Hamburger Rice Casserole

This hamburger rice casserole is so satisfying. It's made with juicy ground beef simmered in a rich tomato sauce with fluffy rice and tons of melted cheese. For being so quick and easy to make, it tastes amazing!

The Best Hamburger Rice Casserole

This hamburger rice casserole takes two simple ingredients and transforms them into the perfect all-in-one casserole dish.

It has the perfect combination of seasoned ground beef and fluffy rice simmered in a rich and savory sauce. That alone is delicious, but it's covered in a layer of ooey-gooey melted cheese to make it so much better! The result is a hearty, comforting casserole dish that's simply irresistible.

Since this ground beef and rice casserole is so easy to make, it's the perfect dish for a busy weeknight dinner or when you need a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

You can serve this hamburger rice casserole as is or with some Texas Roadhouse rolls to soak up the delicious sauce. Either way, it'll be a delicious meal everyone will love!

Why This Recipe Works

It's easy to make. All you have to do is cook the ground beef, combine all of the ingredients in your skillet, let it simmer, then top it with cheese. It takes just 30 minutes to make and is foolproof!

The flavor. Between the juicy ground beef, savory beef sauce, perfectly cooked rice, and melted cheese, this dish is loaded with a balance of flavors and textures like no other.

Versatile. This cheesy ground beef casserole works great as a hearty side dish or as the main course for a comfort food dinner.

One-dish meal. Everything for this casserole comes together using just your skillet. This means not only is making it a breeze, but cleanup is too!

Ingredients

I know the ingredient list for this cheesy hamburger rice casserole may look like a lot, but I promise they're all super simple. In fact, you probably have most of them on hand already!

Here's everything you'll need to make ground beef and rice casserole:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1lb. ground beef
• 2 ¼ cup beef stock or beef broth
• ¼ cup tomato paste
• ½ cup long-grain rice
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• ½ teaspoon cumin powder
• ¼ teaspoon dried basil
• 1 ½ cup cheddar cheese

By the way, you can use many of these same ingredients to make this cheeseburger casserole. It's another easy ground beef casserole recipe, so you'll want to consider giving that a try next!

How To Make Hamburger Rice Casserole

1. Cook the ground beef: Heat some olive oil in a large skillet. Once the skillet is hot, brown ground beef, breaking it apart, for 5-7 minutes or until it's no longer pink.

2. Add the rest of the ingredients: Add the beef stock, tomato paste, uncooked rice, onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, salt, pepper, cumin, and basil to the skillet. Stir well to combine all of the ingredients, then simmer the mixture for 20-25 minutes.

3. Add the cheese: Remove the skillet from the heat and add the cheddar cheese on top. Cover the pot with the lid and let the heat melt the cheese. Serve the casserole warm, and enjoy!

Tips To Make The Best Recipe

• Swap the ground beef for ground chicken, ground turkey, or lean ground beef to make a leaner casserole.
• Add cream of mushroom soup, cream of French onion soup, or sour cream to make a creamy casserole.
• Add veggies like canned peas or frozen peas, broccoli, bell pepper, garlic, or spinach to make a healthier casserole.
• Use leftover cooked rice, minute rice, or instant rice to make the casserole more convenient. Just remember to refer to the package directions for how much liquid to add when cooking the rice. 
• Bake the casserole instead. Just transfer the beef and rice mixture to a prepared baking dish after you cook the beef. Bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes or until the rice is fully cooked and the cheese is bubbly. For a shorter baking time, use rice that has already been cooked.

How To Store Hamburger Rice Casserole

In the fridge: Transfer the leftover ground beef and rice casserole to an airtight container and store it in the fridge for 3-4 days.

In the freezer: Allow leftover hamburger rice casserole to cool completely, then transfer it to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months.

Reheating: Transfer leftovers to a baking dish and bake at 350°F (180°C) for about 10 minutes until warm. You can also microwave single-serving portions in 20-second intervals until it's fully reheated. If reheating from frozen, thaw the casserole in the fridge overnight before reheating, or just add more cooking time.

FAQS About This Hamburger Rice Casserole

What can I serve with hamburger rice casserole?

Hamburger rice casserole is great served alongside a house salad, crack green beans, Cheesecake Factory brown bread, or Bisquick cheddar bay biscuits. 

Should rice be cooked or uncooked in hamburger rice casserole?

You will want to use rice that is uncooked since it will cook while it simmers in the broth.

What kind of rice should I use?

Long grain rice will work best in this ground beef and rice casserole recipe. Feel free to use brown rice, white rice, jasmine rice, or basmati rice. The cooking time may vary slightly depending on the type of rice you use.

More Easy Casserole Recipes

• Tuna rice casserole
• Chicken cauliflower casserole
• Zucchini pizza casserole
• Poppyseed chicken casserole
• Sausage and rice casserole
• Old fashioned chicken and rice casserole