This French Onion Ground Beef and Rice Casserole tastes like everything you love about French onion soup rich, savory, and cozy mixed with hearty ground beef and fluffy rice that soaks up all that delicious broth. It’s the kind of easy dinner you can toss together on a busy night and still feel like you served something special. If you’re looking for a ground beef casserole or a simple rice casserole dinner that feeds a crowd, this is the one to save. It bakes hands-off while you do your thing, and you can make it cheesy or add a crunchy topping for extra wow.
table of contents
Time Breakdown
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Servings: 8
Ingredients List
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1/2 to 1 tsp garlic salt (to taste)
- 2 (10.5 oz) cans beef consommé (or beef broth)
- 2 (10.5 oz) cans French onion soup
- 3/4 cup water
- 2 cups long-grain white rice, uncooked (not instant/minute rice)
- 3/4 cup butter (1 1/2 sticks), sliced
Optional add-ons
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese (Swiss, provolone, mozzarella)
- Crispy fried onions or crispy jalapeños for topping
Kitchen Tools You’ll Need
This recipe doesn’t require fancy gadgets, just a few reliable kitchen basics to keep everything simple and stress-free.
- 9×13-inch baking dish
- Cooking spray
- Large skillet
- Wooden spoon or spatula
- Measuring cup
- Foil
- Knife (for slicing butter)
- Oven mitts
Step-by-Step Beginner-Friendly Instructions
- Preheat + prep dish: Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Brown the beef: In a large skillet, cook ground beef over medium-high heat. Season with garlic salt. Crumble and cook until browned and no pink remains (about 6–8 minutes).
- Combine in the dish: Add uncooked rice to the baking dish. Spoon in the cooked ground beef.
- Add liquids: Pour in French onion soup, beef consommé, and water. Stir well until the rice is evenly mixed in. 🍚
- Top with butter: Place butter slices evenly across the top (this helps it turn rich and flavorful). ✨
- Bake covered: Cover tightly with foil and bake 30 minutes.
- Bake uncovered: Remove foil and bake 30 minutes more until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
- Fluff + serve: Fluff with a fork and serve hot. 😋
Multitask tip: While it bakes, prep a simple side salad or steam green beans.
Pro Tips
- Seal the foil well: This traps steam so the rice cooks evenly.
- Cheesy upgrade: In the last 10 minutes, sprinkle on 1 1/2 cups cheese and bake until melty. 🧀
- Crunchy topping: Add crispy onions or crispy jalapeños during the last 10 minutes so they stay crisp.
- Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat with a splash of broth or water.
Nutrition Table (Estimated)
| Serving Size | Calories | Protein | Carbs | Fat | Fiber | Sugar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 serving | 520 | 20g | 40g | 30g | 1g | 4g |
Disclaimer: Nutrition facts are estimated using online tools and may vary based on your ingredients and preparation. Please consult a nutritionist for precise dietary advice.
French Onion Ground Beef and Rice Casserole
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C) and spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat, seasoning with garlic salt, until no pink remains.
- Add the cooked beef and uncooked rice to the baking dish. Pour in the French onion soup, beef consommé, and water, then stir well.
- Arrange the sliced butter evenly over the top of the casserole.
- Cover tightly with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake an additional 30 minutes, until the rice is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
- Fluff the casserole with a fork and serve warm.
Nutrition
Notes
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!Conclusion
This French Onion Ground Beef and Rice Casserole is comfort food that earns a permanent spot in your dinner rotation. It’s rich, savory, and ridiculously easy plus it feeds a crowd and reheats like a dream. Make it classic, go cheesy, or add a crunchy topping… you really can’t miss.