Description
This Easy Hamburger Rice Casserole is pure nostalgic comfort in a dish. Savory ground beef and fluffy rice bake together in a rich, flavorful broth base created from canned soups – it’s a classic combination for a reason! Topped simply with butter for extra richness, this hamburger bake is incredibly easy to assemble and yields a hearty, satisfying meal the whole family will love. It’s the perfect solution for busy weeknights!
Ingredients
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1 lb Ground Beef (80/20 or 90/10 lean recommended)
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1 cup Long-Grain White Rice, uncooked
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1 can (10.5 oz) Condensed French Onion Soup
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1 can (10.5 oz) Condensed Beef Consommé
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4 tbsp Unsalted Butter, sliced into pats
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2 tbsp Fresh Chives, chopped (Optional garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Dish: Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Generously grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Brown the Ground Beef: In a medium skillet, cook the ground beef over medium-high heat, breaking it apart, until no longer pink (about 8-10 minutes). Drain off any excess fat.
- Layer Beef and Rice: Spread the cooked, drained ground beef evenly in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the uncooked rice evenly over the beef.
- Add Soups and Mix Gently: Pour the French onion soup and beef consommé over the beef and rice. Gently stir just enough to evenly distribute the liquids and slightly combine the ingredients.
- Dot with Butter and Cover: Distribute the butter pats evenly over the top. Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil.
- Bake Covered: Place the covered dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes.
- Bake Uncovered: Carefully remove the aluminum foil (watch for steam!). Return the uncovered dish to the oven and bake for an additional 30 minutes, until the rice is tender, most liquid is absorbed, and the top is becoming golden brown.
- Rest, Garnish, and Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and let it rest, uncovered, for 5-10 minutes. Garnish with optional fresh chives and serve warm.
Notes
- Grease Well: Greasing the dish well prevents the rice and beef from sticking, making serving and cleanup much easier.
- Drain the Fat: Draining the excess fat after browning the beef is important to prevent the finished casserole from being overly greasy.
- Even Rice Layer: Ensure the uncooked rice forms a relatively even layer over the beef so it cooks uniformly in the liquid.
- Gentle Stir: Gently stirring ensures the rice gets coated in the flavorful liquids, helping it cook properly and absorb all that savory goodness. Don’t overmix.
- Butter for Richness: The butter melts down as it bakes, adding richness and helping to create a slightly crisp, golden top layer later.
- Cover Tightly: Covering tightly traps steam, which is essential for cooking the rice properly.
- Check Rice: If the rice is still crunchy after the full baking time, cover loosely with foil again and bake for another 5-10 minutes until tender.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Main Course, Dinner, Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (1/6th of casserole)
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 950 mg
- Fat: 21.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11.5 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 37.5 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 22.5 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
