Description
This Cheesy Ground Beef and Rice Casserole is a comforting and family-friendly dish combining savory browned beef, creamy mushroom soup sauce, tender cooked rice, and melted cheddar cheese. Perfect for an easy weeknight dinner, it’s hearty, flavorful, and made with simple pantry ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups cooked white rice
- 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of mushroom soup (or cream of chicken)
- 1/2 cup milk or beef broth
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (divided)
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish to prepare for assembling the casserole.
- Brown the Beef: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and diced onion until the beef is browned and the onion is soft. Drain any excess fat to keep the dish from being greasy.
- Add Garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant to enhance the flavor.
- Make the Sauce: In a separate bowl, whisk together the cream of mushroom soup, milk or beef broth, paprika, salt, and pepper until smooth to create the creamy sauce base.
- Assemble Casserole: Combine the cooked rice, beef mixture, half of the shredded cheddar cheese, and the prepared sauce in the greased baking dish. Mix well to evenly distribute all ingredients.
- Top and Bake: Sprinkle the remaining cheese evenly on top of the casserole. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes to allow flavors to meld and the dish to heat through.
- Finish Baking: Remove the foil and bake uncovered for an additional 10 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and lightly golden.
- Optional Broil: For a crispy cheese topping, broil the casserole for 2 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.
- Serve: Garnish with chopped parsley if desired and serve the casserole hot for a delicious meal.
Notes
- This casserole is great for meal prepping; leftovers store well and reheat easily.
- You can substitute cream of chicken soup if you prefer a different flavor.
- For a lower-fat option, use reduced-fat cheddar and lean ground turkey instead of beef.
- If you want extra veggies, consider adding diced bell peppers or mushrooms to the beef mixture.
- Make sure to drain excess fat after cooking the beef to avoid a greasy casserole.
- Broiling is optional but adds a nice crunchy cheese crust on top.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 184 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 66 mg
