🍲 Creamy Beef & Mushroom Rice Bake
🧾 Ingredients
Main
- 1 lb (450g) ground beef
- 1 cup uncooked rice (long grain or basmati)
- 2 cups beef broth
Veggies
- 1 1/2 cups mushrooms (sliced)
- 1 small onion (chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
Creamy Base
- 1 cup milk or cream
- 1/2 cup sour cream (or yogurt)
- 1/2 cup shredded cheese (cheddar or mozzarella)
Seasoning
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
👨🍳 Instructions
1. Preheat
- Oven to 375°F (190°C)
2. Cook the Beef
- In a pan:
- Brown ground beef
- Add onion + garlic → cook until soft
- Add mushrooms → cook until they release moisture
👉 Season with salt, pepper, paprika, thyme
3. Mix Everything
- In a large bowl or baking dish:
- Uncooked rice
- Beef mixture
- Broth
- Milk/cream
- Sour cream
👉 Mix well so rice is evenly distributed
4. Bake
- Pour into greased baking dish
- Cover with foil
- Bake 35–40 minutes
5. Add Cheese & Finish
- Remove foil
- Sprinkle cheese on top
- Bake uncovered 10–15 more minutes until golden
🥇 Pro Tips
- Use warm broth for more even cooking
- Slice mushrooms evenly so they cook properly
- Let it rest 5–10 minutes after baking (thickens nicely)
🍽️ Optional Add-ins
- Peas or spinach
- Carrots (finely diced)
- Chili flakes for spice 🌶️
❓ Q&A
Q: Can I use cooked rice?
Yes:
- Reduce broth to 1 cup
- Bake only 20–25 minutes
Q: Why is my rice undercooked?
- Not enough liquid
- Oven temp too low
- Dish not covered tightly
👉 Add a splash of broth and bake longer
Q: Can I make it ahead?
Yes—assemble and refrigerate up to 24 hours before baking
Q: Can I freeze it?
Yes:
- Freeze before or after baking
- Reheat covered to prevent drying out
Q: Can I make it lighter?
- Use ground turkey
- Use low-fat milk/yogurt
- Reduce cheese
Q: Can I cook this in air fryer?
Not ideal for large portions, but small batches can work at 180°C (~350°F)