Prep: 10 This one pan, gluten-free Ground Beef & Rice Casserole is SO easy to throw together and cooks perfectly on the stovetop. I’ve been making this easy dinner idea for years and even my picky toddler loves it. It’s one of my favorite ground beef & rice recipes! The tender rice, veggies, and savory ground beef are seasoned and topped with cheesy goodness for a flavorful healthy meal the entire family will love.
Beef and Rice Casserole Recipe
What makes busy weeknights so much easier? Easy cleanup, thanks to one-pan meals like this one! At least once a week, I just need a fuss-free recipe like my One-Pan Honey Rosemary Chicken or One-Pot Bolognese Rigatoni to simplify things in the kitchen. And this easy, healthy dinner idea is one of my favorite Ground Beef & Rice recipes!
It’s made with lean protein and veggies, and I’ve added fiber-rich beans, healthy fats, and bold spices so the flavor is just as good as it is for you! Once you add the rice and broth, it simmers to perfection while you’re freed up to do other things, which for me is usually wrangling my fearless toddler, or watching my son’s newest trick on the trampoline. Your whole family, even the picky eaters, will enjoy this one – it has quickly become a favorite in our house!
Love Easy Ground Beef Recipes? Try these Easy Ground Beef Tacos!
What You’ll Love About This Ground Beef Casserole
- Easy – In just a few steps, with simple ingredients, this casserole simmers on the stove while you do other things. It is perfect for busy weeknights. I know we all love meals that make life easier and taste good!
- 40 Minutes – That’s the total time! You’ll only need about 15-20 minutes of hands-on time, the rest is hands-off simmering time.
- One Pan – Everything gets cooked in one skillet, meaning easy cleanup. That’s the BEST kind of dinner recipe!
- Healthy – This gluten-free, one-pan meal is balanced and full of veggies and lean protein.
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Ingredients in Ground Beef Rice Casserole
The ingredients are easy to find and may already be ready to go in your pantry! Here’s what you’ll need:
- Olive Oil – Olive oil is a healthy fat, and also full of flavor. You can substitute it with avocado oil or vegetable oil if you prefer!
- Red Onion and Bell Peppers – I love the sweetness that the red onions add to this recipe, and I used one red and one green bell pepper. You can use yellow onions and whatever color bell peppers you prefer.
- Garlic – Minced garlic is the perfect addition to this one-pan meal. Use minced garlic in a jar (opens in a new tab) for a quick and convenient ingredient hack!
- Ground Beef – Use lean ground beef for this recipe so you don’t have to drain excess grease while making the recipe. You could easily substitute the ground beef with ground turkey or ground chicken.
- Jasmine Rice – I love jasmine rice in this recipe. The amount of broth and cooking time is catered to this rice type, but any other short-grain rice will work. Save time by using rice pouches (opens in a new tab) and reducing the broth to 1/2 cup.
- Cumin, Chili Powder, Paprika, Oregano, and Salt – These herbs and spices add an earthy and spicy flavor to every bite! You could also use 2 Tablespoons taco seasoning (opens in a new tab) in place of these.
- Chicken Broth – Using chicken broth as the liquid for the rice gives it so much more flavor, but feel free to use water in its place. You could also substitute with beef broth or vegetable broth.
- Crushed Tomatoes – Canned crushed tomatoes add flavor, moisture, and color to the casserole.
- Frozen Corn – I love the frozen corn from Trader Joe’s. Have you had it? It’s so good! Canned corn works, too.
- Black Beans (opens in a new tab) – Substitute with pinto beans or garbanzo beans if you don’t have black beans.
- Spinach – The spinach wilts down in the casserole and adds nutrients. You can use whatever greens you prefer. Kale would be yummy, too.
- Shredded Cheese – I used a Mexican cheese blend in this recipe, but you can use your favorite shredded cheese. Sharp or mild cheddar cheese or even pepper jack cheese would be really good alternatives.
How to Make Ground Beef & Rice
Prep all of your ingredients, then follow the order that they go in the one-pan. It’s that easy to make! Here’s how to make my Ground Beef & Rice recipe:
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet (opens in a new tab) over medium-high heat, sauté the onion, then add the ground beef and garlic and cook until browned.
- Add in the bell peppers and cook until they begin to soften.
- Add the rice, spices, broth, tomatoes, corn, beans, and 1/2 cup of cheese to the beef mixture.
