Description
Hearty cheesy ground beef and rice casserole blends comforting Midwestern flavors with simple ingredients. Family-friendly layers of seasoned beef, tender rice, and melted cheese create a satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 1/2 cups (170 g) shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
- 2 cups (480 ml) beef broth
- 1 cup (185 g) white rice, uncooked
- 1 can (10.5 oz/298 g) cream of cheddar soup
- 1 can (10.5 oz/298 g) cream of mushroom soup
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil
- 1 tsp (5 g) salt
- 1/2 tsp (2.5 g) black pepper
- 1/2 tsp (2.5 g) paprika
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 375F (190C) for optimal cooking temperature.
- Sauté diced onions and minced garlic in olive oil over medium heat until translucent and fragrant.
- Add ground beef to the skillet, methodically breaking apart the meat while browning thoroughly. Eliminate excess grease through draining.
- Season the beef mixture with salt, pepper, paprika, and Worcestershire sauce, ensuring robust flavor distribution.
- Combine uncooked rice, beef broth, cream of mushroom soup, and cream of cheddar soup in a spacious mixing bowl, creating a creamy base.
- Transfer seasoned beef into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, then pour the rice mixture over top, gently mixing to integrate ingredients evenly.
- Shield the casserole with aluminum foil, then bake for 40-45 minutes until rice reaches perfect tenderness.
- Remove foil covering, generously sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese across the surface, and return to oven for an additional 10 minutes to achieve golden, bubbling cheese topping.
- Allow casserole to rest and slightly cool for 5-7 minutes before serving to help set the dish and enhance flavor melding.
Notes
- Customize protein by swapping ground beef with ground turkey, chicken, or plant-based crumbles for a lighter alternative.
- Boost vegetable content by mixing in diced bell peppers, frozen peas, or chopped spinach during the beef cooking stage for added nutrition.
- Enhance flavor complexity by experimenting with different cheese varieties like pepper jack, monterey jack, or a blend of cheeses for unique taste profiles.
- Make the dish gluten-free by using gluten-free cream of mushroom soup and ensuring all ingredients are certified gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 434 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 810 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 29 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg