Looking for a hearty, flavor-packed meal to your dinner table? This South of the Border Casserole is your answer!
Made with seasoned ground beef, tender rice, tomatoes, green chilies, and cheddar cheese, this dish is both satisfying and simple to prepare.
It's the perfect Family Dinner Idea for busy weeknights! Pair it with a salad and corn chips for a complete, crow-please dinner.
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Recipe at a Glance
Prep: 10 min | Cook/Bake: 35 min | Difficulty: Easy
What it is: A hearty Tex-Mex style ground beef and rice casserole simmered with tomatoes, green chilies, peppers, and melted cheddar on top for a cozy one-pan dinner.
Why you’ll love it: Family-friendly flavors, simple ingredients you likely have on hand, and an easy stovetop method with minimal cleanup. This recipe makes a generous amount—perfect for feeding a family of six.
Cooking for two? You’ll have plenty of leftovers for easy lunches or heat-and-eat dinners.
How to make it: Brown the beef with onions and peppers, add the broth, tomatoes, chilies, rice, and seasonings, then simmer until tender and finish with melted cheese on top.
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Table of Contents
- Recipe at a Glance
- Tried, Loved, and Rated 5 Stars!
- Main Ingredients Needed
- Substitutions and Variations
- Step-by-Step Instructions
- Helpful Tips for Making This Casserole
- How to Store, Freeze and Reheat
- More Casserole Recipes You'll Love!
- LOVE this recipe? SAVE it for Later!
- 🗒️Shopping List
- 📖 Recipe Card
- Recipe FAQ's
- Food Safety Tips
- 💬 Comments
Tried, Loved, and Rated 5 Stars!
This is a delicious recipe. I love all the spiciness and it's quick & easy prep all in one pan. YUM!
~ Joanne
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Made this tonight for supper. Used ground turkey. Came out delicious! Served with sour cream and salsa. Absolutely fantastic! Thank you for the recipe.
~ Nancy
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Main Ingredients Needed
Below is a quick preview of the ingredients you’ll need. For exact amounts, check the recipe card below. You can also use the "Shopping List button" to create a printable shopping list, or the "Get Ingredients button" in the recipe card to order groceries online.
Substitutions and Variations
- Ground Beef - You can use either ground turkey or chicken. Both are leaner options that still tastes great with taco seasoning.
- Cheddar Cheese - Try substituting the cheddar cheese with Pepper Jack or a Mexican cheese blend. Both will add an extra kick if your family likes heat.
- Rice - You can use either brown rice or cauliflower rice!
- Make It Your Own: Add a can of black beans or corn for extra texture and flavor. Want more heat? Stir in chopped jalapeños or a pinch of cayenne.
This recipe has not been tested with other substitutions or variations. If you replace or add any ingredients, please let us know how it turned out in the comments below!
Step-by-Step Instructions
This section includes step-by-step photos and instructions to guide you through the recipe. For the complete printable version, scroll down to the recipe card below.
Step 1: In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef with salt, pepper, and garlic. Drain any excess grease, then return the skillet to the stove.
Step 2: Add the chopped onion and peppers to the beef. Cook for 3–4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften.
Step 3: Add the uncooked rice. Stir to combine.
Step 4: Stir in the broth. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer for about 20 minutes, or until the rice is fully cooked and tender.
Step 5: Cover and simmer for about 20 minutes, or until the rice is fully cooked and tender.
Step 6: Remove from heat and sprinkle the top with cheese. Cover again and let sit for 5 minutes, allowing the cheese to melt.
Helpful Tips for Making This Casserole
- Use One Pan for Easy Cleanup: This recipe is designed to cook everything in one skillet, making cleanup quick and simple—a big win on busy nights!
- Check the Rice: Make sure to simmer the casserole with the lid on and avoid lifting it too often. This helps the rice cook evenly and absorb all the flavors.
- Try It in the Oven: Prefer to bake it? After combining all ingredients, transfer everything to a greased 9x13-inch casserole dish. Cover with foil and bake at 350°F for 40–45 minutes, or until the rice is tender. Uncover, top with cheese, and return to the oven for 5–10 more minutes to melt.
- Let It Rest Before Serving: After the cheese is melted, let the casserole sit for a few minutes to thicken slightly. It’ll be easier to serve and even more flavorful.
How to Store, Freeze and Reheat
Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Freezer: Let the casserole cool completely, then transfer to a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 2 months.
Thaw and Reheat: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat in the microwave or oven until heated through, adding a splash of broth if needed to keep it moist.
More Casserole Recipes You'll Love!
Looking for more casserole recipes? Try my Cheesy Tortellini Casserole or my Zucchini Corn Casserole.
LOVE this recipe? SAVE it for Later!
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🗒️Shopping List
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📖 Recipe Card
South of the Border Casserole
Video
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 10 ounce can Rotel Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies, do not drain
- 1 ½ cups beef broth or stock
- 1 cup long grain rice
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 ½ cups shredded Cheddar cheese
- chopped fresh parsley for garnish if desired
Method
- In a large skillet, brown ground beef, garlic, salt and pepper over medium heat. Drain and return to the stove at medium heat.
- Stir in the garlic, onion, and peppers. Continue to cook for another 3 to 4 minutes to soften the onions and peppers.
- Add the beef broth, rice, undrained Rotel, and Worcestershire Sauce to the skillet and stir until well combined.
- Bring everything to a boil, reduce heat and cover. Simmer for another 20 minutes or until the rice is tender.
- Remove from the heat and sprinkle generously with the cheese. Cover the skillet and let the mixture rest for 5 minutes or until the cheese melts and gets nice and gooey.
- Garnish with chopped parsley if desired.
Nutrition
Notes
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Recipe FAQ's
To view the answers, simply click on the down arrow (⬇) next to each question. If you have any other questions not answered here, please leave a comment!
For the South of the Border Casserole, you do not need to cook the rice beforehand. The uncooked rice cooks right in the skillet (or in the oven if baking) along with the broth and other ingredients. Just make sure to cover the dish while it simmers so the rice absorbs the liquid properly and cooks through evenly.
Use long-grain white rice and stick to the proper liquid-to-rice ratio to prevent mushiness. Cook just until the rice is tender, then let the casserole rest uncovered for a few minutes to release excess moisture.
This recipe has been updated since it first appeared in 2015 with new photos.
Food Safety Tips
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat.
- Wash hands after touching raw meat.
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods.
- Never leave cooking food unattended.
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds.
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove.
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Emily @ The Benson Street says
I love casseroles! Can't wait to try this one. Thanks for stopping by and linking up at the Monday Funday Party!
Nancy J Rogers says
Made this tonight for supper. Used ground turkey. Came out delicious! Served with sour cream and salsa. Absolutely fantastic! Thank you for the recipe.
Lois says
Thank you so much for coming back to leave a comment, I really appreciate it. I love that you used ground turkey, that’s a great swap and still keeps all the flavor.
Serving it with sour cream and salsa sounds perfect too. So glad you enjoyed it!
Allison Miller says
This looks great! I'd love this cookbook! I have a slight obsession with Mexican recipes lately and this is just making my mouth water! I'd love for you to come link up with us over at Throwback Thursday link party
Joanne DiPalo says
This is a delicious recipe. I love all the spiciness and it's quick & easy prep all in one pan. YUM! Thanks for sharing with Foodie Friends Friday party. Pinning and sharing for all those moms who need a delicious meal on hectic days. They also might enjoy the wonderful Cookbook.