Description
A classic comfort food favorite! This Cheesy Ground Beef Rice Casserole features savory ground beef and fluffy rice baked in a creamy, cheesy sauce. Simple to assemble using pantry staples, it’s a hearty, satisfying, and budget-friendly meal perfect for busy weeknights. Always a crowd-pleaser!
Ingredients
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1 ½ pounds Ground Beef
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2-3 cups Cooked White Rice
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1 can (10.75 oz / ~305g) Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup
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½ cup Milk
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1 ½ cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese
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1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
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¼ teaspoon Garlic Powder
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¼ teaspoon Onion Powder
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Salt and Black Pepper
Instructions
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Preheat & Prep: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
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Cook Beef: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook ground beef, breaking it apart, until no longer pink. If using fresh onion/garlic, add during the last few minutes of cooking beef until softened.
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Drain Fat: Drain off any excess grease from the cooked ground beef.
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Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the cooked ground beef, cooked rice (2 or 3 cups), condensed soup, milk, 1 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Stir well to combine everything evenly.
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Transfer to Dish: Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared 9×13 inch baking dish.
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Top with Cheese: Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top.
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Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the casserole is heated through, bubbly around the edges, and the cheese topping is fully melted and slightly golden.
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Rest & Serve: Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving warm.
Notes
Rice: Use 2 cups cooked rice for a meatier casserole, or 3 cups for a heartier, more rice-forward dish. (Approx. 1 cup dry rice yields 3 cups cooked). Use leftover rice or cook fresh.
Flavor Boost: For much richer flavor, sauté 1 small diced onion and 1-2 minced garlic cloves with the ground beef instead of using powders.
Add Veggies: Feel free to stir in 1 cup of cooked vegetables like corn, peas, sautéed mushrooms, or diced bell peppers with the other ingredients in Step 4.
Creaminess: If your rice seems dry or you prefer a very creamy casserole, increase milk slightly to 3/4 cup.
Soup/Cheese: Feel free to substitute other “cream of” soups or use different meltable cheeses like Colby Jack, Monterey Jack, or a Mexican blend.
Storage: Cover leftover casserole tightly and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave or oven.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Main Course, Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8th of casserole
- Calories: ~400-450 kcal
- Sugar: ~2-4 g
- Sodium: ~600-750 mg
- Fat: ~25-30 g
- Saturated Fat: ~12-15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: ~10-13 g
- Trans Fat: ~1-2 g
- Carbohydrates: ~20-25 g
- Fiber: ~1-2 g
- Protein: ~25-30 g
- Cholesterol: ~80-100 mg
Keywords: Cheesy Ground Beef Rice Casserole, ground beef casserole, rice casserole recipe, easy casserole recipe, comfort food, family dinner, budget friendly meal, cream of mushroom casserole.