Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with this Oven Baked Cheesy Ground Beef and Rice Casserole. Ground beef is cooked on the stove along with a combo of veggies like onions and peppers, then mixed in a rich tomato and beef broth sauce, rice added in, and topped with freshly shredded cheddar cheese and baked in the oven until hot and bubbly! This for the perfect weeknight meal!
Whipping up a hearty casserole for dinner is one of my favorite things to do in this Southern kitchen. Oven-baked easy ground beef enchilada casserole has been on weeknight dinner menu rotation for a while now. But this is made even better when it’s made of simple ingredients I already have on hand. This casserole features ground meat and white rice along with your choice of chopped veggies. A great way to use them up before they go bad!
And it couldn’t be easier to make! Once the ground beef is nice and brown, add the veggies and stir until softened. Create the rich tomato sauce, add in the rice, and top with cheese. Bake until the cheese is bubbly on top and the rice is tender. It's a full meal that includes meat, a starch, and it's chock full of nutritious veggies and fiber. It's hearty and filling as all casseroles should be. The cheese is just an extra treat on top! 😉 Kinda like cheesy potato and hamburger casserole - a little bit bad but a whole lotta good!
Serve it up for cozy family dinners, gatherings with friends and family, or even as a make-ahead dish for potlucks. Pair it with a simple side salad for a balanced meal, or enjoy it all on its own. It is quick to prepare, bakes effortlessly in the oven, and with minimal cleanup, you'll have more time to savor your evening and less time in the kitchen!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Ground Beef
- Garlic and Onion - dice the onion and mince the garlic
- Chopped Vegetables - this is where you can get creative and have fun! I love a good "use what you have in your fridge" kinda meal. One that is easily adaptable and not fussy. When I was shooting this recipe I used 2 cups of chopped bell peppers, just because that is what we had at the house. But you can also use veggies like broccoli, mushrooms, eggplant, zucchini or squash. Or any combo! There are no rules or "strict recipes". Use what you have or what you like!
- Beef Broth
- Crushed Tomatoes
- White Rice - I just use long-grain white rice that I always have stocked in my pantry.
- Seasonings - salt, pepper, white pepper
- Fresh Parsley - if you can get your hands on fresh parsley, dried can be used instead.
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese - I always like to grate a block of cheese myself instead of using pre-shredded cheese.
Step by Step on How To Make
Prepare for baking: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9"x 9" baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
Cook the ground beef: Add the beef to a large pot and turn the heat to medium. Brown the ground beef by breaking it up with a wooden spatula, and cooking for 5-7 minutes.
PRO TIP - I find using a tool like this meat chopper*, helps so much in breaking up the beef into small pieces while cooking. It is an essential tool in my kitchen! (*Amazon affiliate link)
Add vegetables: To the ground beef, add the onion, garlic, and veggies of choice. Cook for another 5-10 minutes until the veggies are soft and the meat is fully browned.
Assemble the casserole: To the ground beef and veggie mixture, add the broth, tomatoes, and spices. Stir in the rice until fully combined.
Bake and enjoy: Pour in the greased baking dish and top with foil. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and take off the foil. Sprinkle the cheese on top and place back into the oven to bake for another 30 minutes. It will be hot and bubble, Bruce tender, and the cheese fully melted. Let cool for 10 minutes then serve.
How to Store Leftovers - To store any leftovers, cover the baking dish with aluminum foil or transfer the casserole to an airtight container. Refrigerate it for up to 3-4 days. Reheat individual servings in the microwave or reheat the entire dish in the oven at a low temperature until warmed through.
Recipe
Oven Baked Cheesy Ground Beef and Rice Casserole
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Yield: 6
Description
Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with this Oven Baked Cheesy Ground Beef and Rice Casserole. Ground beef is cooked on the stove along with a combo of veggies like onions and peppers, then mixed in a rich tomato and beef broth sauce, rice added in, and topped with freshly shredded cheddar cheese and baked in the oven until hot and bubbly! This for the perfect weeknight meal!
Ingredients
- 1 Pound Ground Beef
- 1 Medium Onion - diced
- 2 Cloves of Garlic - minced
- 2 Cups Your Choice Veggies - chopped (broccoli, peppers, mushrooms, eggplant, etc)
- 15 Ounce Canned Crushed Tomatoes
- 2 Cups Beef Broth
- 1 Cup White Rice - uncooked
- 2 Teaspoon Fresh Parsley - minced (or 1 teaspoon dried)
- ½ Teaspoon Salt
- ½ Teaspoon Ground Pepper
- ¼ Teaspoon White Pepper
- 6 Ounces Cheddar Cheese - shredded
when I shot this recipe the rice didn't fully cook and there was a ton of liquid. test again and either adjust the liquid off cooking time (30 with foil) 30 without foil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9"x 9" baking dish with cooking spray.
- To a large pot, add the ground beef over medium heat. Cook for 7-10 minutes breaking up with a wooden spoon or meat chopper into small pieces.
- Once the beef is browned about ¾ of the way through, add in the onion, garlic, and veggies of choice. Cook for another 5-10 minutes until the veggies are soft and the meat is fully browned.
- Add in the broth, tomatoes, and spices. Stir in the rice.
- Pour in the greased baking dish and top with foil. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and take off the foil. Sprinkle the cheese on top and place back into the oven to bake for another 30 minutes. It will be hot and bubble, Bruce tender, and the cheese fully melted. Let cool for 10 minutes then serve.
Notes
- Keep leftovers covered in the fridge for 2-3 days
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Dinner - Casserole
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 scoop
- Calories: 294
- Sugar: 5.7 g
- Sodium: 701.5 mg
- Fat: 12.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 19.3 g
- Fiber: 2.5 g
- Protein: 26.3 g
- Cholesterol: 73.3 mg
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