🧅 One-Pan French Onion Ground Beef & Rice Casserole

Servings: 6
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 45 minutes
Total time: 55 minutes

🛒 Ingredients

• 1½ lbs (680 g) ground beef
• 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice
• 1 can (10.5 oz / 298 g) condensed cream of mushroom soup
• 1 packet (about 1 oz / 28 g) dry French onion soup mix
• 2 cups beef broth
• ½ cup sour cream
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup shredded Swiss or Gruyère cheese
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Brown the beef

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).

Heat a large oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook for 5–7 minutes, breaking it apart as it browns.

Drain excess grease if necessary.

2. Cook the onions

Add the butter and olive oil to the skillet.

Stir in the diced onion and cook for 5–7 minutes, until softened and lightly golden.

Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.

3. Build the casserole

Stir in the uncooked rice.

Add the cream of mushroom soup, French onion soup mix, beef broth, sour cream, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, black pepper, and salt.

Stir thoroughly so everything is evenly combined.

4. Bake

Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then remove from the stovetop.

Cover the skillet tightly with a lid or aluminum foil.

Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 30–35 minutes, or until the rice is tender and has absorbed most of the liquid.

5. Add the cheese

Remove the cover and sprinkle the mozzarella and Swiss or Gruyère evenly over the top.

Return to the oven uncovered and bake for another 8–10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

For a golden, browned top, broil for 1–2 minutes, watching carefully.

6. Rest and serve

Remove from the oven and let the casserole rest for 5–10 minutes.

Garnish with fresh parsley and serve warm.

⭐ Tips for the Best Casserole

• Use long-grain white rice for the most reliable texture.
• Don’t rinse the rice if you want a slightly creamier casserole.
• For extra French-onion flavor, top the finished casserole with crispy fried onions.
• Gruyère gives the dish a more authentic French-onion flavor, while mozzarella makes it extra stretchy.
• If using a very lean ground beef, add an extra tablespoon of butter when sautéing the onions.

🧅 Optional Crispy Onion Topping

After adding the cheese, sprinkle ½–1 cup crispy fried onions over the top. Bake uncovered for 5–8 minutes until golden and crunchy.