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French Onion Ground Beef & Rice Casserole

French Onion Ground Beef Rice Casserole - featured image
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This cozy casserole combines caramelized onions, savory ground beef, fluffy rice, and melty cheese for a comforting, one-pan dinner. It’s easy to prepare, packed with flavor, and perfect for busy weeknights or family gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb ground beef (85% lean preferred)
  • 2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup long-grain white rice, uncooked
  • 2 cups beef broth (low-sodium recommended)
  • 1 cup Gruyère cheese, shredded
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce (optional)
  • Salt & black pepper, to taste (start with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper)
  • 1 tbsp olive oil (if beef is very lean)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and position rack in the center.
  2. Heat a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add butter and olive oil.
  3. Add sliced onions and cook, stirring every few minutes, until deeply golden and soft (about 15-20 minutes). Add a splash of broth or water if onions start to stick.
  4. Push onions to the edge of the pan and add ground beef. Cook until no pink remains (about 5-7 minutes), breaking up with a spoon. Drain excess fat if needed.
  5. Add garlic, thyme, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Cook for another minute until fragrant.
  6. Sprinkle uncooked rice evenly over beef and onions. Pour beef broth over everything. Gently stir to mix slightly.
  7. Taste the liquid and adjust salt/pepper as needed.
  8. Sprinkle Gruyère and mozzarella evenly over the top.
  9. Cover skillet or baking dish tightly with foil. Bake for 35 minutes, until rice is nearly cooked and mixture is bubbling.
  10. Remove foil and bake another 10-15 minutes until cheese is golden and bubbly. For extra crispy cheese, broil for 2-3 minutes, watching closely.
  11. Let casserole rest for 10 minutes before serving. Top with fresh thyme or chopped parsley if desired.

Notes

For gluten-free, use tamari instead of Worcestershire and check your broth. Add extra veggies like mushrooms or spinach for more nutrition. Caramelize onions slowly for best flavor. Resting after baking helps the casserole set. Leftovers taste even better the next day and freeze well.

Nutrition

Keywords: french onion casserole, ground beef casserole, rice casserole, one pan dinner, comfort food, easy casserole, cheesy casserole, family dinner, weeknight meal

Find it online: https://bitematrix.com/french-onion-ground-beef-and-rice-casserole-easy-one-pan-dinner-recipe/