Description
Comforting hamburger rice casserole delivers a hearty embrace of Midwestern home cooking, blending ground beef, fluffy rice, and melted cheese into one satisfying dish. Families will savor this nostalgic meal that brings warmth and nostalgia to dinner tables across America.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef
Grains:
- 2 cups (370 grams) long-grain white rice, uncooked
Liquid and Flavor Enhancers:
- 2 cans (10.5 ounces / 298 grams each) French onion soup
- 2 cans (10.5 ounces / 298 grams each) beef consomme
- 1/2 cup (1 stick / 113 grams) unsalted butter, sliced into pats
- Chopped chives, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Warm the kitchen oven to a toasty 425°F and lightly coat a spacious 9×13-inch baking vessel with nonstick spray.
- In a sizzling skillet, transform the ground beef over medium heat, breaking it into crumbly pieces until no raw pink remains, approximately 8-10 minutes. Carefully drain away excess fat.
- Create a foundation layer of the browned beef across the prepared baking dish, then cascade the uncooked rice evenly atop the meat.
- Gently cascade the French onion soup and beef consomme over the layered ingredients, using a soft touch to intermingle the liquids without disturbing the existing layers.
- Strategically place butter slices across the surface, ensuring uniform distribution for maximum flavor infusion.
- Shield the casserole with aluminum foil, creating a protective dome that will trap moisture and promote even cooking. Slide into the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove the foil covering, exposing the developing dish to direct heat, and continue baking for an additional 30 minutes until the rice achieves a perfectly tender consistency and absorbs all surrounding liquids.
- Optional: Sprinkle freshly chopped chives across the surface for a vibrant finishing touch before presenting this comforting one-pan meal.
Notes
- Swap out ground beef for ground turkey or plant-based meat alternatives to create a leaner or vegetarian version of the casserole.
- For added nutrition, mix in diced vegetables like carrots, peas, or bell peppers before baking to boost the meal’s vitamin content.
- Allow the casserole to rest for 5-10 minutes after baking to help the rice absorb remaining liquid and become more fluffy and evenly cooked.
- Use low-sodium beef consommé and French onion soup to control salt intake and prevent the dish from becoming too salty.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 1020 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg