Cheesy Hamburger and Rice Casserole

Cheesy hamburger and rice casserole with sour cream recipe that is easy to throw together. With a Mexican ground beef hotdish flare and tons of flavor even kids will love this. If yo loved our Crockpot hamburger casserole you’ll love this tweak.

Easy Ground Beef and Rice Casserole

I guess these two terms are synonymous for me. We buy beef in bulk from local farmers at the beginning of each year. Half of it I take in this form because we use it so often. I mean tacos are a given but browned gives you so many possibilities folded into your favorite starch, you can even add a can of beans or veggies into this too.

Last year we made a really popular ground beef casserole with potatoes recipe and have been creating ever since then. I don’t share everything I create just because it either needs more tweaking, or I’m just not in the mood to photograph. This time I thought why not, and it came out so good it was worth a share for sure.

Ok so you are going to first want to get your Instant Pot white rice or you can make Ninja Foodi rice while you’re making the other half. If you’re done sauteeing your meat mixture then just turn the burner off and let it sit. Then once it’s fluffy done you can gently fold everything together.

Preheat your oven while you’re at it too so all 3 things can be prepped at the same time. I used a 9×13″ casserole dish for this and it fit just fine. Spray some non stick spray in it first so it’s an easier cleanup later.

Hamburger Rice Casserole Ingredients

1. Pound of hamburger meat, you could use spicy ground sausage too or half and half if you wanted to.
   1. or use leftover ground beef from the day before, if let’s say you made grilled frozen burgers and didn’t eat them all
2. Salsa will add a lot of flavor, medium or spicy is best.
3. Can of diced chiles are great
4. Uncooked white rice that needs to be cooked before adding
   1. I haven’t tested this with brown rice yet
   2. Would not recommend minute rice just because it will break down and become mushier
5. Diced onion
6. Minced garlic
7. Taco seasoning
8. Sour Cream
9. Lots of seasonings of your choice, or use what I suggest below
   1. could add chili powder for a bit of heat
10. Cheddar cheese is a must for us but could be omitted

Can you use brown rice?

Since you are precooking to fluffy first you could. I typically make Jasmine rice in Instant Pot before prepping the rest. Other options for this hamburger rice hotdish are that if you want it creamy you can gently fold in sour cream or room temperature sliced cream cheese before pouring it into your dish to bake.

Can you add vegetables?

If you wanted to add vegetables into the mix you could easily drain a can of sweet corn kernels and fold that into the mix. Do so before you bake in your dish so it can soften a bit more and integrate into the overall dish. Not only will it add taste but a bit of texture too if you don’t want soft on soft.

Do you have to cook ground beef before putting in a casserole?

Yes, it needs to be browned with the onions in a pan until they have slightly softened, then you’re ready to add into your cooked rice. Be gentle from this point on or things will get mushy. If you want to add creaminess you can after everything else is combined.

I do add half of the cheese into the mixture and half of it on top. You are only baking it to melt the top. If you would rather just skip that step completely you totally could. Just follow the same recipe below and skip that step. Serve right out of the pot with some added cheese right on the top. It will melt as it sits.

With us the more cheese the better. Maybe it is the German in me but I haven’t found a meal I don’t like it on top of. Okay maybe fish would be a no, but I could get behind some parmesan even for something like that. I load it on with our Instant Pot taco pasta which is fabulous too.

How to Make Hamburger Rice Casserole Without Soup

• In a large skillet over medium high heat add olive oil unti hot.
• Then add diced onion and ground beef.
• Cook until there is just a little bit of pink left on meat.
• Add all other ingredients EXCEPT the cheese and sour cream.
• Cook for about 2 minutes and stir together.
• Then fold in 1 c of cheese (and sour cream, softened cream cheese or can of cream of mushroom soup if you want it creamy).
  • you can enjoy right out of the pot if you want
• Spray 9×13″ casserole baking dish with non stick spray. Dump casserole mix inside. Smooth so it is even in the pan and the same thickness all the way across the dish.
• Sprinkle remaining cheese on top, I don’t even really measure I just make sure the whole thing is covered well.
• Put into oven at 350 degrees F for 10 – 15 minutes cooking time, just so cheese melts and middle is warmed.

Have an additional 1/2 cup of cheese on the side to add to the top when serving too. I know…we are obsessed with the stuff. This is a super easy dinner idea that takes 20 minutes to 30 from start to finish really. If you don’t bake it it’s even faster.

How to Make Minute Rice Hamburger Casserole

Want to make things easier? Microwave instant rice instead of using your IP or rice cooker. I don’t think it has the right texture myself but some swear by it so use whatever style you prefer. I typically use Jasmine but long grain works too. I haven’t used brown but that would be fine as well.

How to make with noodles instead of rice

Like our slow cooker version you could easily boil elbow macaroni instead of this grain and swap that out which would transform it into a whole new meal. I would cook for the same timing, boiling noodles to al dente, drained, and add in where rice is mentioned.

How to store leftovers

If you have leftovers store them in an airtight container. When reheating add a splash of chicken broth or beef broth on top and microwave for about 1 minute to heat. It will become moist again with the added liquid on top.

What to make with leftovers

If you have leftovers, throw it into our air fryer zucchini boats with more cheese on top and reheat the next day! These add a bunch of veggies on the outside as a holder of sorts. You can fill them with all sorts of things but this makes a great next day meal for sure that warms up quite well in the oven or Foodi.

Pressure cooker instructions

Want to make this even faster?? Try our Instant Pot hamburger casserole recipe right here. The same basic ingredients but using pressure it is more of a throw it all in and go kinda’ meal. You don’t have to nurse it on the stove the whole time and tastes very similar to this one.