Ground Beef & Rice Casserole (One-Skillet Leftover Revival)
This Ground Beef & Rice Casserole is part of my One-Skillet Leftover Revival series and is an easy way to turn leftover rice into a cozy, oven-baked dinner. It starts on the stovetop with ground beef, mushrooms, and onions, then finishes in the oven with a light layer of cheese, all made in one pan for minimal cleanup.
Servings: 4
Calories: 875kcal
Equipment
- Ovenproof Skillet 12-14 inch oven-safe skillet, at least 2 - 2.5 inches deep
- Box Grater for cheese
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion sliced
- 1 lb (450 g) mushrooms sliced - I used button mushrooms
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 lbs (900 g) ground beef or ground veal, or a mix of both
- ¾ teaspoons salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ cup marinara sauce
- 2 cups cooked rice cold leftover rice works best
- 1.5-2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
- Fresh dill or sliced scallions for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat.1 tablespoon olive oil
- Add onion and cook until softened. Add mushrooms, season lightly with salt and cook until the moisture evaporates and they begin to brown. Give it a taste and add more salt if needed. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.1 small onion, 1 lb (450 g) mushrooms, ¼ teaspoon salt
- In the same skillet, add ground beef. Cook over medium heat, breaking it apart as it cooks. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until no longer pink.2 lbs (900 g) ground beef , ¾ teaspoons salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Stir in marinara sauce, and let it simmer for 1–2 minutes. Taste and adjust with additional salt and pepper as needed.½ cup marinara sauce
- Spread the ground beef mixture evenly in the skillet and remove it from heat.
- Gently scatter cooked rice evenly over the beef mixture, loosening it with a fork. Top with the sautéed mushrooms and onions. Sprinkle shredded cheese evenly over the top.2 cups cooked rice, 1.5-2 cups mozzarella cheese
- Transfer skillet to the oven and bake for 15–20 minutes, or until cheese is melted. For extra color, switch to broil for the final 1–2 minutes, watching closely.
- Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh dill or sliced scallions.Fresh dill or sliced scallions
Notes
- Taste the beef after adding the marinara and adjust salt and seasoning before layering. Rice will mute flavors if the base isn’t well seasoned.
- Leftover, cold, rice straight from the fridge holds its texture better and won’t turn mushy once baked.
- Make sure to brown the mushrooms well. Let the moisture cook off so they add flavor, not water, to the casserole.
- Don’t pack the layers. Simply scatter the rice instead of pressing it down to keep the casserole light.
Nutrition
Calories: 875kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 54g | Fat: 59g | Saturated Fat: 24g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 25g | Trans Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 194mg | Sodium: 1149mg | Potassium: 1151mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 418IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 273mg | Iron: 6mg