- Bring to a low boil, cover, reduce to low, and cook for 20 minutes, stirring halfway through.
- Once cooked, stir in the chopped spinach.
- Top with the rest of the cheese, cover, and let the cheese melt.
- Garnish with cilantro and enjoy!
RELATED: 40+ Healthy Meals with Ground Beef
How to Serve Mexican Rice Casserole
- Top It – We love adding toppings and sauces to this casserole. Sprinkle on fresh cilantro, The BEST Easy Salsa Recipe, chopped fresh onions, hot sauce, a drizzle of Cilantro Lime Sauce, sour cream, or sliced black olives.
- Serve It Alongside – This Ground Beef Casserole is a full meal, but it would be delicious alongside Roasted Sweet Potato Black Bean Salad, Mango Salsa Recipe, or Chipotle Corn Salsa Recipe.
Recipe Variations
- Make it Low-Carb – Replace the rice with cauliflower rice and reduce the chicken stock to 1/2 cup.
- Swap the Protein – Ground chicken and ground turkey would both be excellent options for this recipe!
- Make it Vegetarian – Use plant-based crumbles made from seitan or tofu in place of beef for a meatless option.
- Save Time – Use microwave rice packets (opens in a new tab) instead of uncooked rice. Microwave the rice, add it to the skillet with just 1/2 cup broth, and drop the cooking time to just 5 minutes!
How to Store Hamburger Rice Casserole
Allow the casserole to cool completely, then transfer it to an airtight storage container. Here’s how to store beef & rice casserole:
- Refrigerator – Store it in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
- Freezer – Freeze for up to 3 months!
- Reheating – Add a splash of water or broth and microwave for 2-3 minutes from the fridge or 4-5 minutes from the freezer. You can also reheat it in the oven or stovetop!
More Ground Beef & Rice Recipes
Healthy Casserole Recipes
- Taco Pasta Casserole
- Chili Relleno Casserole Recipe
- Healthy Blueberry French Toast Casserole
- Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole
- Healthy Chicken Broccoli Pasta Casserole
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Hamburger Rice Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil (opens in a new tab)
- 1 small red onion (diced)
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 medium red bell pepper (diced)
- 1 medium green bell pepper (diced)
- 1 1/4 cup jasmine rice (opens in a new tab) (uncooked)
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder (opens in a new tab)
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 2 teaspoons oregano
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 2 1/2 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1 15-ounce can crushed tomatoes (opens in a new tab)
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 1 15-ounce can black beans (opens in a new tab) (drained and rinsed)
- 1 1/2 cups chopped spinach
- 1 1/2 cups shredded Mexican cheese
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Add in the diced red onion and sauté for about 5 minutes.
- Add in the garlic and ground beef and cook until browned.
- Add in the bell peppers and saute for about 3-4 minutes.
- Add in the rice, spices, broth, tomatoes, corn, beans, and 1/2 cup of cheese.
- Bring to a low boil.
- Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring halfway. Be sure to keep the heat low so the rice is able to cook fully.
- Once cooked, stir in the chopped spinach.
- Top with the rest of the cheese, cover, and let the cheese melt for 1-2 minutes.
- Garnish with cilantro and enjoy!
Notes
- Refrigerator – Store it in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
- Freezer – Freeze for up to 3 months!
- Reheating – Add a splash of water or broth and microwave for 2-3 minutes from the fridge or 4-5 minutes from the freezer. You can also reheat it in the oven or stovetop!
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- Make it Low-Carb – Replace the rice with cauliflower rice and reduce the chicken stock to 1/2 cup.
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- Swap the Protein – Ground chicken and ground turkey would both be excellent options for this recipe!
-
- Make it Vegetarian – Use plant-based crumbles made from seitan or tofu in place of beef for a meatless option.
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- Save Time – Use microwave rice packets (opens in a new tab) instead of uncooked rice. Microwave the rice, add it to the skillet with just 1/2 cup broth, and drop the cooking time to just 5 minutes!
Nutrition
Did you make this? I’d love to see!
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If I have leftover rice already cooked, how much would I put in for this dish?
It would be around 2.5 cups cooked rice, however you would need to omit the broth and lower the amount of canned tomatoes (maybe 1/2 can) since the rice is already cooked. I hope you enjoy the recipe!