Description
Cheesy Ground Beef and Rice Casserole is a comforting, one-pan meal made with seasoned ground beef, fluffy rice, melty cheddar cheese, and a creamy, savory sauce. It’s the perfect weeknight dinner recipe—easy to make, filling, and freezer-friendly for meal prep.
Ingredients
- Ground beef
- Yellow onion, chopped
- Garlic, minced
- Uncooked white rice (long grain)
- Beef broth
- Cream of mushroom soup
- Sour cream
- Milk
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper
- Optional: frozen mixed vegetables, chopped bell pepper, sliced mushrooms
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- Brown the beef: In a skillet, cook ground beef until browned. Add onion and garlic; sauté until softened. Drain grease.
- Mix casserole base: In a large bowl, combine uncooked rice, broth, soup, sour cream, milk, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir in optional veggies if using.
- Combine and transfer: Mix in beef mixture and spread evenly in baking dish.
- Bake covered: Cover with foil and bake 50–55 minutes, or until rice is tender.
- Add cheese: Uncover, sprinkle cheddar on top, and bake another 5–10 minutes until melted.
- Cool and serve: Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Use cooked rice for a shorter bake time and reduce broth to 1 cup.
- Ground turkey or chicken works as a great substitute.
- Add chopped broccoli, corn, or zucchini for extra veggies.
- Cream of chicken or homemade white sauce can replace cream of mushroom.
- For crunch, top with fried onions or crushed crackers before final bake.
