Baked Meatball and Rice Casserole
A hearty and comforting casserole made with juicy baked meatballs, tender rice, savory sauce, and melted cheese — perfect for an easy family dinner.
- Author: Mariem
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Halal
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Fresh parsley for garnish
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a large bowl, mix together ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, egg, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper until well combined.
- Form mixture into small meatballs, about 1 inch in diameter.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and brown the meatballs on all sides (they do not need to be fully cooked through).
- Spread uncooked rice evenly in the bottom of a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Arrange browned meatballs on top of the rice.
- In a mixing bowl, combine beef broth and tomato sauce; pour evenly over the meatballs and rice.
- Cover the dish tightly with foil and bake for 45–50 minutes, or until rice is tender and meatballs are cooked through.
- Remove foil, sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the top, and bake uncovered for an additional 5–10 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
- You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version.
- For extra flavor, add sautéed onions and bell peppers to the rice layer.
- Leftovers reheat well in the microwave or oven.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of casserole
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 820mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 23g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: meatball casserole, baked meatball rice, beef casserole, one pan dinner, comfort food