Description
Cheesy Ground Beef Rice Casserole brings warm family dinners together with simple ingredients and zero fuss. Hearty layers of seasoned beef, fluffy rice, and melted cheese make your weeknight meal a total crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 pound ground beef
Starches:
- 2 cups white rice
Flavoring and Binding Ingredients:
- 1 small onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 can (10.5 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 1 can (10.5 ounces) condensed cream of cheddar soup
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 tablespoon melted butter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Cook 1 pound ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat for 5-7 minutes, breaking it into small pieces.
- Add 1 small chopped onion and 2 minced garlic cloves to the beef, sautéing for 2-3 minutes until onions soften.
- Sprinkle 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, ½ teaspoon paprika, ½ teaspoon oregano, and ½ teaspoon chili powder over the meat. Stir thoroughly.
- Drain excess fat from the beef mixture and set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together 2 cups white rice, 2 cups beef broth, 10.5 ounces cream of mushroom soup, 10.5 ounces cream of cheddar soup, and 1 cup whole milk.
- Fold the seasoned beef into the rice mixture until well combined.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly.
- Sprinkle ½ cup cheddar cheese over the top and cover tightly with aluminum foil.
- Bake at 350°F for 45 minutes, ensuring the rice becomes tender.
- Remove foil and check rice consistency. If needed, bake an additional 5-10 minutes.
- Scatter remaining ½ cup cheddar and ½ cup mozzarella cheese over the casserole.
- Drizzle 1 tablespoon melted butter across the top for extra richness.
- Return to oven uncovered and bake 10 more minutes until cheese melts completely.
- Let the casserole rest 5-10 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld.
Notes
- Check your rice package to ensure the right liquid-to-rice ratio, as some varieties absorb liquid differently.
- Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a lighter or vegetarian version of the casserole.
- Use low-sodium broth and soups to control salt content, especially if watching sodium intake.
- When freezing leftovers, store in an airtight container and consume within 23 days for best texture and flavor.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 870 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg