Description
This French Onion Ground Beef and Rice Casserole combines savory ground beef with rich French onion soup and beef broth to create a comforting and flavorful one-dish meal. Topped with butter and baked until tender and golden, this casserole is an easy, hearty dinner perfect for family meals.
Ingredients
Meat
- 1 pound ground beef (lean)
- ½ to 1 tsp garlic salt (or to taste)
Liquids
- 2 (10.5 ounce) cans beef consommé
- 2 (10.5 ounce) cans French onion soup
- ¾ cup water
Grains
- 2 cups long grain white rice (uncooked, not minute rice)
Fats
- ¾ cup butter (1½ sticks, cut into slices)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and spray a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Cook Ground Beef: In a large skillet over medium heat, add the ground beef and season with garlic salt. Cook, stirring and crumbling the beef until it is browned and fully cooked through, then drain any excess fat.
- Mix Ingredients in Baking Dish: Transfer the cooked ground beef to the prepared baking dish. Add the uncooked long grain white rice, then pour in the French onion soup, beef consommé, and water. Stir everything together until evenly combined.
- Add Butter Topping: Slice the butter into pieces and evenly distribute them on top of the rice and beef mixture to ensure a rich, buttery flavor and golden finish.
- Cover and Bake: Cover the baking dish tightly with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes to allow the rice to absorb the liquids and start cooking.
- Remove Foil and Continue Baking: After 30 minutes, remove the foil and continue baking uncovered for another 30 minutes. This will help brown the top and create a slight crust.
- Fluff and Serve: Once baked, remove the casserole from the oven. Use a fork to fluff the rice gently before serving. For extra texture and flavor, see notes for a cheesy, crispy topping option.
Notes
- For a cheesy and crispy topping, after removing the foil at step 6, sprinkle 1 to 1½ cups of shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese over the casserole and then bake uncovered for the final 30 minutes.
- Make sure to use uncooked long grain white rice and not instant rice for the best texture.
- You can substitute butter slices with melted butter drizzled over the top if preferred.
- For lower fat, use lean or extra-lean ground beef and reduce the butter by half.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
