Description
This Cheesy Ground Beef and Rice Casserole is a hearty and comforting one-dish meal featuring savory ground beef, tender instant rice, and mixed vegetables, all baked in a creamy celery soup sauce and topped with melted sharp cheddar cheese. It’s perfect for a family dinner and easy to prepare with simple ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small sweet onion, small diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 (10.5 ounce) cans cream of celery soup
- 1 ½ cups beef stock
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup instant rice
- 12 ounces frozen mixed vegetables
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Dish: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
- Cook Ground Beef and Onion: In a dutch oven or large skillet with deep sides over medium heat, add the ground beef and diced sweet onion. Break up the beef with a spoon and cook, stirring often, until the beef is no longer pink and onions are softened, about 10 minutes. Drain any excess grease.
- Add Garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Remove the skillet from the heat.
- Mix in Soups and Seasonings: Add the cream of celery soup, beef stock, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, paprika, kosher salt, and black pepper. Stir to combine everything evenly.
- Add Rice and Vegetables: Stir in the instant rice and frozen mixed vegetables until fully incorporated into the mixture.
- Transfer to Baking Dish and Add Cheese: Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Evenly top with shredded sharp cheddar cheese. Cover with nonstick foil.
- Bake: Bake the casserole in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, until bubbly and the cheese has melted.
- Broil for Browning: Remove the foil and place the casserole under the broiler for a few minutes to lightly brown the cheese on top. Watch carefully to avoid burning.
- Serve: Optionally sprinkle with dried or fresh parsley before serving. Enjoy your cheesy, comforting casserole!
Notes
- This casserole is a family favorite comfort meal and an easy one-dish recipe.
- Use freshly minced garlic for best flavor; you can substitute garlic powder if desired.
- You can swap cream of celery soup with cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup if preferred.
- For a lower sodium version, use low-sodium beef stock and reduced-sodium soups.
- Add fresh parsley on top for a nice color contrast and fresh flavor.
- Cover tightly with foil during baking to keep moisture in and prevent the casserole from drying out.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 379
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 622 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 73 mg
