Ground Beef and Rice

This quick and easy, hearty and delicious, one-pot, cheesy ground beef and rice casserole is loaded with flavor. It’s packed with lean ground beef, tender rice, black beans, corn, lots of cheese, and more. The perfect weeknight dinner recipe that can be on the table in no time and a favorite one-pot meal the whole family will enjoy.

Casseroles are one of my favorite dishes of all time. I make them for almost any occasion, from weeknight meals to potlucks and holiday get-togethers. They’re just so easy to make, and they can feed a crowd. I’ve been a casserole lover since I first began cooking, and that love was strengthened when I started cooking for my family. Even today, with my kids out of the house, I still make casseroles all the time, and this ground beef and rice casserole is one of my favorites.

Ground Beef and Rice Casserole

This cheesy ground beef and rice casserole is one of my favorite casseroles of all time. It’s just overflowing with cheesy, beefy goodness. Hamburger, rice, cheese, and vegetables combine to create a dish that is so full of flavor, it’s definitely greater than the sum of its parts. Every single bite is an explosion of a variety of textures and flavors, and it packs a nice kick of heat, to boot! I’ve served this casserole to my family on many occasions and taken it to a ton of potlucks, and the outcome is always the same. It gets devoured!

All the Flavors of the Southwest in a One-Pot Recipe

Texas is the land of Mexican/American food. After all, it’s right there in the name “Tex-Mex”. When you live here, you learn to love heat, spice, and all kinds of beans and cheese paired up with your protein. This casserole has all your favorite southwestern flavors in one pot. Cheese, beans, hamburger, rice, and more are all there just waiting for you to devour it. And trust me, after one bite, you will devour it.

Hamburger and Rice Casserole Variations

One of the great things about this casserole – or any casserole, really – is how versatile it is. It’s so easy to change things up to create an entirely different meal or just a slight change in the existing recipe. You can stick as close to home or go as far afield as you like. Your creativity is the only limit, and that’s what makes these kinds of dishes so much fun.

Different Meat

One easy way to change the texture and flavor of this dish is by using different meat options. By changing the meat, you can easily change the flavor and make the dish a bit healthier, as well. Some of my favorite meats to use in this casserole include:

• Ground chicken or turkey
• Chicken, shredded
• Shredded beef
• Shredded pork

Different Beans

This recipe calls for the classic Tex-Mex standard – black beans. However, almost any bean will work well in this recipe. If you’re a bean lover, you’ll enjoy playing around with this part. Some of my favorite beans for this recipe are:

• Pinto beans
• Kidney beans
• Chili beans
• Navy beans

Different Vegetables

There are so many options here. I won’t even give you a bullet list on this one. That’s because you can literally put any vegetables you love in this dish, from mushrooms to Brussels sprouts and everything in between. If you love them, throw them in and see what happens.

Different Cheeses

I love to use Colby Jack in almost all of my southwestern recipes. I just enjoy the combination of Colby and Jack cheeses. You can feel free to use any cheese that you enjoy, however. While it all comes down to personal preference, some of my favorites for this dish are:

• Cheddar cheese
• Monterey Jack cheese
• Mexican cheese

Different Rice

There are a million rice variations out there, and any of them will work well in this recipe. From white and brown rice to Basmati rice and Jasmine rice, to everything in between, any rice that you have on hand can be used in this recipe. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Before jumping into this recipe, take a moment to read over this brief FAQ. It answers all the questions you probably have about this hamburger and rice casserole, so it’s worth a read.

What is a Casserole?

You might think that because this isn’t baked, it’s not really a casserole. However, contrary to popular belief, casseroles don’t have to be baked. In fact, the definition of a casserole is any dish that’s prepared in one vessel.

What’s the Best Ground Beef for this Recipe?

I tend to stick with a lean ground beef like ground sirloin. Unlike burgers which require a higher fat content to stay juicy, this casserole is loaded with so many different ingredients, a lean ground beef works perfectly well. It’s also a bit healthier, and not having to drain the pan makes things easier.

What to Serve with Cheesy Ground Beef and Rice Casserole?

This casserole is a hefty, hearty meal all on its own, so unless you’re a bottomless pit, I don’t recommend serving anything else with it other than a side salad. It’s just too much food to pair with anything else. However, this mixture makes a great burrito. Just heat up some flour tortillas, add some of this meat and rice mixture, top with cheese, roll up and enjoy. So delicious!

Storage

This casserole will keep in the refrigerator for 3 – 5 days. For longer storage, you can freeze this dish for up to a month. To freeze this casserole, chill it completely in the refrigerator, then place it in an air-tight, freezer-safe container.

Ground Beef and Rice Casserole Ingredients

There are several ingredients to this casserole, but they’re all easily found at your local grocery store. You probably have several of them in your kitchen already, as well. These are all simple, straightforward Tex-Mex ingredients.

• Lean ground beef
• Onion
• Paprika
• Chili powder
• Slap ya Mama
• Black pepper
• Red pepper flakes
• Garlic powder
• Whole kernel corn, drained
• Black beans, drained, rinsed
• Sliced black olives, drained
• Diced green chilies
• Rotel (tomatoes and green chilies)
• Green enchilada sauce
• Beef broth
• White rice
• Colby Jack cheese, shredded

How to Make Ground Beef and Rice Casserole

Making this casserole is so incredibly easy. It’s all done in one pan, and the cooking is all very basic. It’s an easy dish that even beginners can make with no problems.

Step 1: Brown the Meat

In a large skillet, add the ground beef, onions, and all seasonings, cooking over medium-high heat until the meat is no longer pink and the onions are tender. Drain excess grease, if needed, and return to the skillet.

Step 2: Add All Remaining Ingredients Except the Rice

Add the corn, black beans, black olives, and diced green chilies to the meat mixture and stir. Then, pour the enchilada sauce, Rotel, and beef broth into the skillet. Stir to combine and bring to a boil over medium heat.

Step 3: Add Rice

Add the rice and reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook for 20 – 25 minutes or until the rice is tender, stirring frequently. Top with shredded cheese, stir, salt and pepper, to taste, and enjoy!

Try This Cheesy Hamburger and Rice Casserole Today

This delicious hamburger and rice casserole is a Tex-Mex feast that always satisfies. Loaded with beef, beans, veggies, and cheese, this makes more than enough to feed a crowd. Give this delicious recipe a try, and I know you’ll find it makes its way heavily into your recipe rotation.

More Ground Beef Recipes

Cheesy Ground Beef Empanadas – These empanadas are flaky and delicious, filled with deliciously seasoned ground beef, two types of cheese, and baked to golden perfections.

Stuffed Bell Pepper Soup – This hearty and delicious soup has all the flavors of stuffed peppers in a soup. If you love stuffed peppers, try this easy stuffed peppers soup recipe.

Salisbury Steak in Mushroom Onion Gravy – Always a favorite, these Salisbury steaks are made with oval-shaped ground beef patties, pan-seared, and cooked in a rich and savory gravy. The perfect comfort food recipe loved by most.

And, here is an Easy One-Pot Goulash from Deliciously Seasoned you might enjoy too!

Here are a few pics that are perfect to save to your favorite Pinterest boards.

Enjoy, Terri