Beef-Rice Casserole
Submitted by jojobird
Ground beef, rice, and broccoli baked in a creamy broccoli cheese sauce until bubbly and golden. A budget-friendly weeknight casserole that feeds 8 with minimal effort.
YIELD
8 servingsPREP
25 minCOOK
35 minREADY
60 minThis is the casserole that gets requested again and again, and you will see why after the first bite.
Ground beef and onions cook up with garlic, then get folded together with rice, frozen broccoli, and a creamy broccoli cheese soup sauce that ties everything into one comforting dish.
It is simple, stretches to feed a full table, and uses pantry staples you probably already have on hand.
Top it with seasoned bread crumbs and Parmesan before baking for a crunchy lid that takes it from good to can’t-stop-eating-it.
Kitchen Tips
- Cook the rice without salt or butter so it does not compete with the seasoning in the soup. The broccoli cheese soup brings plenty of flavor on its own.
- Drain the ground beef thoroughly after browning. Extra grease will make the casserole oily and heavy.
- Frozen broccoli goes in without thawing. It cooks through in the oven and keeps a nice bite instead of turning mushy.
- The bread crumb and Parmesan topping is optional but highly recommended. It adds a crunchy contrast to the creamy filling.
Ingredients
Directions
Pre-heat oven to 350℉ (180℃).
Prepare the rice with the water in standard manner.
(Do not use salt or margarine in the preparation of the rice.)
While the rice is cooking chop the onions and garlic.
Sauté slowly until onions are just tender.
Add the ground beef and brown.
Cook onions and ground beef about 7 minutes.
Drain off the fat. Return to medium heat.
Separately mix the broccoli cheese soup and milk.
Stir until creamy in texture.
At this point test for taste. Add table grind black pepper and salt (less that ½ teaspoon).
When the ground beef is ready, add the rice and broccoli, and soup mixture, tossing carefully.
Put the mixture in to a 9 x 9, or 9 x 13 casserole dish.
Sometimes I top this with seasoned bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese.
Bake about 35 minutes.
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