🍽️ Creamy Beef & Mushroom Rice Bake
A rich, hearty one-dish meal featuring savory ground beef, tender mushrooms, creamy mushroom sauce, and fluffy rice—all baked together for ultimate comfort food satisfaction. Optional cheese topping makes it even more indulgent!
⏱️ Prep Time: 15 minutes
🕰️ Cook Time: 45 minutes
🍽️ Servings: 4–6
🔥 Calories: ~420–480 kcal per serving (with cheese)
📝 Ingredients:
- 1 lb (450g) ground beef
- 1 cup chopped mushrooms (white or cremini)
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 cup uncooked white rice
- 1 can (10.5 oz / 300g) cream of mushroom soup
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional, for topping)
🔪 Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Brown the beef:
In a skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef with diced onion until browned and no longer pink. Drain excess fat. - Add mushrooms:
Stir in chopped mushrooms and cook for another 3–4 minutes until softened. - Mix wet ingredients:
In a large bowl, whisk together the cream of mushroom soup, beef broth, sour cream, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. - Assemble the casserole:
In the prepared baking dish, add the uncooked rice, beef-mushroom mixture, and soup mixture. Stir gently to combine. - Bake uncovered for 35–40 minutes, until the rice is tender and liquid is mostly absorbed.
- Add cheese (optional):
Sprinkle cheddar on top and bake for an additional 5–10 minutes until melted and bubbly. - Rest & serve:
Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped parsley or green onions if desired.
🧠 Notes:
- Do not pre-cook the rice—it will absorb flavor from the broth as it bakes.
- You can substitute with brown rice, but increase baking time by 15–20 minutes and use more broth.
- For a lighter version, use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream and low-fat soup.
💡 Tips:
- Use lean ground beef (90/10 or 85/15) to avoid excess grease.
- Add frozen peas, carrots, or spinach for a vegetable boost.
- For extra flavor, stir in Worcestershire sauce or thyme.
- Want it spicy? Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or cayenne.
🍽️ Servings:
- Serves: 4–6
- Serving size: ~1.5 cups
- Calories per serving:
- Without cheese: ~420 kcal
- With cheese: ~480 kcal
📊 Nutritional Info (With Cheese – Approx. per Serving):
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Protein: 23g
- Carbs: 34g
- Fat: 27g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: ~950mg
🌿 Health Benefits:
- High in protein – helps with satiety and muscle recovery
- Mushrooms provide antioxidants and B vitamins
- Balanced one-dish meal with carbs, fat, and protein
- Easily adaptable to lower-calorie or high-protein diets
❓Q&A:
Q: Can I make this ahead of time?
A: Yes! Assemble and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Add 10–15 minutes to baking time if chilled.
Q: Can I use ground turkey or chicken instead of beef?
A: Absolutely—just ensure it’s well-seasoned for flavor.
Q: Can I freeze it?
A: Yes. Bake, cool completely, and freeze in portions. Reheat in the oven or microwave.
Q: Can I make this gluten-free?
A: Yes, use a gluten-free cream of mushroom soup and double-check broth ingredients.