Chow Mein Beefy Rice Casserole

This Asian inspired casserole is a hearty one-dish meal. Ground beef, mixed vegetables, water chestnuts, rice and more are seasoned and then mixed together with soy sauce and cream of celery soup, before being topped with crunchy chow mein noodles. Every bite is flavorful and satisfying in Chow Mein Beefy Rice Casserole--a comforting family meal!

Why We Love It

I can't get enough of tasty casseroles these days. They make dinnertime so easy. When a protein, starch and vegetable can all be wrapped into one dish, I've checked off all the boxes for a wholesome dinner. And let's not forget how easy it is to hide extra nutrients and flavors inside of a hearty casserole!

I must admit though: this Chow Mein Beefy Rice Casserole was a little daring for me to make. I grew up eating Chinese food occasionally, but my husband did not. Both he and my children never had soy sauce, water chestnuts or chow mein noodles before.

Believe me, I know there are many more ingredients and wonderful Asian flavors out there to try. But when introducing new foods, I have to take things slow.

Chow Mein Beefy Rice Casserole was an instant hit here. And you know what everyone liked about it the best? All the new things they'd never had before (credit: casserole magic)! They liked the crunchy topping from the chow mein noodles, and the creaminess in the casserole from the celery soup when mixed with the ground beef, vegetables and crisp water chestnuts. This meal was gobbled up quickly and I have to say there was even a little arguing over who was getting the last bite.

I don't know about you, but I'll take that kind of contention at the dinner table any day.

Why You'll Love It

Are you in the same boat where it's sometimes hard to introduce new foods? That's where delicious and easy casseroles like this one come in handy. Perhaps your family has had some (or all) of the ingredients in this ground beef chow mein casserole before, but maybe not everyone's a fan of eating vegetables. Or rice. Or beef. But maybe--just maybe--if you toss in a can of condensed soup and put something crunchy and fun on top, they'll be intrigued.

That was definitely the winning factor here. I really like the extra wide chow mein noodles in this recipe for that very reason.

You will have to brown the meat and cook the rice ahead of time. But after you mix all the ingredients together and place them in your casserole dish, the meal is only in the oven for 35 minutes! Feel free to also add other vegetables of your choice. I sometimes add in mushrooms and broccoli. I think cashews would also make a delicious addition!

As an added bonus, you can assemble Chow Mein Beefy Rice Casserole (minus the chow mein noodles) several hours ahead of baking it, which can be a huge timesaver on a busy weeknight!

For other tasty ground beef casseroles, check out Three Layer Cheesy Taco Bake and Cowboy Casserole!

Chicken Veggie Rice Casserole is another family-friendly meal.

Ingredients for Chow Mein Beefy Rice Casserole

• 1 pound ground beef- 85% or above recommended
• 1/2 cup chopped onions- adds flavor (not pictured)
• 2 cups cooked rice- I use white long grain rice, but any version will work here--just be sure to cook it before adding
• 1 cup chopped celery- gives a little extra flavor and texture
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder- can substitute 1 clove of garlic, minced
• 1 can cream of celery soup- I like to use Campbell's 98% fat free; as a variation, you could also use cream of mushroom soup
• 10 ounce package frozen mixed vegetables, thawed- I like the color variety of standard mixed veggies for this
• 8 ounce can sliced water chestnuts, drained- provide a nice crunch
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce- adds a sweetness to the sauce
• 2 teaspoons salt- enhances flavors
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper- provides flavor to the sauce
• 3 ounces extra wide chow mein noodles- provides a wonderful crunch on top and is added during the last 5 minutes of baking

How to make Chow Mein Beefy Rice Casserole

You'll want to gather the following equipment:

• chef's knife
• cutting board
• measuring cups
• measuring spoons
• medium saucepan with lid (for rice)
• large saucepan with lid (for beef)
• meat chopper (optional, but handy)
• large mixing bowl
• mixing/stirring spoon
• 13x9 glass baking dish (lightly greased) or 3 quart casserole dish

Getting Started

Before you begin;

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Chop onions and celery
• Thaw frozen vegetables (expedite by placing in cold water)
• Cook rice in medium saucepan

Now let's get down to making this delicious ground beef casserole!

In a large saucepan, cook ground beef with onions and garlic powder over medium heat until beef is browned; drain excess grease. Then transfer to a large mixing bowl.

Add the celery, soup, thawed vegetables and water chestnuts; mix.

Next, add the soy sauce, salt, pepper and cooked rice; stir to combine.

Transfer to a greased 13x9 glass baking dish or a 3 quart casserole.

Cover and bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 30 minutes.

Remove cover and top with chow mein noodles.

Bake uncovered for an additional 5 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes and enjoy!

Storing Chow Mein Beefy Rice Casserole

Remove chow mein noodles on top before storing any leftovers (they will get soggy).

Store in an airtight container and refrigerate. Enjoy within five days.

Once cooled, you may also freeze leftovers in freezer-safe packaging for up to 3 months.

Reheating instructions:

• Place in a covered casserole dish. Bake in 325° oven for 20-25 minutes or until heated through.
• If cooking frozen leftovers, thaw overnight in fridge and then follow the above.