Description
Hearty “Cheesy Ground Beef and Rice Casserole” brings comfort straight from grandma’s kitchen, blending savory beef with melted cheese and perfectly cooked rice. Warm family dinners find their soul mate in this simple yet satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb (454 grams) ground beef
- 1 cup (236 milliliters) uncooked white rice
- 2 cups (473 milliliters) beef broth
- 1 cup (113 grams) shredded cheddar cheese
Vegetables and Seasonings:
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 cup (150 grams) frozen mixed vegetables
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
Additional Ingredients:
- 1 can (10.5 ounces / 298 grams) cream of mushroom soup
Instructions
- Heat the oven to create a warm, controlled baking environment at 350°F.
- Sauté ground beef with onions in a spacious skillet, breaking meat into small crumbles and cooking until the meat loses its pink color and develops a rich, golden-brown appearance.
- Eliminate excess grease by carefully draining the meat mixture, ensuring a lighter, less fatty dish.
- Introduce uncooked rice, fragrant beef broth, creamy mushroom soup, and a blend of seasonings to the meat, stirring thoroughly to create a harmonious flavor profile.
- Transfer the savory mixture into a prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly to ensure consistent cooking and perfect texture.
- Generously crown the casserole with a blanket of shredded cheddar cheese, allowing it to melt and create a golden, appetizing surface.
- Shield the dish with aluminum foil, protecting the ingredients from direct heat and promoting even cooking during the initial baking phase.
- Place in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 25 minutes, allowing the rice to absorb liquid and become tender.
- Remove the foil to expose the cheese, returning the casserole to the oven for an additional 10-15 minutes until the cheese transforms into a bubbly, irresistible topping.
- Allow the casserole to rest briefly, letting the flavors meld and the dish settle before serving.
Notes
- Choose lean ground beef to reduce excess grease and create a lighter dish.
- Swap white rice with brown rice for added fiber and nutritional value.
- Customize the recipe by adding vegetables like peas, carrots, or bell peppers for extra nutrition and color.
- Make it gluten-free by using gluten-free cream of mushroom soup and checking broth ingredients.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg