Cheesy Beef & Rice Casserole
Ingredients
Beef layer
450 g (1 lb) ground beef
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
½ tsp chili powder (optional)
Rice layer
2 cups cooked rice (white or brown both work)
1 cup sour cream (or plain Greek yogurt)
1 cup shredded mozzarella
1 cup shredded cheddar
½ cup milk or cream
Topping
1–1½ cups shredded cheddar or mozzarella
Optional: chopped parsley or green onion
Instructions
Preheat oven to 190°C (375°F). Grease a baking dish.
Cook the beef
In a pan, brown the ground beef with onion.
Add garlic, paprika, salt, pepper, and chili powder.
Drain excess fat if needed.
Make the creamy rice layer
In a bowl, mix cooked rice, sour cream, milk, mozzarella, and cheddar until creamy.
Layer it up
Bottom: beef mixture
Middle: creamy rice
Top: shredded cheese
Bake
Cover with foil and bake 20 minutes.
Uncover and bake another 10–15 minutes until golden and bubbly.
Rest & serve
Let it sit 5–10 minutes before slicing (helps it hold together).
Optional Add-Ins (to level it up 🔥)
Sautéed mushrooms or bell peppers in the beef
A little tomato sauce mixed into the meat
Swap rice for pasta or thinly sliced potatoes
Add a layer of béchamel or cream of mushroom soup for extra gooeyness
If you want, I can give you:
a one-pan version,
a meal-prep version, or
a healthier version with less cheese but still creamy 😏
