Cheesy Hamburger and Rice Casserole

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Cheesy Hamburger and Rice Casserole

This comforting, cheesy hamburger and rice casserole is a true one-pot dinner you can throw together in only 15 minutes, and it makes fantastic leftovers. With jasmine rice, extra-sharp cheddar, and a flavorful, homemade creamy tomato sauce, this one-pot cheeseburger casserole will be a crowd pleaser.

Prep Time15

Cook Time1 15

Total Time1 30

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cheesy ham and potato casserole, ham and cheese potato casserole, potato and ham casserole

Servings:

Author: Sarah Cook

Equipment

Ingredients

cooking spray or butter {for pan}
1 1/2 cups uncooked white rice {I used jasmine}
2 1/2 cups chicken broth {HOT}
1 lb ground beef {I used 85/15}
5 cloves garlic {finely minced}
1/2 cup white onion {finely minced}
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
3/4 tsp ground black pepper
1.5 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
4 tbsp salted butter
3 tbsp all-purpose flour
2 1/4 cups whole milk {warmed}
3 tbsp tomato paste
3 cups extra sharp cheddar, shredded

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350˚F.
Butter a 9x13 baking dish.
cooking spray or butter
Add the rice and the hot chicken broth to the baking dish. Stir the mixture with a fork. Set aside.
2 1/2 cups chicken broth, 1 1/2 cups uncooked white rice
In a heavy-bottomed saucepan/skillet/Dutch oven, brown the ground beef over medium heat, breaking it apart.
1 lb ground beef
Cook until it is ~75% cooked through, and add the garlic, onion, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper, kosher salt, and smoked paprika.
5 cloves garlic, 1/2 cup white onion, 3/4 tsp ground black pepper, 1.5 tsp kosher salt, 1/2 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
Cook until onions and garlic are softened, and the ground beef is thoroughly cooked through.
Using a slotted spoon, remove the ground beef and place it in a large bowl. Set aside.
Drain all but 1 tbsp of grease from the skillet.
Add the butter to the skillet and melt it over medium-low heat.
4 tbsp salted butter
Sprinkle the flour over the butter, and whisk to form a paste. Cook down for 3 minutes, whisking often.
3 tbsp all-purpose flour
Slowly and gradually pour in the warmed milk, whisking constantly to incorporate.
2 1/4 cups whole milk
Stir in the tomato paste.
3 tbsp tomato paste
Increase the temperature to medium and bring the milk mixture to a near boil for 2 minutes, whisking constantly.
To the saucepan, add: cooked ground beef, 2 cups of cheddar (reserving 1 cup for later), and the sauce, and stir gently until combined.
3 cups extra sharp cheddar, shredded
Add the beef mixture to the top of the rice in the baking dish.
Cover the baking dish tightly with foil and bake at 350˚F for 25 minutes.
Pro tip: spray the underside of the foil with cooking spray.
After 25 minutes, remove the foil and gently stir the mixture, making sure all the rice on the edges is incorporated into the mixture - especially at the corners.
Bake uncovered for 20 minutes.
Top with the remaining cup of shredded cheese and bake for an additional 5 minutes.

Notes

If using lean ground beef, you likely won't have enough grease to use in step 8. In that case, use 1 tbsp of olive oil or add an additional tbsp of butter in step 9.

Nutrition