Ohhh yes 😌🥩🍚 Beef and Rice Casserole—comfort food at its simplest: hearty, cheesy, and satisfying. Here’s a classic, easy version you can make in one dish.
🥩🍚 Beef and Rice Casserole
Ingredients (serves 4–6)
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (plus extra for topping)
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce (optional)
- 1 tsp dried Italian herbs (or ½ tsp each of oregano & basil)
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Optional: frozen mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, corn)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F / 175°C. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cook the beef
- In a skillet over medium heat, brown ground beef with onion and garlic.
- Drain excess fat. Season with salt, pepper, and herbs.
- Mix the casserole
- In a large bowl, combine cooked beef mixture, uncooked rice, soup, diced tomatoes, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and optional vegetables.
- Stir in ¾ cup of the cheese.
- Assemble
- Pour mixture into prepared baking dish. Spread evenly.
- Sprinkle remaining cheese on top.
- Bake
- Cover with foil and bake 40–45 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake 10–15 more minutes, until rice is tender and cheese is melted and golden.
- Serve
- Let cool 5 minutes before serving.
🔥 Pro Tips
- Cheesy upgrade: Add a layer of mozzarella for extra gooeyness.
- Rice tip: Uncooked rice works fine because it bakes in the liquid, but you can use pre-cooked rice and reduce liquid slightly for faster cooking.
- Flavor boost: Sauté garlic and onion in butter for richer flavor.
- Make-ahead: Assemble the night before and bake next day—perfect for busy evenings.
Optional variations:
- Tex-Mex style: Add taco seasoning, black beans, corn, and cheddar-jack cheese.
- Vegetable-loaded: Include bell peppers, zucchini, or spinach for extra nutrition.
- One-pot stove-to-oven: Brown beef in casserole dish, then mix remaining ingredients and bake.
If you want, I can give a super creamy cheesy version or a lighter, veggie-forward version.
Do you want this classic hearty or loaded cheesy indulgent?
