Beef Carrot Rice Casserole

This beef carrot rice casserole uses cheap and easy ingredients to create a comforting casserole dish.

Ground beef, onion and celery are cooked in a frying pan. This is layered in a casserole dish with a creamy mixture of mushroom soup, milk and rice. Topped with grated parmesan and baked for a filling meal.

Why We Love This Recipe

• Cheap ingredients like ground beef and cream of mushroom soup are used to create a flavorful meal.
• Everything is cooked in a frying pan, then baked in a casserole dish, it couldn’t be more simple to make!
• Ground beef is inexpensive, but can easily be replaced with ground pork, ground turkey or ground chicken.
• No need to cook the rice in advance, it will cook right in the casserole dish as the recipe is baking!
• This recipe is part of our free MEAL PLAN series. Inside I share 5 delicious printable recipes, a free meal plan, grocery list, and cooking video showing how to make them all. Click here to see the free Meal Plan!
• For more casserole recipes try our tortellini cheese casserole, our shredded barbecue chicken casserole or the beef cabbage roll casserole recipe.

Need more cheap meal inspiration? Try our 109 Cheap Easy Meal Ideas which are simple, perfect for busy nights, and budget-friendly.

Recipe Ingredients

• GROUND BEEF: The recipe uses 1 lb of lean ground beef. A cheaper option would be ground pork, which will also work perfectly.
• VEGETABLES: Chopped onion, a couple of celery stalks, and shredded carrot add simple flavors.
• RICE: Uncooked long-grain white rice is added straight to the recipe. The rice will fluff and cook as the casserole is baked. Although I haven't tried it personally, but short-grain rice or instant rice should also work here.
• CREAM OF MUSHROOM: A can of cream of mushroom soup adds the perfect creamy base to the recipe. It is mixed with milk and water to create enough liquid for the rice to absorb and cook.
• PARMESAN: Grated parmesan is sprinkled on top just before baking. Feel free to swap this with any style of shredded cheese.

How To Make Beef Carrot Rice Casserole

Everything is cooked in a frying pan, then baked in a casserole dish Here’s a quick overview with full instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

1. Cook the ground beef, onion, and celery in a frying pan. Mix with shredded carrots and add to a bowl.
2. Heat the cream of mushroom soup, milk, water and rice in a skillet, until the rice starts to soften.
3. Divide half of the creamy sauce mixture, then the ground beef mixture into the casserole. Sprinkle grated parmesan cheese on top. Cover and bake 20 minutes, then 10 minutes uncovered.

Leftover beef mushroom rice casserole can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave or in the oven.

Recipe Tips

• This recipe is easy to adapt. Swap ground beef for ground pork, ground chicken or ground turkey. Use cream of chicken or cream of broccoli soup instead. Add different veggies like corn, broccoli and peas. Sprinkle the top with shredded cheddar cheese. Basically, you can use this recipe as a guide but create your own unique variation.
• Lightly grease the casserole dish before adding pasta to prevent sticking.
• If you want the recipe really creamy, try using two cans of cream of mushroom soup. 
• Serve with garlic bread, toast or our homemade herb quick bread.

More Ground Beef Recipes

• Ground Beef Sweet Potato Skillet is perfect for busy weeknights.
• Sheet Pan Nachos With Ground Beef are quick and fast. Perfect for game night.
• Beef Cabbage Roll Casserole is cooked in one pot, and similar to cabbage rolls, but easier.
• Beef Rice Taco Bake is an easy dinner dish.
• Meatloaf Muffins are perfect for young kids.