Description
This Beef & Rice Casserole is a hearty, comforting, and cheesy baked dish combining tender ground beef, fluffy rice, savory spices, and melted cheese. Easy to prepare with simple pantry staples, it’s perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or meal prepping.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat & Protein
- 1 lb ground beef
Grains
- 1 cup uncooked white or brown rice
Vegetables & Aromatics
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup frozen or fresh veggies (peas, bell peppers, mushrooms, zucchini, or spinach) – optional
Canned & Broth
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes with green chiles (optional)
- 2 cups beef broth
Dairy
- 1 to 1 ½ cups shredded cheese (cheddar or Monterey Jack recommended; mozzarella or pepper jack as alternatives)
Spices
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Beef Mixture: Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat, breaking it apart as it cooks. Add the finely chopped onions and minced garlic once the beef begins to brown, cooking until the onions become translucent and fragrant. Drain any excess fat to avoid greasiness in the casserole.
- Combine Ingredients: Stir in the uncooked rice, canned tomatoes (including their juices), beef broth, and your chosen vegetables. Mix in paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper to evenly distribute the spices throughout the mixture.
- Transfer to Baking Dish: Pour the combined mixture into a greased casserole dish. Cover tightly with aluminum foil to trap steam, which will ensure the rice cooks perfectly without drying out the beef.
- Bake: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake the covered casserole for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the rice is tender and has absorbed all the liquids.
- Add Cheese and Finish Baking: Remove the foil from the casserole dish, sprinkle the shredded cheese evenly on top, and return it to the oven uncovered. Bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden brown.
Notes
- Brown the Beef Well: This brings out richer flavor through the Maillard reaction.
- Use Uncooked Rice: The rice cooks right in the casserole, absorbing all the delicious juices.
- Don’t Skip the Broth: Provides essential moisture and flavor depth instead of water.
- Cover Tightly: Prevents steam from escaping so the rice cooks evenly and remains fluffy.
- Let It Rest: After baking, allow the casserole to sit for 5 minutes so flavors settle.
- Flexible Variations: Use ground turkey or chicken, swap in lentils or beans for vegetarian, add extra veggies, or experiment with different cheeses and spices.
- Storage: Refrigerate leftovers up to 3 days or freeze for up to 2 months. Reheat adding broth to maintain moisture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40-50 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg