Description
Cheddar-crusted ground beef and rice casserole brings comfort straight from my kitchen to yours with cheesy, hearty goodness that makes dinner feel like a warm hug. Family favorites like this one always disappear fast, so grab your fork and get ready for a delicious meal that everyone will absolutely love.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 cup uncooked white or brown rice
- 2 cups beef broth
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 small onion
- 1 red bell pepper
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 cup canned diced tomatoes
- 1 cup frozen corn or peas
Seasonings and Toppings:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon butter
Instructions
- Warm your oven to 375°F and coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Brown 1 lb ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, crumbling while cooking. Sauté 1 diced onion, 1 diced red bell pepper, and 3 minced garlic cloves until soft, about 4 minutes.
- Sprinkle 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon oregano, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper into the meat mixture.
- Stir 1 cup uncooked rice into the seasoned meat. Pour 2 cups beef broth and 1 cup diced tomatoes over the mixture.
- Bring the ingredients to a gentle boil, allowing rice to start absorbing liquid.
- Transfer the entire mixture to the prepared baking dish. Cover tightly with aluminum foil.
- Bake at 375°F for 35 minutes, ensuring rice becomes tender and liquid reduces.
- Combine 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese, ½ cup panko breadcrumbs, and 1 tablespoon melted butter in a small bowl.
- Remove casserole from oven, discard foil, and sprinkle cheese mixture evenly across the top.
- Return to oven uncovered for 12 minutes until cheese melts and topping turns golden brown.
- Allow casserole to rest 5 minutes before serving to help it set.
Notes
- Swap lean ground beef for turkey or plant-based crumbles to make the dish lighter and more diet-friendly.
- Add chopped jalapeños or red pepper flakes to the beef mixture for extra heat and excitement.
- Use brown rice instead of white for more nutrients and a heartier texture, but increase liquid and cooking time slightly.
- Make this casserole ahead by assembling and refrigerating, then bake when ready – perfect for meal prep or busy weeknights.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45-51 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 490 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg