Hamburger Rice Casserole Recipe

This easy Hamburger Rice Casserole is a creamy and comforting family favorite. It's a complete meal that evokes nostalgia for many families, often reminding them of classic comfort food dinners from childhood. The cheesy beef casserole leftovers are quite versatile making great lunches or even a starting point for a new dish.

This is a budget-friendly dish my family loves, and many families have their own cherished versions of this simple but flavorful casserole that have been passed down through generations. Hamburger rice casserole with melty cheese is a nostalgic, retro comfort food that originated in the 1970s and is often associated with family meals from childhood.

How to Make Hamburger Rice Casserole

Let's make this easy ground beef and rice casserole! Follow along here for step-by-step directions, complete with pictures or hop down to the printable recipe card below.

The recipe yields 6 servings.

Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Ingredients

• 1-pound lean ground beef
• ½ cup onions, diced (white or yellow)
• 1 cup long-grain white rice, uncooked
• 2 cups beef broth
• 10.5-ounce cream of mushroom condensed soup
• 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded (I prefer sharp cheddar in the recipe)
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder (or 1 clove of minced garlic)
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• Optional – fresh curly parsley for garnish, chopped

Supplies

• 9x13 baking dish
• Skillet
• Wooden spoon or spatula 

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish.

Brown ground beef and onion in a large skillet over medium heat, about 6 minutes.

Add uncooked rice, beef broth, condensed soup, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder, and mix until combined.

Spread the hamburger rice mixture evenly in prepared baking dish, cover tightly with foil, and bake for 52-55 minutes or until rice is cooked.

Uncover, mix well, then top with cheese, and bake for an additional 8-9 minutes or until cheese is bubbly.

Let cool for 5 minutes before serving. Top with optional parsley. 

The Right Baking Dish

Choosing the right baking dish is an important step in making a delicious hamburger rice casserole. The size and material of your baking dish can influence everything from the texture of the rice to how evenly your casserole cooks. A classic 9x13-inch baking dish is perfect for most hamburger rice casserole recipes.

For larger gatherings or if you want leftovers, a bigger 11x15-inch baking dish will give you plenty of room for extra ground beef, mushroom soup, and beef broth. Just remember, the baking time may need to be adjusted depending on the size of your dish.

The type of baking dish you use also makes a difference. Glass and ceramic dishes are popular choices for rice casseroles because they distribute heat evenly and help keep the casserole moist and tender. If you use a metal baking dish, keep an eye on your casserole, as it may cook a bit faster and could dry out if left in the oven too long.

Recipe Variations

This easy Hamburger Rice casserole is a very forgiving recipe. Here are a few suggestions to make the casserole your own and add more great flavors to the dish.

• You can use ground turkey, ground chicken, or ground Italian sausage in place of the ground beef if that’s what you have on hand. Shredded pork or chicken are also protein options.
• Long-grain white rice is recommended for hamburger rice casserole, as it separates better when cooked compared to medium or short-grained rice. You can substitute brown rice, but it will require a longer cooking time. Instant rice is another option, in that case baking time will be reduced a little.
• You can swap the beef broth for 2 cups water and 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce. French onion soup mix with water, or even canned French onion soup and beef consommé with caramelized onions, can replace the beef broth for a French onion-inspired variation.
• Swap the cream of mushroom soup for another condensed cream soup, such as cream of celery or cream of chicken soup, if you like.
• Make it into a stuffed pepper casserole, by adding a couple chopped green bell peppers to the ground beef mixture before baking.
• Make a Tex-Mex variation by adding taco seasoning, black beans, corn, green chiles, and crushed tortilla chips on top. Monterey Jack or pepper jack cheese would be good choices for this version.
• For an Italian spin on the recipe exchange the creamed soup for a can of diced fire roasted tomatoes, tomato sauce or crushed stewed tomatoes. Add a teaspoon of Italian seasoning as well.
• Honestly, feel free to go wild with add-ins for this ground beef casserole. A bag of frozen mixed vegetables, fresh sliced mushrooms or spinach.
• Top with crunchy stuff, like chow mein noodles, French fried onions, panko crumbs, crumbles Ritz crackers or crushed potato chips.

Storing

Let the hamburger rice casserole cool completely before storing leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 4 days. This casserole can also be frozen for up to 3 months for easy future meals. To reheat, warm the casserole in a preheated oven at 350°F or microwave until heated through. If frozen, thaw the casserole overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Meal Prep: You can prepare hamburger rice casserole up to two days in advance and refrigerate it before baking.

Serving

Hamburger rice casserole is a complete meal on its own, but you can make it even more satisfying with a few simple sides. Try a tossed salad with ranch or vinaigrette dressing for a refreshing contrast, or serve with sauteed vegetables, glazed carrots, green beans or steamed broccoli. Dinner rolls, garlic bread or focaccia are great for bulking up the meal.