Description
Hamburger Rice Casserole brings hearty comfort to weeknight dinners with ground beef, rice, and savory seasonings. Simple ingredients combine for a delicious one-pan meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
- 1 cup (200 g) uncooked white or brown rice
- 2 cups (480 ml) beef broth
- 1 can (10.5 oz or 300 g) cream of mushroom soup
- 1 cup (100 g) shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup (120 ml) milk
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced (optional)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp paprika
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsps chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Oven Preparation: Preheat the oven to 375F (190C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to create an optimal cooking environment.
- Meat and Vegetable Sauté: In a large skillet, brown ground beef over medium heat, simultaneously cooking diced onions and bell peppers until vegetables become translucent and meat caramelizes.
- Flavor Infusion: Add minced garlic to the meat mixture, allowing its aromatic essence to develop for one minute, then drain excess fat to concentrate flavors.
- Liquid Base Creation: Combine uncooked rice with beef broth, cream of mushroom soup, milk, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl, whisking to create a harmonious liquid foundation.
- Casserole Assembly: Spread the seasoned meat evenly in the prepared baking dish, then pour the rice-broth mixture over the top, ensuring thorough ingredient distribution.
- Initial Baking Phase: Cover the casserole with aluminum foil and bake for 40-45 minutes, allowing the rice to steam and absorb the flavorful liquid until perfectly tender.
- Cheese Topping Finale: Remove the foil, generously sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the surface, and return to the oven for an additional 5-10 minutes until the cheese melts into a golden, bubbling crust.
- Serving Preparation: Let the casserole rest briefly to settle flavors, then garnish with freshly chopped parsley for a burst of color and fresh herbaceous note before serving.
Notes
Manage Meat Moisture: Drain excess fat thoroughly after browning ground beef to prevent a greasy, heavy casserole and ensure a lighter, more appealing texture.
Optimize Rice Absorption: Use long-grain white rice for best results, as it absorbs liquid more evenly and prevents a mushy or undercooked consistency in the final dish.
Cheese Melting Technique: Let cheese melt completely during the final baking stage, but watch carefully to avoid burning, creating a perfectly golden and bubbling cheese topping.
Dietary Adaptation Options: Substitute ground beef with ground turkey for a leaner version, use cauliflower rice for a low-carb alternative, or select gluten-free cream of mushroom soup to accommodate different dietary needs.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg