Thursday, January 14, 2016

Creamy Rice Casserole

I had something else planned for today, but it's now 11:30 pm and I"m STILL grading papers, so I'm publishing this recipe that I had ready to go for next week instead. ;)

My mom used to make this rice casserole for us growing up and it's probably my biggest comfort food.  It's creamy and simple and super tasty.



I was making a GIANT batch of this - I package it up in single servings for lunch and Dave enjoys it as well.  To make a single batch you'll need...
- Chopped celery
- Chopped onion
- Fresh mushrooms (to taste)
- Mircowaveable rice 
- One can cream of mushroom soup
- Milk
- 1 pound ground beef


Random tip - I buy meat in bulk at Sam's and freeze the extra in quart size ziploc bags.  I used to just throw about a pound in a bag and toss it in the freezer, but I've started putting the pound in the ziploc and then flattening it all out and stacking them in the freezer.  They thaw much quicker and stack nicely in the freezer.



Chop up some celery and onion (it's really up to you and your taste how much or how little).


Toss the chopped veggies in with your ground beef.  Brown and drain.



After the meat is drained, pour in one can of cream of mushroom soup and then fill that can with milk and pour it in as well.


Once the milk/soup/meat mixture is boiling, throw in one can or so full of rice (I was making a double batch, hence all the rice).


Lower the heat and cook about 5 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is done.  This is the point where I'd usually throw in some chopped fresh mushrooms, but since I can't really hide them all that well in this casserole (as opposed to spaghetti sauce) and I wanted the kids to eat this without having a panic attack I just left them out.


Make sure you stir it often, as the milk can burn on the bottom of the pan.  Season with salt and pepper and serve warm.  Simple.  Easy.  Filling and yum!


So what's your favorite comfort food?  Did your mom or dad make something for you growing up that holds magical comfort powers??? Do tell! :)

53 comments :

  1. Fun fact about the Slaughters-we all love a rice dish! This looks so yummy! And I love that you don't have to cook the rice separately. I'll be trying it soon!!

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    1. Totally fun fact! Let me know what you think if you try it!

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  2. Oh gosh!! This looks so good! I love cozy food like this! Yum!

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  3. The creaminess and the ground beef...yes!

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  4. "eat without having a panic attack" made me lol! This looks so yummy!

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    1. My kids can't be the only ones! When I make dinner I consciously think of how to avoid an argument :)

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  5. This looks so good! My mom used to make "Hamburg sundae" the simplest meal ever and yet I would still request it as the meal she made when I would come home from college. Brown ground beef and then pour a brown gravy packet over it and follow gravy directions. Then make mashed potatoes separately and pour the beef/gravy mixture over the mashed potatoes. Yum!

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  6. This looks so good, definitely pinning for later! I'll have to omit the mushrooms too, *sigh*

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  7. I'm with your kids... Just say No to mushrooms! LOL Comfort food...all things carboy, chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches, well you get the point.

    Question, Can I use minute rice? I have that at home and I want to make this tonight! Thanks for sharing.

    Debbie K from Indiana

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    1. YUM!!! All your favorites have my mouth watering :) And Yes to minute rice!

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  8. my parents made a rice dish too that was a huge comfort food & I still make it all the time for my family! :)

    1lb boneless skinless chicken breast
    2 Lg cans of cream of chicken soup
    1 small can of chicken broth
    white instant rice

    you dice up the chicken and cook it with a little minced garlic and olive oil
    then add the cream of chicken soup
    pour in broth until the "gravy" is the consistency that you like
    add a little garlic powder, onion powder, pepper & curry powder to taste (if you dont like curry you can omit it)

    simmer on low heat for about 20-30 mins until heated through
    serve over white rice

    SO GOOD & SO EASY! :)

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  9. Perfect post for today! I was wondering what to make for dinner tonight and I already have all these ingredients!! My family will love it and reminds me of similar foods I ate growning up. My mom would bake chicken with chopped celery, onions and mushrooms in cream of mushroom soup and serve it over rice. Yum!! Thank you!!

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    1. YAY!!! What did you think??? I think I'm going to try it with chicken soon!

