Description
A savory and comforting French Onion Ground Beef and Rice Casserole featuring tender caramelized onions, juicy ground beef, creamy mushroom soup, and melty sharp cheddar cheese baked to perfection. This easy 5-ingredient recipe delivers rich, hearty flavors with minimal fuss, making it an ideal weeknight dinner that your whole family will crave.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat & Dairy
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20 lean/fat)
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 2 tbsp butter
Vegetables & Grains
- 2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced (about 3 cups)
- 1 cup white long-grain rice (uncooked)
Pantry Staples
- 1 can (10.5 oz) Campbell’s cream of mushroom soup
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it’s hot and ready when your casserole is prepped.
- Brown the Ground Beef: Heat a skillet over medium heat, add the ground beef, and break it up with a spoon. Cook for 5-7 minutes until no longer pink. Drain all but about 1 tablespoon of fat and return to heat for flavor.
- Caramelize the Onions: Lower the heat to medium-low, add butter and sliced onions to the same skillet. Cook slowly, stirring occasionally, for 10-15 minutes until onions turn golden brown and emit a sweet aroma.
- Combine Ingredients: Stir in uncooked rice, cream of mushroom soup, beef broth, kosher salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Mix well until soupy but uniform.
- Bake Covered: Transfer the mixture to a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, cover tightly with foil, and bake for 25 minutes to allow rice to absorb liquid and cook.
- Add Cheese and Finish Baking: Remove foil, sprinkle shredded sharp cheddar evenly over the casserole. Return to oven, uncovered, for 10 minutes until cheese melts and bubbles. Optional: broil for 1-2 minutes to brown cheese, watching carefully.
- Rest Before Serving: Let the casserole sit for 5 minutes to set before slicing and serving for clean, delicious pieces.
Notes
- Use block cheese for better melting; pre-shredded works in a pinch but can be less creamy.
- Do not use instant rice; long-grain white rice holds texture better in baking.
- Cooking onions low and slow is critical for authentic French onion flavor.
- Keeping a tablespoon of beef fat after browning maintains richness without greasiness.
- Let casserole rest after baking to avoid a runny texture when serving.
- Broiling cheese is optional but adds an attractive browned finish—watch carefully to prevent burning.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking, Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (approximately)
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: French onion casserole, ground beef casserole, rice casserole, easy dinner, comfort food, caramelized onions, cheesy casserole
