Description
Ground beef and rice casserole brings comfort straight to your dinner table, delivering a hearty meal that satisfies hunger with simple, delicious ingredients. Melted cheese and perfectly seasoned meat blend seamlessly over fluffy rice, creating a crowd-pleasing dish your family will devour in minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 lb ground beef
Grains and Base:
- 1 cup long-grain white rice, uncooked
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 cup bell pepper, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Liquid Components:
- 1 can (15 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 cup beef broth
Cheese:
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Cooking Preparation:
- Cooking spray or oil
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Place 1 lb ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat, breaking meat into small crumbles while cooking.
- Once beef is browned, drain excess fat from the skillet, leaving the meat behind.
- Add 1 chopped onion, 1 cup chopped bell pepper, and 2 minced garlic cloves to the skillet, sautéing for 5 minutes until vegetables soften.
- Mix 1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice into the skillet with the beef and vegetables.
- Pour 1 can of diced tomatoes, 1 cup beef broth, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper into the skillet, stirring thoroughly.
- Transfer the entire mixture to the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly across the surface.
- Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake at 350°F for 35 minutes.
- Remove the foil and sprinkle 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese across the top of the casserole.
- Return the dish to the oven, uncovered, for an additional 10 minutes until cheese melts completely.
- Allow the casserole to rest for 5 minutes before serving to help it set.
Notes
- Make sure to drain excess fat from the ground beef to prevent a greasy casserole and keep the dish lighter.
- For extra flavor, consider using a blend of cheeses like sharp cheddar and monterey jack instead of just one type.
- If your family prefers a spicier dish, add a dash of red pepper flakes or use pepper jack cheese to kick up the heat.
- For a gluten-free version, verify that your beef broth is certified gluten-free and check all seasoning labels before preparing.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40-45 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 365 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg