Cheesy Beef and Rice Casserole

cheddar cheese

🥗Healthier: reduced-fat cheese

💰Cheaper: processed cheese

Reduced-fat cheese lowers calories while maintaining flavor.

cream of mushroom soup

🥗Healthier: homemade mushroom sauce

💰Cheaper: cream of chicken soup

Homemade sauce can be healthier with fewer preservatives.

Gather all ingredients: ground beef, basmati rice, chicken stock, onion, pepper, garlic, ranch dressing mix, salt, black pepper, cheese, and oil.

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Chop the pepper, removing seeds and veins, and dice it into small pieces.

Add oil to a 12-inch skillet and heat it on the stove.

Add the diced pepper to the skillet and start sweating it down.

Chop the medium onion and add it to the skillet with the pepper.

Sweat the onion and pepper mixture for about 5 minutes, until they are softened but not fully cooked.

Chop the garlic cloves and set them aside.

Once the onion and pepper are sweated down, add the garlic to the skillet and cook for about a minute to release the aromatics.

Add 1 pound of ground beef to the skillet, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Cook until the beef is no longer pink, but do not brown it.

Add 1 package of ranch dressing mix, 1 teaspoon of salt, and black pepper to taste into the skillet.

Pour in 2 cups of chicken stock and 2 cups of basmati rice into the skillet, stirring to combine.

Let the mixture sit for about 3 minutes to allow the rice to soak up some liquid.

Transfer the mixture into a 9x13 baking dish, ensuring the rice is mostly submerged in the liquid.

Measure out 2 cups of shredded cheese, mixing about 1 cup into the casserole mixture.

Pat the mixture down to ensure the rice is mostly covered by the liquid.

Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes.

After 15 minutes, remove the casserole from the oven and sprinkle the remaining cheese on top.

Return the casserole to the oven for an additional 10 to 15 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens