Cheddar-Crusted Ground Beef Rice (Print-Friendly Version)

Hearty beef, rice, and vegetables baked with a crispy cheddar crust—comfort food made simple and satisfying.

# What You'll Need:

→ Base

01 - 450 g ground beef
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil (optional, for lean beef)
03 - 1 small onion, diced
04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced (optional)
05 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
07 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
08 - 0.5 teaspoon salt
09 - 0.25 teaspoon ground black pepper
10 - 200 g uncooked white or brown rice
11 - 480 ml beef broth or chicken broth
12 - 240 ml canned diced tomatoes with juice
13 - 140 g frozen corn or peas (optional)

→ Cheddar Crust Topping

14 - 170 g shredded sharp cheddar cheese
15 - 30 g panko breadcrumbs
16 - 1 tablespoon butter, melted

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat the oven to 190°C and lightly grease a 33 x 23 cm baking dish.
02 - In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef until browned, breaking it up with a spoon. Add olive oil if the beef is very lean.
03 - Add the diced onion, red bell pepper if using, and minced garlic. Sauté for 3–4 minutes until softened and aromatic. Stir in smoked paprika, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper.
04 - Fold the uncooked rice into the beef and vegetable mixture. Pour in the beef broth, diced tomatoes with juice, and frozen corn or peas if using. Mix thoroughly and bring to a light simmer.
05 - Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish, spreading evenly. Cover tightly with foil. Bake for 30–35 minutes until rice is tender and most liquid is absorbed.
06 - While baking, combine shredded cheddar, panko breadcrumbs, and melted butter in a small bowl. Mix until evenly blended.
07 - Remove foil from baking dish. Sprinkle cheddar breadcrumb mixture evenly over the surface. Return to oven, uncovered, and bake for 10–12 minutes until the cheese is melted and breadcrumbs are golden.
08 - Allow the dish to rest for 5 minutes to set before slicing and serving.

# Additional Tips:

01 - Easily substitute ground beef with ground turkey, chicken, or plant-based alternatives.
02 - If using brown rice, extend baking time by 5–10 minutes until fully tender.
03 - Integrate additional vegetables such as spinach, zucchini, or mushrooms for added nutrition.
04 - The Cheddar crust adds textural contrast and rich flavor; mixing in parmesan is encouraged for variation.
05 - Assemble the dish in advance and refrigerate; if baking from cold, add 5 minutes to the baking time.

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