This hamburger and rice hot dish is the ultimate feel-good meal that will warm you up from the inside out. Creamy, hearty and wonderfully satisfying, no one at the dinner table will care how low the temperature dips.
Hamburger and Rice Hot Dish
If you live in or have spent any time in Minnesota, chances are you’re very familiar with hot dishes. What’s a hot dish, you ask? In its most basic form, a hot dish is a type of casserole that contains meat, vegetables and a creamy sauce—typically canned condensed soup, like cream of mushroom. A classic hot dish is made with ground beef, frozen vegetables, cream of mushroom soup, and topped with tater tots. These midwest casseroles are enjoyed throughout Minnesota, parts of the Dakotas and Wisconsin.
The origin of these creamy casseroles is believed to have begun in rural Minnesota, where farmers’ wives would make the single-dish entrees to serve their families and the families of their local church congregation. The Great Depression and subsequent World War 2 rationing increased the need for resourceful cooking practices, leading to the hot dish becoming a Midwest mainstay.
This easy hamburger rice hot dish is coziness on a plate. It’s the perfect dinner to warm up a chilly night, particularly when you need something to come together quickly and easily. A delicious, hearty, savory casserole with creamy rice and ground beef, this hot dish is perfect as it is or can a be used as an open canvas for creativity. However you choose to make it, this recipe will be one you’ll definitely want to save.
Ingredients for Hamburger Rice Hot Dish
- Ground beef: Lean ground beef, 90% fat or less, contains fewer calories and saturated fat, while still providing a strong beefy flavor.
- Condensed soup: One can of condensed cream of chicken soup is the sauce that binds the dish together and gives it a smooth, velvety texture. If you prefer, you can make homemade cream of chicken soup instead of using the canned stuff.
- Instant rice: This recipe calls for instant rice because it cooks quickly in the mixture. Since it’s already been partially cooked, parboiled rice would also be a good choice in this hot dish.
- Parsley: With its fresh and peppery profile, minced parsley adds a bit of brightness to the hamburger rice hot dish.
Directions
Step 1: Brown the beef
In a large skillet, add the ground beef and cook over medium heat. Using a slotted spoon, crumble the meat and cook until the beef is no longer pink. Drain the meat and add it to a 1-1/2-quart baking dish.
Step 2: Mix the ingredients
Preheat the oven to 325°F. Add the cream of chicken soup, instant rice, minced parsley and 1 cup of water to the baking dish with ground beef. Stir well to incorporate the ingredients.
Step 3: Bake
Cover the baking dish with a lid or aluminum foil and bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the hot dish is bubbly. Remove from the oven and allow to sit for 10 minutes before serving.
Hamburger Rice Hot Dish Variations
- Veg it up: Try adding sautéed mushrooms to the casserole for some umami flavor. A bag of frozen mixed veggies will also jazz things up—and make it more nutritious.
- Try with chicken: Have leftover rotisserie chicken you need to use up? This recipe will adapt seamlessly to subbing in shredded chicken for the beef. Pull apart the chicken, add it to the baking dish with the other ingredients, and bake according to the directions.
- Make it wild: Make the ultimate rice and hamburger hotdish by adding some Minnesota-grown wild rice. The wild rice can be mixed with white rice to balance the intense, toasty, woodsy flavors of the wild rice.
How to Store Hamburger Rice Hot Dish
After the hot dish has cooled completely, store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. To reheat, place the hamburger hot dish in the microwave for one to two minutes or in a 350º oven until heated through.
Can hamburger hot dish be frozen?
Yes, this rice and hamburger hotdish can be frozen, just make sure you freeze the casserole the right way for the best texture. Transfer leftovers to a freezer-safe container and place in the freezer for up to three months. To use, transfer the container to the refrigerator overnight to thaw. Then heat the thawed casserole in a 350º oven until heated through, or warm an individual portion in the microwave.
Quick and Easy Hamburger Rice Hot Dish Tips
Can this hot dish be made gluten-free?
Absolutely. You must read the ingredients on the can of condensed cream of chicken soup to make sure its wheat free. You can always make your own gluten-free cream of chicken soup if you can’t find a suitable gluten-free soup at the store.
Can I add tater tots to this hot dish recipe?
That’s a lot of carbs and starch, but the crispy tater tot topping is what many hot dish disciples dream about. Not to mention, some of the best meals are tater tot recipes. So go ahead, add the tots!
Can I make this hot dish in the summer?
Definitely. Although the hot dish works excellent as cold weather comfort food, the hot dish tastes great at Fourth of July parties. To make it more seasonally inspired, add some chopped spinach and diced tomatoes over the top before serving.
Hamburger and Rice Hot Dish
Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
50 min
Yield
6 servings
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup uncooked instant rice
- Minced fresh parsley
Directions
- In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Spoon into a 1-1/2-qt. baking dish.
- Cover and bake at 325° for 50-60 minutes or until rice is tender.
Nutrition Facts
1 each: 223 calories, 10g fat (4g saturated fat), 41mg cholesterol, 436mg sodium, 17g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 1g fiber), 16g protein.
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What could be simpler than this supper? Not much! I round out this meal with steamed mixed vegetables and whatever fresh fruit is handy.—Jan Franks, Oelwein, Iowa
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