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    Home ≫ Main Dish

    Ground Beef Rice Casserole

    Updated April 21, 2022. Originally Posted May 17, 2021 By Nikole Berg

    8.1K shares
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    cheesy casserole in a white bowl
    cheesy and creamy ground beef and rice casserole
    ground beef and rice casserole
    rice and ground beef mixture in a casserole dish before and after baking

    This Ground Beef Rice Casserole is an easy dinner that your family and friends will love because it is the ultimate comfort food. Made with hamburger, seasoning, rice, mushrooms, cheddar cheese and more, all baked together into a delicious casserole.

    This hamburger rice casserole goes great with a nice side salad or Easy One Pan Roasted Broccoli to make a full meal.

    cheesy casserole in a white bowl

    Table of contents

    • Why It’s Awesome
    • Key Ingredients
    • Directions
    • Recipe Tips
    • FAQs
    • More Easy Dinner Recipes

    Why It’s Awesome

    One pan dish - First, you’ll use a skillet to cook the ingredients together, but then you’ll transfer it to a baking dish or casserole dish and bake it all together. But, if you have an oven proof skillet, you can make it in one pan! It’s a hearty dish all in one.

    Flavor - Watch your family gobble this up! The flavor of the beef, seasoning, mushrooms and cheese come together very nicely and everyone will want seconds. 

    Easy to make ahead - You can make this ground beef rice casserole ahead and freeze it for up to 3 months. If you have a busy day ahead you can thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and have a quick dinner ready for the next day. Full freezing instructions below in recipe tips.

    Key Ingredients

    Ground Beef - I prefer to use 85% or 90% lean ground beef for this hamburger casserole. It isn’t too fatty, but has plenty of beefy flavor.

    Onions - Yellow or white onions have a good flavor profile for this recipe.

    Beef Broth - Beef broth tastes great with the other ingredients, but if you don’t have it you can also try chicken or vegetable broth too.

    Rice - I use uncooked long grain white rice for this and the cooking time isn’t too long.

    Mushrooms - Packaged sliced button mushrooms are great or baby bellas work well too. 

    Homemade Cream of Mushroom Soup - My cream of mushroom soup substitute is a must for this recipe. However, a can of condensed soup will work as well. Any variety “cream of…” can be substituted to your taste preference.

    You can also skip the mushroom soup and increase the amount of sour cream to one cup.

    Milk - Whole milk works well in this recipe, but if you can use 2% or less if that's what you have on hand.  

    Sour Cream - Regular or low fat sour cream both work in this rice casserole.

    Cheddar Cheese - A medium cheddar works great, but there are so many options that could work. Colby blend, mozzarella, cheddar Jack, or even pepper Jack would taste great! Top it with sliced American cheese for a classic taste.

    ingredients to make the recipe

    Directions

    After preheating your oven, grease a large non stick skillet over medium heat. 

    Step One: Crumble the ground beef into the pan, and then add oregano, basil, garlic powder, salt and pepper and cook until browned and no longer pink.

    Step Two: Remove meat to a plate and drain grease from the pan. By the way, I use a nylon potato masher to break the meat apart in the pan. It doesn't scratch non-stick pans either- I just love it. There's a link in the recipe card below.

    Step Three: In the same skillet, heat butter and add onions to cook. Then add garlic and cook for one more minute. 

    raw ground beef in a skillet, sauted onions in a skillet

    Step Four: Add beef broth, rice and butter. Stir and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes.

    Step Five: Uncover and add the sliced mushrooms on top of the cooked rice without stirring. Cover the pan again and let stand on low heat for 5 more minutes.

    Step Six: Turn heat off and remove lid. Add the cooked ground beef, cream of mushroom soup, milk, sour cream and shredded cheese. Gently combine. You may need to do this in a large bowl if your skillet isn’t big enough.

    making recipe in a skillet, adding rice, mushrooms, broth, and ground beef

    Step Seven: Add beef mixture to a casserole dish that’s been coated in cooking spray. Top with remaining cheese. Bake for 20-25 minutes until hot, bubbly and cheese is melted.

    Top  casserole with sliced green onions.

    a casserole dish filled with a ground beef and rice mixture and cheese topping
    rice and ground beef mixture in a casserole dish before and after baking

    Recipe Tips

    Be sure you have a large skillet with a tight fitting lid. This is necessary to cook the rice.

    You can make this entire ground beef rice casserole dish in a skillet or pan that is oven proof. No need to transfer to a baking dish.

    Try Italian seasoning blend in place of oregano and basil. Adding a pinch of red pepper flakes will give it a touch of heat. Why not add some taco seasoning for a Tex Mex twist?

    Add one 14 oz. can drained petite diced tomatoes, or 2- 4 ounce cans of chopped green chili to add a zesty note to this recipe. Mix them in before baking.

    If you want to use frozen mixed vegetables, I would add them in with the rice.

    I always make this recipe with long grain white rice, because it cooks quickly and is neutral in flavor.

    If you want to try minute rice or instant rice, you will have to adjust the cooking process as those types of rice are partially pre-cooked. 

    For the slow cooker or crockpot: make the recipe as written, but instead of placing in a baking dish in the oven, transfer to a slow cooker insert that’s been coated in cooking spray. Sprinkle with cheese and set to high. It should be ready in about 2 or 3 hours. The meal should hold for about 6 hours on low once the cheese has melted.

    To freeze: store in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Reheat in the microwave. 

