Description
Cheesy beef and mushroom rice bake delivers comfort on cold nights, blending hearty ingredients into a satisfying casserole. Home cooks savor this rich dish that provides warmth and delicious nourishment with minimal kitchen effort.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups cheddar cheese, divided
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup milk, any kind
- 1 lb (453 g) ground beef, 85% lean
- 1 cup onions, diced
- 8 oz (226 g) sliced button mushrooms, washed
- 3 tbsps butter, divided
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 cup uncooked white long grain rice, not instant
- 10.5 oz (298 g) can cream of mushroom soup
- 1 tbsp garlic, minced
- 1.5 tsps Italian seasoning
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9 × 13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Meat Preparation: Brown ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, seasoning with Italian herbs, kosher salt, and black pepper. Drain excess fat and set aside.
- Aromatics and Base: In the same skillet, melt butter and sauté onions until translucent. Add garlic and cook briefly. Pour in beef broth, bring to a boil, then add rice. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Mushroom Integration: Fold sliced mushrooms into the rice mixture, continue cooking covered for an additional 5-7 minutes. Let rest off heat for 10 minutes to complete cooking.
- Combining Ingredients: Mix cooked ground beef, cream of mushroom soup, whole milk, sour cream, and half the cheddar cheese into the rice mixture until well combined.
- Baking Process: Transfer mixture to prepared baking dish, spread evenly, and top with remaining cheese. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20-25 minutes until cheese is golden and bubbly.
Notes
- Meat Prep Tip: Brown ground beef thoroughly to develop deep, rich flavors and eliminate excess fat for a healthier, more delicious dish.
- Rice Cooking Hack: Allow rice to rest covered after initial cooking to ensure perfect texture and maximum moisture absorption.
- Cheese Melting Strategy: Use aluminum foil during initial baking to prevent cheese from burning while ensuring even, creamy melting.
- Flavor Boosting Technique: Sauté onions and garlic in the same skillet used for beef to capture and layer complex, complementary taste profiles.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 830 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg