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This cheesy baked meatballs and rice casserole is pure comfort food magic with just 10 minutes of prep. Frozen meatballs, rice, and a few pantry staples bake together in one dish for a hearty, budget-friendly dinner that is pretty effortless.
When You Need Dinner To Make Itself…
I love turning a family favorite side dish into a whole meal and that’s exactly what happened with this cheesy baked meatballs and rice situation.
I took our French Onion Soup Rice (already a major fav arond here) and tweaked it just a bit to make it into a full meal. No extra work, no extra prep, no extra effort. Just simple, hearty, cozy comfort food.
Frozen meatballs turn this baked rice recipe into a hearty meal and then we top it all off with a bit of shredded cheese. Makes things a little creamy and decadent.
This one calls for just 10 minutes of prep (literally just toss stuff in a 9×13) and there is no hovering or stirring or stressing. Just cover, bake, enjoy.
♥ What We Love About This Recipe:
- Ridiculously simple – Dump everything in a dish, cover with foil, and let the oven work its magic.
- Budget-friendly comfort – Frozen meatballs and pantry staples mean this won’t break the bank, but it tastes like you fussed.
- Minimal cleanup – One dish from start to finish means less time scrubbing and more time relaxing.
Ingredients, Swaps, & Tips:
White Rice – Stick with long-grain white rice for this one. Minute rice will turn mushy with all that liquid, and brown rice needs a longer cook time that I haven’t tested.
Frozen Meatballs – This is a great way to use frozen meatballs, or you could try adding our baked chicken meatballs.
French Onion Soup – This does all of the seasoning work and adds lots of rich flavor.
Butter – The butter will melt down into the rice as it cooks, giving it a delicious flavor and texture.
Cheese – Mozzarella melts beautifully, but Swiss or Gruyere add a slightly nutty, sophisticated twist if you’re feeling fancy.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Step by Step Instructions:
Add the rice, soup, beef broth, and garlic to a 9×13 dish and give it a quick stir.
Nestle the frozen meatballs into the rice and top with pats of butter. Cover with foil and bake.
Remove the foil after 40 minutes and continue baking for 20 minutes more.
Sprinkle cheese over the mixture during the last 5 minutes of baking and then let the dish set for 5-10 minutes before serving.
More Casserole Favorites
- Spinach Artichoke Chicken Casserole
- Taco Casserole
- Bubble Up Enchilada Casserole
- Chicken Parmesan Meatball Casserole
Cheesy Baked Meatballs and Rice
Ingredients
- 2 cups uncooked long-grain white rice
- 21 ounces canned French onion soup
- 2 ½ cups low sodium beef broth
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 30 frozen meatballs any variety
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella
- Fresh minced parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick spray.
- Add the rice, onion soup, beef broth, and garlic to the dish and stir gently to combine.
- Nestle the meatballs into the rice mixture.
- Slice the butter into thin pieces and scatter it over the top of everything.
- Cover tightly with foil and bake for 40 minutes. Remove the foil and bake 20 minutes more, sprinkling the cheese over the top during the last 5 minutes of cooking.
- Remove from the oven and let sit for 5-10 minutes before sprinkling with parsley and serving.
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