Description
Ground beef mingles with rice in this hearty Cheddar-Crusted Ground Beef and Rice Casserole from midwestern home kitchens. Cheesy layers and comforting flavors promise a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
- 1 lb (454 g) ground beef
- 1 ½ cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 2 cups beef broth (or chicken broth)
- 1 cup white or brown rice, uncooked
- 1 cup diced tomatoes (with juice)
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced (optional)
- 1 cup frozen corn or peas (optional)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp olive oil (optional)
- 1 tbsp butter, melted
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Oven Preparation: Preheat the oven to 375°F and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Meat Browning: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook ground beef, breaking it down until achieving a rich brown color while developing deep flavor complexity.
- Vegetable Integration: Sauté onions, bell peppers, and garlic into the meat, allowing them to soften and release aromatic essences for 3-4 minutes, creating a flavor foundation.
- Seasoning Fusion: Blend smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and black pepper into the meat mixture, elevating the overall taste profile with robust and nuanced seasonings.
- Rice and Liquid Combination: Introduce uncooked rice directly into the seasoned meat, then pour beef broth, canned tomatoes, and frozen vegetables, gently bringing the mixture to a gentle boil.
- Initial Baking Phase: Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish, cover with aluminum foil, and bake for 30-35 minutes, ensuring rice becomes perfectly tender and absorbs surrounding liquids.
- Crispy Topping Creation: While casserole bakes, combine shredded cheddar cheese, panko breadcrumbs, and melted butter to craft a golden, crunchy exterior.
- Final Baking and Finishing: Remove foil, sprinkle cheese mixture evenly across the surface, and return to oven for 10-12 minutes until topping transforms into a bubbling, golden crust.
- Resting and Serving: Allow casserole to rest for 5 minutes after removing from oven, enabling ingredients to settle and flavors to harmonize before presenting a delectable, comforting meal.
Notes
Select High-Quality Beef: Choose lean ground beef (85/15 or 90/10) to prevent excessive grease pooling and ensure a cleaner, more refined casserole texture.
Customize Vegetable Variations: Swap frozen mixed vegetables with fresh seasonal produce like zucchini, carrots, or spinach to enhance nutritional value and personal flavor preferences.
Rice Absorption Technique: Use long-grain white rice for optimal liquid absorption, and avoid stirring during baking to prevent starchy clumping and maintain ideal rice consistency.
Cheese Topping Perfection: Grate cheese fresh for superior melting quality, and mix breadcrumbs with cheese to create a crispier, more textured golden-brown crust that adds delightful crunch to the casserole.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg