easy creamy beef and rice casserole

Easy Creamy Beef and Rice Casserole

Category: Recipes
Tags: Beef, Crockpot, Budget-Friendly, One-Pot Meal
Cook Time: 4–5 hours on LOW
Servings: 6 cups


🛒 Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • ½ cup uncooked white rice
  • 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of mushroom soup
  • 1½ cups frozen mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, corn blend)
  • 1¼ cups beef broth or water
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • ½ tsp paprika (or chili powder for extra warmth)
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • ½ cup shredded cheese (optional topping)

🔪 Instructions

Step 1 — Brown the beef
In a skillet, cook 1 lb ground beef over medium heat for 5–6 minutes, breaking it apart as it browns. Drain excess fat, then transfer the beef to your crockpot.

Step 2 — Add the base
Add ½ cup uncooked white rice, 1 can (15 oz) black beans, and 1½ cups frozen mixed vegetables to the crockpot. Stir lightly to mix with the beef.

Step 3 — Add the creamy binder
Spoon in 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of mushroom soup and pour in 1¼ cups beef broth. Stir until everything is well coated.

Step 4 — Season
Add 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, ½ tsp paprika, ½ tsp salt, and ¼ tsp black pepper. Stir again to evenly distribute flavors.

Step 5 — Cook
Cover and cook on LOW for 4–5 hours, stirring once around the 3-hour mark if possible. The rice should be tender and the mixture creamy.

Step 6 — Optional finish
Top with ½ cup shredded cheese in the final 10 minutes of cooking and cover again to melt.

Step 7 — Serve
Spoon about 1 cup per serving into bowls and enjoy on its own or with a side salad.


🍽️ Nutrition (approximate per 1 cup serving)

(Calculated from USDA averages for the listed ingredients)

NutrientAmount
Calories355 kcal
Protein26 g
Carbohydrates30 g
Dietary Fiber6 g
Total Fat14 g
Saturated Fat6 g
Cholesterol70 mg
Sodium610 mg
Sugars3 g
Potassium530 mg

*Values are estimates per 1 cup (≈250 g) serving. Using Greek yogurt instead of cream of mushroom reduces fat by ~3 g and sodium by ~100 mg per cup.*


💬 Notes

  • If it thickens too much near the end, stir in ¼ cup broth.
  • Swap paprika for chili powder if you prefer a Tex-Mex flavor.
  • Great for leftovers — thickens slightly in the fridge and reheats well.