Description
Ground Beef Casserole brings comfort right to your dinner table with hearty layers of seasoned meat, cheesy goodness, and easy-to-prepare ingredients. Grab your favorite baking dish and get ready for a simple meal that feeds the whole family without complicated cooking techniques.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Vegetables and Legumes:
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 ounces)
- 1 can kidney beans (15 ounces), drained
- 1 cup corn, frozen or canned
Seasonings and Base:
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 3 cups cooked rice
Instructions
- Warm your oven to 350F, preparing a cozy environment for your hearty casserole.
- Grab a large skillet and crumble 1 pound ground beef, sautéing with 1 chopped onion and 2 minced garlic cloves until meat turns perfectly brown.
- Pour in 14.5 oz diced tomatoes, 15 oz drained kidney beans, and 1 cup corn, stirring in 1 teaspoon chili powder and 1 teaspoon cumin for robust flavor.
- Season the mixture with salt and pepper, ensuring each ingredient gets seasoned evenly.
- Fold 3 cups cooked rice into the skillet, blending all components until thoroughly combined.
- Relocate the entire mixture into a clean baking dish, spreading it smoothly across the surface.
- Generously sprinkle 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese over the top, creating a golden, melty blanket.
- Slide the dish into the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, watching the cheese transform into a bubbly, enticing layer.
- Remove from oven and let the casserole rest for 3-5 minutes, allowing flavors to settle before serving.
Notes
- Add bell peppers or jalapeños for extra color and kick of flavor when browning the ground beef.
- Choose lean ground beef to reduce excess fat in the casserole and keep the dish healthier.
- For a gluten-free version, ensure the rice and all seasonings are certified gluten-free before preparing.
- Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles if your family prefers a different protein option.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 493 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 387 mg
- Fat: 29 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 33 g
- Cholesterol: 87 mg