French Onion Ground Beef and Rice Casserole - Three comfort foods all stirred into one delicious casserole dish.
The savory taste of French onion soup, the heartiness of ground beef, and rice to soak up all that goodness! You can't go wrong serving this meal for dinner any night of the week.
Casseroles are filling family meals that can be made ahead and frozen or prepared on the spot. Not to mention, who doesn't love coming home to the smell of a hearty casserole baking in the oven.
With your protein and starch taken care of, add Southern Style Green Beans or collard greens on the side, so you are sure to get those veggies in. Then finish off the savory meal with the sweet taste of Apple Butter Cheesecake Tart or a Candied Cranberry Walnut Oatmeal Cookies for dessert.
Why you’ll love this French Onion Hamburger & Rice Recipe!
- Classic comfort - Casseroles are traditional comfort foods for cold evenings and delicious home-cooked meals.
- It is simple - You won't get bogged down with endless measuring in this straightforward weeknight meal.
- Double it up - This recipe is easy to double for a larger crowd. Did the kids bring home friends?
Okay, let's just get real here. Our lives are so busy these days, we need a simple go-to recipe on hand to make dinner prep a cinch. This is that recipe, y'all.
Recipes made with onion soup pack lots of flavor without a lot of work.
Once you make this onion soup recipe for your family, they will be asking for it on days when they are tired and need the comforts of home. I promise.
And the family will especially be begging for this delicious casserole on cold nights.
I remember when casseroles were all we used to eat as a child. They called it "Depression Era Cooking" because the ingredients included what you had on hand and were not too expensive. Not to mention, the recipes could feed a large number of people. But I think the reason they became so famous in family homes was that they enveloped a feeling of warmth and love in the kitchen.
Well, that is my take anyhow. Tell me what you think!
Ingredients
- Lean Ground Beef - I always have this on hand. It is flavorful and easy on the wallet too.
- Garlic Salt - This is my staple seasoning when cooking my ground beef. You can use want you have on hand or like. Just leave this off if you are watching your sodium intake.
- Beef Consume - There is a lot of flavor packed into this little can. If you can't find it go for beef stock or broth.
- French Onion Soup - Recipes with onion soup are great because they do all the caramlizing of the onions and developing that delicious flavor. Grab these when they are on sale and stock up.
- Water - Just a little bit is needed to give enough liquid for the rice to cook fully.
- Long-grain White Rice - This is a staple I always have around. Rice along with the ground beef are the base of this dish.
- Butter - You know what they say? Butter makes everything better! It gives a creaminess to the dish. You can cut it back to ½ cup (1 stick), if you would like to cut back on calories.
How to make French Onion Ground Beef and Rice Casserole
✱ Be sure to see the recipe card below for exact ingredients and instructions!
Step 1 | Getting Ready
Preheat oven to 425°F. Then spray a 9X13 inch baking dish with cooking spray. Be sure to get in the corners, so the rice does not stick.
Step 2 | Browning the Ground Beef
In a large skillet (I like to use my cast iron here or a nice heavy non-stick pan), add the ground beef and garlic salt to season. Cook and crumble the ground beef until browned and cooked through, and be sure to drain off the fat.
Step 3 | Putting it All Together
In the previously prepared baking dish, add the uncooked rice and ground beef. Then pour in soup, broth, and water and stir until combined.
Step 4 | Top it Off
Now that everything is in the dish add the goodness that will help brown the top and leave the family begging for more. Cut the butter into slices and place on top of the mixture.
Step 5 | Bake in Oven
Cover the baking dish with foil and place it right into the oven. Bake at 425° for 30 minutes.
Step 6 | Uncover the Dish
After the first 30 minutes, you can remove the foil and bake for 30 minutes more. This will brown the top for that crunchy yumminess.
Step 7 | Fluff and Serve
Once the whole hour is up, your rice will be tender and just right. Fluff the dish with a fork and serve.
Yep, it really is that easy to make this yummy casserole for the family. And they will thank you for it, I guarantee!
Tips
- One-Pot Method – Want to cut down on the dishes? Try a cast-iron Dutch oven or large 12-inch cast-iron skillet to brown the ground beef, then add the rest of the ingredients as listed above.
- For a Quick Version – If you want the yummy goodness but just don't have the time for the baking, try this. Pre-cook rice and then continue the recipe. You will cut out about 30 minutes this way.
FAQ
It means to cook the meat until no more pink is visible. I like to take a step further and make sure the meat has a few crispy edges. This gives the ground beef tons of flavor!
Absolutely yes! Brown rice will take a little longer to cook, though.
Sure you can! Just make sure you get a beef consume and French onion soup that is certified gluten-free. The rest is already gluten-free.
Variations and Substitutions:
- Want a lower carb option? Try riced cauliflower! Just reduce the water in the recipe by one-half, as cauliflower releases moisture as it cooks rather than soaking it up.
- You can use ground turkey or chicken in place of beef. I would add a tablespoon or two of olive oil to the pan to sauté.
- Mushrooms are a great addition. Just add a can of mushrooms when mixing everything or sauté fresh ones with your ground beef. I would add 1 cup of water instead of ¾ cup if you do this.
- Make it cheesy! Once done, fluff rice and then add cheese on top (you can use shredded or sliced) and return to oven until melted. Mozarella, provolone, gouda, or chedder would all be delicious.
Storage and Reheating for Hamburger Onion Soup Casserole:
Storage:
Once cooled, cover the hamburger onion soup casserole with foil or plastic wrap or place it in an air-tight container and store in the refrigerator for 3 days.
