Description
Comfort meets convenience in this hearty cheesy ground beef and rice casserole, blending rich flavors and simple ingredients. Home cooks discover a satisfying one-pan meal that promises warmth and deliciousness with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein and Starch:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 cups rice
Cheese and Dairy:
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 cup sour cream
Seasonings and Additional Ingredients:
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and thoroughly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat, breaking it into small crumbles and cooking until no pink remains, approximately 7-8 minutes.
- Drain excess fat from the beef, then mix in garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper, ensuring even seasoning distribution.
- Cook rice according to package instructions, fluffing with a fork when completed.
- In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together cream of mushroom soup, milk, and sour cream until smooth and well-combined.
- Layer the cooked rice evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Spread the seasoned ground beef uniformly over the rice layer.
- Pour the creamy soup mixture across the beef, gently spreading to cover the entire surface.
- Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese generously over the top, ensuring complete coverage.
- Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until cheese is melted and edges are bubbly.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes to allow flavors to settle.
- Garnish with freshly chopped parsley before serving hot.
Notes
- Enhance meat flavor by using a blend of ground beef and ground pork for deeper richness and complexity.
- Swap cream of mushroom soup with homemade white sauce for reduced sodium and more control over ingredients.
- Boost nutritional value by incorporating finely chopped vegetables like bell peppers or spinach into the rice layer.
- Create a gluten-free version by using cauliflower rice and ensuring all packaged ingredients are certified gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg