Description
A comforting and hearty casserole combining lean ground beef, cooked white rice, savory cream of mushroom soup, and melted cheddar cheese, baked to golden perfection for a delicious and easy family dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups cooked white rice
- 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of mushroom soup (or cream of chicken)
- 1/2 cup milk or beef broth
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (divided)
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Brown Beef and Onion: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and diced onion until the beef is browned and the onion is soft. Drain off any excess fat to keep the dish from being greasy.
- Add Garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant, taking care not to burn it.
- Prepare Sauce: In a separate bowl, whisk together the cream of mushroom soup, milk or beef broth, paprika, salt, and pepper until smooth and well combined.
- Combine Ingredients: In the prepared baking dish, mix together the cooked rice, beef and onion mixture, half of the shredded cheddar cheese, and the sauce. Stir thoroughly to distribute all ingredients evenly.
- Top and Bake: Sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese evenly over the top of the casserole. Cover with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.
- Finish Baking: Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes until the cheese on top is bubbly and golden brown.
- Optional Broil: For a crispy cheese topping, broil the casserole for 2 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.
- Serve: Garnish with chopped parsley if desired and serve hot for a satisfying meal.
Notes
- This casserole is perfect for meal prepping and can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for longer storage.
- Using beef broth instead of milk can add extra depth of flavor and reduce lactose content.
- For a creamier casserole, add an extra 1/4 cup of milk or broth as needed.
- Substitute cream of chicken soup if cream of mushroom is unavailable or to vary the flavor.
- Adding chopped vegetables like bell peppers or mushrooms can boost nutrition and flavor.
- Covering the casserole during most of the baking time prevents the top from drying out.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 184 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 66 mg