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  10. Rice is one of my comfort foods. Warm, soothing... (Maybe is because of my Chinese heritage). Just this morning I warmed up some leftover rice with cheese on top. Tummy is happy for a while.

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  11. I make this too - just in different steps and in the oven. It's really good with those crunchy Chinese noodles on top!

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  12. So random I just had this dish for the first time last night at my mother in laws house it was SO good!

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  13. Thanks for sharing, my family always loves your recipes!

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    1. It totally is! Let me know what you think if you try it!

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  15. In our house, I'd be the one having the mushroom panic attack! My kids love mushrooms - they eat them whole raw as if they were eating an apple - YUCK! (Of course I just politely decline to their faces)

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    1. Oh, girl! That's gross! hahaha I like mushrooms, but they have to be in something and cut pretty small.

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  16. I make a dish similar to this one, I use sausage instead of ground beef and it turns out great and gives it a good flavor, and with the breakfast sausage it works for a dinner meal and a breakfast meal, whichever you choose.

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    1. Oooh! I hadn't thought about sausage - but that sounds great!

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  17. Okay girl...here is a comfort food game changer! There are no veggies in sight, but it wouldn't be hard to hide some in this creamy goodness!

    http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/creamy-chicken-and-rice

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  18. My grandma makes a dish very similar to yours. Now I make it for my family. It's great alone and in other dishes too. I use it to stuff peppers all the time.

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  19. My mom makes a dish like this but she adds bean sprouts & then puts chow mein noodles on top. Might be something you want to try to switch it up!!! One more day until the weekend!! Enjoy it with your family!!! 💛Denise

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    1. Ooooh!!! I would have never thought about bean sprouts! I'll have to give that a try! Thank you! :)

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  20. This makes me want to rethink my low carb decision...

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  21. I made this with green bell pepper instead of celery.. DELISH!

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  22. Oh my goodness! My mother-in-law makes this dish & it's my absolute favorite!! However, she throws a few chowmein noodles on top of it & bakes it for a few minutes. Try it next time!!

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  23. That is a great idea to store ground beef like that! My favorite comfort food from my mother in law is her macaroni and cheese and from my family would be pancakes and chili (not together!) I linked up your blog as one of my favorites on my blog, I hope that isn't a problem. Thanks!

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    1. Ooooooooohhhh pancakes!!! :) And not a problem at all! I'm totally flattered!

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  24. My favorite way to store ground beef is to brown up a big Sam's package, probably in two batches, then drain on paper towels, cool and put into gallon Ziplocs. Massage the cooked beef around to flatten the package, then toss in freezer. When you need a portion of ground beef, whack the bag on the counter a couple times to loosen, then simply shake out needed amount and return the rest to the freezer. Can season while cooking with salt, pepper, garlic, whatever. Adjust your recipe by adding cooked beef later in the process, rather than starting with raw. I love just getting the pan dirty once, then your meat is ready to go for casseroles, spaghetti sauce, tacos, etc.!

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  25. Is there a code for the Boden 30% off?

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  26. I make a dish similar with chicken. I was reminded of the similarities after making your chicken spaghetti tonight. Yum, thanks for the recipe!
    Cut up rotisserie chicken, cooked instant rice, cheddar cheese, can cream of mushroom soup, chopped cooked broccoli and tiny chopped cooked carrot, cut raw onion, salt and pepper, can of chicken broth but I don't always use all of it. Just mix all together and bake in the oven. So easy and so good. Love your blog!

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  27. Love this recipe! My dad used to make it all the time for us growing up. He called it Hot Dish 🥰 Sometimes he would change it up and use elbow noodles...Soooo Good!!

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  28. My Mom would make this for us growing up, but she called it American Chow Mein. I am personally not a big ground beef fan, but would gobble this up! Thanks for your great recipes.

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  29. I make something similar to this as well! My mom always made it and called it Chinese Glob. Isn't that the worst name?! And I think the only thing "Chinese" about it is the rice. I do add some chow mein noodles on top though for some crunch! It's so good!

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  30. Can you suggest something in place of mushroom soup? I do not like mushrooms at all, so the mushroom soup flavor would taste awful to me. But, the dish sounds so good for fall/winter. Lmk. Thank you.

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