    You may store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

    FAQs

    Can you put uncooked rice in a casserole?

    For this recipe you will cook the rice in a saucepan with beef broth for a little bit before adding it to a baking pan to bake the casserole.

    Can you put raw meat in a casserole?

    It’s best to cook the meat a bit before baking it in the casserole. For this one you will cook the ground beef in a skillet before baking it in the oven with the other ingredients.

    Does rice freeze well in a casserole?

    Yes, you can actually freeze the casserole including the rice and when you heat it back up it will still be delicious.

    More Easy Dinner Recipes

    • Spinach Ricotta Ravioli 
    • Homemade Beefaroni
    • One Pan Chicken Burrito Bowl
    • Rotisserie Chicken Enchiladas
    • Instant Pot Greek Chicken
    a casserole dish with baked rice and ground beef mixture topped with melted cheese

    If you make this recipe, please give it a star ⭐️ rating and leave me a comment below! Let's connect on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram!

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    📖 Recipe

    cheesy rice and ground beef casserole scooped into a white bowl

    Ground Beef Rice Casserole

    Recipe by Nikole Berg
    This Ground Beef Rice Casserole is an easy dinner that your family and friends will love because it is the ultimate comfort food. Made with beef, seasoning, rice, mushrooms, cheese and more, all baked together into a delicious casserole.
    4.87 from 15 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 30 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 50 minutes mins
    Course Dinner, lunch, Main Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6
    Calories 580 kcal

    Equipment

    Casserole Dish
    Potato Masher

    Ingredients
      

    • Cooking spray or a couple teaspoons oil to grease skillet
    • 1 lb. ground beef 85% or 90% lean
    • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
    • ½ teaspoon dried basil
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • Salt and pepper to taste
    • 3 tablespoon butter divided
    • ¾ cup onions chopped, about 1 small
    • 1 tablespoon fresh garlic chopped fine
    • 2 ½ cups beef broth
    • 1 ¼ cups uncooked white rice long grain
    • 8 oz. package sliced button mushrooms or baby bellas
    • 10 oz cream of mushroom soup substitute or the can if that’s what you have on hand
    • ½ cup milk
    • ½ cup sour cream
    • 2 cups medium cheddar cheese shredded or your favorite variety, divided

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 350º F.
    • Coat a large non stick skillet over medium heat. Crumble ground beef into pan then add oregano, basil, garlic powder, and salt and pepper and cook until browned and no longer pink. Remove cooked meat to a plate and drain any excess grease from pan.
    • In the same skillet, heat butter over medium heat. Add chopped onions and cook until softened and lightly browned. Add garlic and cook for one minute.
    • Add beef broth, rice, and remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Stir to combine then bring mixture to a boil. Cover pan, reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes. Uncover and add the sliced mushrooms on top of the rice without stirring. Cover the pan again and let stand on low heat for 5 more minutes.
    • Turn heat off and remove lid. Add the cooked ground beef, cream of mushroom soup, milk, sour cream and 1 cup shredded cheese. Gently combine. You may need to do this in a large bowl if your skillet isn’t big enough.
    • Add beef mixture to casserole dish that’s been coated in cooking spray. Top with reamining cheese. Bake for 20-25 minutes until hot, bubbly and cheese is melted.
    • Top with sliced green onions.

    Notes

    My cream of mushroom soup substitute is a must for this recipe. However, a can of condensed soup will work as well. Any variety “cream of…” can be substituted to your taste preference. 
    You can also skip the mushroom soup and increase the amount of sour cream to one cup.
    Try Italian seasoning blend in place of oregano and basil.
    Add one 14 oz. can drained petite diced tomatoes, Rotel, or 2- 4 ounce cans of chopped green chili to add a zesty note to this recipe.
    To freeze: store in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw in refrigerator overnight. Reheat normally.
    Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 580kcalCarbohydrates: 39gProtein: 33gFat: 32gSaturated Fat: 18gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 118mgSodium: 1070mgPotassium: 653mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 706IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 355mgIron: 3mg
    Keyword casseroles, comfort foods, melted cheese
    Tried this recipe?Click here to leave a helpful tip!

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    8.1K shares
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    About Nikole Berg

    Nikole is the creator and photographer behind The Travel Palate, a food and travel blog featuring quick and flavorful recipes and getaway guides. Nikole hopes to inspire your inner foodie whether you're in the kitchen or traveling on your next adventure.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Susan

      August 08, 2023 at 2:15 pm

      Do you think wild rice would be ok to use instead of white?

      Reply
      • Nikole

        August 09, 2023 at 8:16 pm

        Hi Susan, I do think wild rice should work fine (I haven't tested it, thought fyi). Make sure to wash it before adding it to the dish. I suggest using 3 cups of broth and one cup of wild rice. Cook until rice is tender. OR, cook the rice separately and mix it in before baking. Hope that helps!

        Reply
        • Susan

          August 15, 2023 at 1:53 pm

          Ok great, thank you!

          Reply
    2. Doreen

      May 17, 2022 at 5:38 pm

      5 stars
      I love this dish. I use progresso’s gluten free mushroom soup and use a bit less rice. I also add chopped celery for some crunch. This dish is a favorite of the men in my family.

      Reply
    3. Meghan

      April 21, 2022 at 3:32 pm

      5 stars
      It is easy to make, tastes good and is pretty cheap to make. I made with cream of mushroom soup and mushrooms.

      Reply

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