
- Heavy cream: gives that rich smoothness that makes everyone want seconds
- Beef broth: grab low sodium so you can control the salt level
- Cheddar cheese: grate it yourself since it melts way better than the bagged stuff
- Jasmine rice: its lovely smell takes the whole meal up a notch
How To Cook One-Pan Creamy Honey BBQ Beef Rice
- Prep your beef:
- Mix up soy sauce, Worcestershire, garlic powder, and paprika in a container. Toss in your skinny beef strips and let them soak for at least 15 minutes. The Worcestershire starts softening the meat while all those spices work their magic on each slice.
- Mix your sauce:
- Stir BBQ sauce, honey, Dijon, vinegar, and spices until they're all combined. This mix hits all the right notes - sweet, tangy and savory. Give it a taste and add more honey if you want it sweeter.
- Cook the beef:
- Get your pan super hot before adding oil. Lay the soaked beef in one layer and cook about 2-3 minutes each side. The beef will finish cooking when it goes back in later, so it's fine if it's a bit underdone now.
- Start the flavor base:
- Using that same pan with all those tasty browned bits, cook onions and garlic in butter until soft and smelling good. These give the foundation for the creamy rice you're about to make.
- Get the rice going:
- Put dry rice right into the pan with those cooked onions and stir it around for a minute before adding broth. This quick step brings out the rice's nutty flavor. Cover and let it simmer until soft, about 18 minutes, keeping the heat low.
- Make it creamy:
- Mix in heavy cream and cheese until everything's melty and smooth. The rice should be rich and creamy like risotto but way easier. Taste it now and add salt if needed.
- Bring it all together:
- Put the beef back in and pour that honey BBQ sauce all over. Let everything bubble gently for a bit, so the sauce coats all the rice and meat with its sweet-tangy goodness.
Pin it
What I love most about this dish is how the honey in the BBQ sauce makes these tiny caramelized spots throughout. My kid always asks for this meal on her birthday, saying those sweet bits are like finding little hidden treats mixed in with all the savory stuff.
Prep Ahead Tips
This meal works great for planning ahead. You can soak the beef for up to a day beforehand and mix up the honey BBQ sauce early too. Keep them separate in the fridge until you're ready to cook. The finished dish stays good in the fridge for about 3 days, though the rice might soak up some sauce while it sits. When you warm it up, add a splash of beef broth or cream to bring back that smooth texture.
Easy Swaps
What's great about this dish is you can change things up. If you can't find flank steak or it's too pricey, try using ribeye, sirloin, or even leftover roast beef cut into strips. Want something lighter? Use half and half instead of heavy cream. You can swap in brown rice too, just know you'll need more cooking time and extra liquid. Don't do dairy? Coconut cream works surprisingly well instead of heavy cream in this dish.
Pin it
What To Serve With It
This one-pan meal is totally fine by itself, but a simple green salad with a light dressing makes a nice contrast to the rich main dish. If you want more food, some roasted veggies like broccoli or asparagus go really well with these flavors. A chunk of buttery garlic bread is great for soaking up any sauce left on your plate. For a fancy touch, sprinkle some fresh herbs like chives or parsley on top right before you bring it to the table.
Try These Twists
You can use this basic recipe to create tons of different meals. For a tex-mex version, toss in corn, black beans, and chopped bell peppers with the rice, then use enchilada sauce instead of BBQ sauce. An Asian style works great by swapping the BBQ sauce for teriyaki and adding snow peas and water chestnuts. For a taste of Italy, use herbs like basil and oregano in the marinade and replace the BBQ sauce with a mix of tomatoes and olives. The great thing about cooking everything in one pan is you can adjust it to whatever flavors your family likes best.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → What steak cut should I use?
Flank steak works great since it’s tender and holds marinades well. Sirloin or skirt steak also do the job.
- → Is there a vegetarian option?
Swap out the steak for veggie-friendly choices like tofu or mushrooms, and use veggie broth instead of beef.
- → Which BBQ sauce pairs best?
Go with any BBQ sauce that you love. A smoky, tangy one complements this dish beautifully.
- → Can I use brown rice here?
Totally doable! Just cook it longer and add more broth since brown rice needs extra time and liquid.
- → How can I make this spicy?
Throw in chili flakes or mix chili powder into the honey BBQ sauce for a nice kick of heat.
- → Is this dish good for meal prep?
Yep, prep the parts separately—like marinate the steak or cook the rice—then just combine and heat when ready to eat.