Easy and Delicious Cheesy Hamburger Rice Casserole Recipe

Looking for the ultimate comfort meal? This cheesy hamburger rice casserole is everything you crave—warm, hearty, and loaded with flavor in every bite. With melty cheese, savory ground beef, and tender rice, it’s the kind of one-dish wonder that’ll have everyone coming back for seconds. You won’t believe how simple—and satisfying—it is until you try it yourself!

Description

There is something undeniably comforting about digging into a warm, bubbling casserole straight from the oven. This cheesy hamburger rice casserole is like a hug on a plate — rich with savory ground beef, creamy layers of cheese, and tender rice that soaks up all the flavors like a sponge. Each bite brings together nostalgic, home-cooked flavors reminiscent of Sunday dinners and midweek family meals.

The golden cheddar melts into every crevice, forming gooey pockets that wrap around every grain of seasoned rice and crumbles of hearty beef. It is the kind of dish that rises out of the oven with a golden crown and a fragrance that instantly calls everyone to the table. Think of it as a cross between a cheeseburger and a plate of warm, creamy risotto — with all the heartiness of a one-dish dinner your whole family will devour.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This casserole is both a time-saver and a crowd-pleaser. Made with pantry staples and easy-to-find ingredients, it comes together with minimal prep and delivers maximum flavor. Whether you are feeding hungry kids or looking for a satisfying meal without a lot of fuss, cheesy hamburger rice casserole checks all the boxes.

The recipe is also wonderfully flexible. You can add vegetables for extra nutrition, kick up the flavor with spices, or swap in other cheeses depending on what you have. It is a meal-prep favorite for busy households and a classic comfort dish everyone can agree on.

Serving and Storage Tips

Cheesy hamburger rice casserole stores beautifully. Let it cool completely before refrigerating in an airtight container for up to 4 days. To reheat, simply microwave individual servings or warm the whole dish in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until heated through.

For longer storage, freeze individual portions or the entire casserole wrapped tightly in aluminum foil and stored in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. To reheat from frozen, let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight and bake until warm. You can also prep this casserole a day ahead and refrigerate it unbaked. Just pop it into the oven when ready to serve.

Course, Cuisine, Keywords

Dinner, American, casserole, comfort food, weeknight dinner, ground beef recipes

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 small yellow onion finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup 10.5 ounces
• 1 can cream of cheddar soup 10.5 ounces
• 1 ½ cups cooked white rice
• 1 cup milk
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Equipment

• Large skillet
• Mixing bowl
• 2-quart baking dish
• Wooden spoon or spatula
• Measuring cups
• Measuring spoons
• Cheese grater
• Oven

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a 2-quart baking dish with a little olive oil or nonstick spray.
2. Sauté the onions: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, warm the olive oil and cook the finely chopped onion until translucent and golden, about 4 minutes. This takes just a few minutes but builds deep flavor for the base of the casserole.
3. Add the garlic: Toss in the minced garlic and stir for about 1 minute until it becomes fragrant. Keep the heat moderate so the garlic does not brown too quickly.
4. Brown the ground beef: Add the ground beef and break it up with a wooden spoon. Cook until no pink remains and the meat is nicely browned. This will take about 6 to 8 minutes.
5. Season the meat: Sprinkle in salt, pepper, paprika, and dried parsley. Stir well to coat the beef evenly in the seasoning. I love paprika here for a mild smoky flavor that complements the cheddar.
6. Make the casserole mix: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked beef mixture, cooked rice, cream of mushroom soup, cream of cheddar soup, and milk. Mix thoroughly until smooth and creamy.
7. Add cheese: Fold in 1 ½ cups of shredded cheddar cheese, saving the remaining ½ cup for the topping. You can use sharp cheddar for extra bite or try Monterey Jack for a milder, buttery melt.
8. Transfer to baking dish: Spoon the mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading it out evenly with a spatula.
9. Top it off: Sprinkle the reserved cheddar cheese across the surface.
10. Cover and bake: Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the cheese to melt beautifully.
11. Uncover and finish baking: Remove the foil and bake for another 10 minutes. The cheese on top should turn lightly golden and slightly crispy around the edges.
12. Let it rest: Take the casserole out and let it sit for 5 minutes before serving. This helps it set up so each piece scoops out cleanly.

Nutrition per serving

For extra flavor, use freshly grated Parmesan and do not skip the lemon zest. Leftovers keep well for 2 days in the fridge.

FAQ

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Cheesy Hamburger Rice Casserole

This cheesy hamburger rice casserole is like a hug on a plate — loaded with savory ground beef, creamy layers of cheddar cheese, and tender rice that soaks up all the goodness. A classic comfort dish for family dinners, meal-prep, or weeknights.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 55 minutes mins

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Servings 6 servings

Calories 480 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 small yellow onion finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup 10.5 ounces
• 1 can cream of cheddar soup 10.5 ounces
• 1 ½ cups cooked white rice
• 1 cup milk
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Instructions

 

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 2-quart baking dish.
• In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add olive oil and sauté the chopped onion until soft and golden, about 4 minutes.
• Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
• Add ground beef to the skillet and cook until browned, breaking it up with a wooden spoon as it cooks.
• Season the beef mixture with salt, black pepper, paprika, and dried parsley. Stir well to combine.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked beef mixture with cooked rice, both cans of condensed soup, and milk. Stir until smooth and evenly combined.
• Fold in 1 ½ cups of shredded cheddar cheese, reserving the rest for topping.
• Pour the mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish and smooth the top with a spoon or spatula.
• Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of cheddar cheese over the casserole.
• Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
• Remove foil and bake uncovered for an additional 10 minutes until the top is bubbly and golden.
• Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving for easier slicing.

Nutrition

Calories: 480kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 25gFat: 29gSodium: 970mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4g

Keyword casserole, ground beef recipes, comfort food, weeknight dinner, American dinner

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