This ground beef casserole makes delicious leftovers. It reheats well in the microwave; just pop it in for a minute or so.
Freeze:
If freezing, I recommend cooking for the first 30 minutes, removing it from the oven, cooling, and covering tightly.
Then the night before you want to serve, thaw it out in the refrigerator, remove the covering and cook the remaining 30 minutes. You may need to add a little water to finish off the cooking.
Reheat:
To reheat individual servings, place desired amount on a microwave-safe dish and reheat. Start with 1 minute and stir. Then add 30-second intervals until heated to your liking.
Serving Suggestions
Pair this savory casserole dish with a fresh green veggie, corn on the cob, or salad. A dinner roll or cornbread goes perfectly as well. That is what is excellent about comfort dishes; they don't need much else to make an unforgettable meal.
Allow the comfort and goodness of this hamburger and onion soup recipe to warm you - and your tummy!
Easy Casserole Recipes for Busy Weeknight Meals
Hungry for more easy, home-cooked, delicious recipes?
Sign up for my free recipe club to get family-friendly recipes in your inbox each week! Find me sharing daily meal-time inspiration on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
French Onion Ground Beef and Rice Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef, lean
- ½ to 1 teaspoon garlic salt , or to taste
- 2 (10.5 ounce) cans beef consume
- 2 (10.5 ounce) cans french onion soup
- ¾ cup water
- 2 cups long grain white rice, uncooked
- ¾ cup butter, 1 ½ stick, cut into slices
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Spray a 9X13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- In a large skillet, add ground beef and garlic salt to season. Cook and crumble ground beef until browned and cooked through.
- In a prepared baking dish add rice and ground beef. Pour in soup, broth, and water and stir until combined.
- Cut butter into slices and place on top of the mixture.
- Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake 30 minutes more.
- Once done fluff with a fork and serve.
✱ Nikki's Tips
- One-Pot Method – Want to cut down on the dishes? Try a cast iron Dutch oven or large 12 inch cast irion skillet to brown the ground beef, then add the rest of the ingredients as listed above.
- For a Quick Version – If you want the yummy goodness but just don't have the time for the baking, try this. Pre-cook rice and then continue the recipe. You will cut out about 30 minutes this way.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Soulfully Made is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
AJTree says
I've made this dish three times, and I've added a few things.
Thyme
Red wine
Worschistire sauce.
Nikki Lee says
So glad to hear this is a hit! I love your additions!
Stephanie Shelfer says
How much is considered to be a serving?
Nikki Lee says
I haven't measured the servings in cups. I usually can feed about 8 good sized servings, but when I make it again I will update it and measure by the cup.
Jeanne says
OMG this is delicious! It’s just my husband and I home so I halved the recipe and put in a smaller casserole dish. I did however use the entire pound of ground beef. This will definitely be a frequent flyer here! This is really really good!
Nikki Lee says
Thank you so much Jeanne! You made my day!
Cari says
Second time making this. It was delicious the first time, but a little too rich for my taste and way too greasy (and I didn’t even use the full amount of butter). It’s very similar to my mom’s chicken rice pilaf recipe, which doesn’t use any butter, so that’s what I’m changing this time (no butter). I also decided to use beef broth instead of the consume to try to make it less rich. I’ve done it both times in my Dutch oven to make it a one-pot deal, and it’s so nice.
Nikki Lee says
Thank you so much, Cari! So glad you enjoyed this and adapted it to your taste preference.
Sheryl says
This looks yummy and I can’t wait to make it! Question: I have a 4 oz. can of mushrooms which, per your suggestion, I’d like to add. Should I use the whole can? And should I drain the can? And should I add 3/4 cup or 1 cup of water? (I am a little confused by that part of the instructions.) TIA,
Nikki Lee says
Drain the mushrooms and use 1 cup of water instead of 3/4 cup.
Diane says
To increase fiber, I substituted 2 cups instant brown rice for the 2 cups long grain rice and then omitted the water. I baked it as directed and it turned out great! Easy to make and very flavorful!
Alexis says
Making this tonight, do I need to rinse the rice?
Nikki Lee says
No, it's no necessary. I don't. Hope you enjoy it!
Sarah J Cassill says
I didn't have enough rice so I used part rice and part barley, it was delicious!
Nikki Lee says
Awesome, Sarah. I love that you were able to use what you had on hand in your pantry successfully.
Christina says
Can I substitute the beef consume with beef boulion? If so how much would I use or can I use Beef broth? My son has celiac and I can't find gluten free beef consume.
Nikki Lee says
Yes, you can substitute the beef broth of bouillon mixed with water equal to the can ounces.
Jamie says
Could I use jasmine rice?
Nikki Lee says
I have not tested it with jasmine rice, but I think it would work. Will have a slightly sweeter taste. Would love to hear if you try it.
Alicia says
Do you think this would work with wild rice and using the same time or would I need to adjust?
Nikki Lee says
Wild rice usually will need more cook time. I haven't tested it so I can't give an exact time.
Terrsa says
My husband & I are empty nesters lol. I still like cooking casseroles but I don’t need to feed any army anymore. If I were to 1/2 the recipe do you think would I need to cut the cook time as well
Nikki Lee says
No. Cook time should be the same. You could check it at 45 min, but I usually cook the full hour.
Teresa says
Thanks so much. Excited to try
Nikki Lee says
I can't wait to hear what you think!