Cheesy Ground Beef Rice Casserole

WANT TO SAVE THIS RECIPE ?

Cheesy Ground Beef Rice Casserole: The One-Dish Wonder That Solves Dinner

Is there anything more comforting than a steaming hot casserole packed with savory ground beef, tender rice, vegetables, and a blanket of melty cheese? This Cheesy Ground Beef Rice Casserole is the definition of comfort food—easy to prep, hearty, and perfect for feeding the whole family.

Whether you’re looking for a weeknight dinner, a meal-prep favorite, or a freezer-friendly recipe, this dish is guaranteed to earn a permanent spot in your rotation.

 Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• One-dish dinner — Protein, carbs, and veggies all in one casserole.
• Affordable pantry staples — No fancy ingredients required.
• Family-friendly — Kids and adults devour it every time.
• Meal-prep ready — Freezes and reheats beautifully.
• Customizable — Swap the cheese, toss in veggies, or add spice.

 Ingredients

Core Ingredients:

• 1 lb lean ground beef (85/15 or 90/10)
• 1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice (not instant)
• 1 small onion, finely diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 (10.5 oz) can cream of mushroom soup (or celery/chicken)
• 1 ½ cups beef broth (or water + 1 tsp beef bouillon)
• 1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 cup frozen corn or mixed vegetables
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
• Salt and black pepper, to taste

Optional Add-Ins:

• 1 cup sliced mushrooms (sauté with onion)
• ½ cup sour cream (for creaminess)
• 1 tsp smoked paprika or Worcestershire sauce (for depth)
• Crushed Ritz crackers or potato chips (for a crispy topping)

 Equipment Needed

• 9x13-inch casserole dish
• Large skillet
• Wooden spoon or spatula
• Mixing bowl
• Aluminum foil
• Cheese grater (if shredding fresh cheese)

 Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Preheat & Prep

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish.

2. Brown the Beef

In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef and diced onion until beef is no longer pink. Drain excess grease. Stir in garlic and cook 1 minute more.

3. Mix the Base

In the casserole dish, combine: uncooked rice, beef mixture, undrained tomatoes, cream of mushroom soup, broth, Italian seasoning, corn, and 1 cup cheese. Stir to combine.

4. Cover & Bake

Cover tightly with foil. Bake for 30 minutes (don’t peek!).

5. Add Cheese & Finish

Uncover, stir, then sprinkle remaining cheese evenly on top. Bake uncovered for 15-20 minutes, until rice is tender and cheese is bubbly.

6. Rest & Serve

Let stand 5-10 minutes before serving for the perfect set texture.

Pro Tips

• Foil is essential — traps steam so rice cooks properly.
• Crunchy rice? Add ¼ cup broth, cover again, and bake 10 extra minutes.
• Lean beef works best — prevents greasy casserole.
• Make it creamy — stir in sour cream at the end before topping with cheese.

 Serving & Pairing Ideas

• Green salad with vinaigrette — balances richness.
• Garlic bread — the perfect sidekick.
• Roasted broccoli or green beans — for added veggies.

 Storage & Reheating

• Fridge: Store in an airtight container up to 4 days.
• Freeze: Bake, cool fully, then freeze portions up to 3 months.
• Reheat: Microwave single servings or reheat covered in oven at 350°F for 15-20 minutes.

 FAQs

Q: Can I make this without canned soup?
Yes! Make a quick sauce with butter, flour, beef broth, and milk (see guide above).

Q: Can I use cooked rice?
Yes—use 3 cups cooked rice, reduce broth to ½ cup, and skip the first 30 minutes of bake time.

Q: Can I use instant rice?
Not recommended; it gets mushy.

Q: Can I prep this ahead?
Yes—assemble, cover, and refrigerate up to 24 hours before baking. Add 5-10 minutes to bake time.

>

Cheesy Ground Beef Rice Casserole

Cheesy Ground Beef Rice Casserole: The One-Dish Wonder That Solves Dinner

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice
• 1 onion diced
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1 can 10.5 oz cream of mushroom soup
• 1 ½ cups beef broth
• 1 can 15 oz diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 cup frozen corn or mixed veggies
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese divided
• Salt & pepper to taste

Equipment

• Skillet
• 9x13 casserole dish
• foil
• Mixing spoon

Method

 

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
2. Brown ground beef and onion in skillet. Drain grease, add garlic, cook 1 more min.
3. In dish, mix rice, beef mixture, tomatoes, soup, broth, Italian seasoning, veggies, and 1 cup cheese. Stir well.
4. Cover tightly with foil, bake 30 minutes.
5. Remove foil, stir, sprinkle remaining cheese on top. Bake uncovered 15-20 minutes.
6. Rest 5-10 minutes before serving.

Notes

Foil is essential — traps steam so rice cooks properly.

Crunchy rice? Add ¼ cup broth, cover again, and bake 10 extra minutes.

Lean beef works best — prevents greasy casserole.

Make it creamy — stir in sour cream at the end before topping with cheese.