Hamburger rice hotdish is big on flavor and easy to make with simple ingredients you likely already have in your pantry.
This easy casserole is a hearty dinner staple because of its inexpensive ingredients, minimal prep work, and easy cleanup. My hamburger rice casserole recipe is the perfect easy meal for busy weeknights, or anytime you are craving classic Midwestern comfort food.
What is it?
The upper Midwest is famous for its love of casseroles which we lovingly refer to as hotdishes. This traditional Minnesota Hamburger rice hotdish recipe is an easy meal featuring a hearty mixture of ground beef and white rice coated in a flavorful creamy sauce that soaks into every nook and cranny.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Ground beef - Lean ground beef is great to use for this hamburger rice casserole recipe, but fattier hamburger, like 80/20 beef, will carry more flavor throughout the dish.
- Yellow onion - A sweet onion is a great substitute.
- Celery
- Chicken broth - Campbells sells 10.5 ounce cans of broth, otherwise, if you have a larger can, or use homemade broth, measure out 1 ¼ cups. You can substitute beef broth.
- Cream of chicken soup - You can substitute cream of mushroom soup as well.
- Soy sauce
- Worcestershire sauce
- Italian seasoning - Feel free to substitute fresh parsley.
- Long grain white rice - You can substitute instant rice, but it will get mushier. If you substitute brown rice the cooking time may be longer.
- Chow mein noodles - I think fried onions would also be a great topping for this easy hotdish.
- Optional - You can also add your favorite ingredients, such as garlic powder, a sweet bell pepper, or sour cream.
How to make it
To make this hamburger rice hotdish recipe, begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees. Then set a large skillet over medium-high heat on your stovetop.
Crumble your ground beef into the skillet, and add the chopped onion and diced celery. Cook everything until the ground beef is well browned and the onion and celery are tender. Then pour off any excess grease.
Pour in the chicken broth and scrape the bottom of the skillet to loosen any cooked on fond, then add the cream of chicken soup, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, uncooked rice, and Italian seasoning. Stir the ground beef mixture until it is well combined, then pour everything into a 2.5-quart casserole dish.
Cover the casserole dish and place it in the oven for 45 minutes. Then remove the cover and top the hotdish with chow mein noodles and continue to bake for ten minutes longer. Remove the ground beef rice casserole from the oven, let it cool for a couple of minutes, then serve.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
Leftover hamburger and rice hotdish can be stored in your refrigerator for up to one week. The casserole can be placed in an airtight container or simply kept in your casserole dish. Reheat any leftovers in the microwave.
Hamburger Rice Hotdish
Equipment
- Large skillet
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- ½ yellow onion chopped
- 1 rib celery diced
- 10.5 ounces chicken broth
- 1 can cream of chicken soup
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 cup white rice uncooked
- 1 ½ cups chow mein noodles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Set a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the ground beef, onion, and celery. Break apart the meat as it cooks, and continue cooking until the beef is well browned and the vegetables are tender.
- Pour in the can of chicken broth, scraping the bottom of the skillet to loosen any cooked-on browned bits, and allow them to incorporate into the liquid.
- Stir in the cream of chicken soup, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, and white rice. Once well combined, pour the mixture into a casserole dish.
- Cover the casserole dish and place in the oven for 45 minutes. Then uncover, top with chow mein noodles, and cook for an additional 10 minutes.
- Remove the hotdish from the oven, let cool briefly, then serve.
Annmartina
My mom used to make this all the time when I was growing up. I had forgotten all about it.
Karen
Can I omit the rice and just use the chow main noodles?
Carol
I am a Minnesesotan and this has been my favorite casserole for about 60 years. I add diced or sliced warerchestnuts to mine.