I’m a huge fan of comfort food. Anything that’s warm and savory and tastes like it shouldn’t be very good for me. While this isn’t the healthiest meal on the block, its definitely a crowd (and kid!) pleaser. Healthy Cheeseburger Casserole to the rescue!
If you like cheeseburgers, there is no doubt that you’ll fall in love with this casserole. Its a basic recipe that can get switched around so many ways. Switching up the type of ground meat you use, and the grain you use. I used brown rice, but quinoa, white rice, even whole grain pasta would go well in this. If you’re watching carbs, spaghetti squash would also be a great option. Just make sure its been patted dry with paper towel so it doesn’t make the casserole soupy.
My apologies for the not-so great photo’s. My photography light broke, and I actually made this for dinner one night, so I didn’t have daylight on my side. Yeah. Just blogger problems. 😉 I’ll definitely be making another version of this in the future, probably with quinoa, so hopefully I can add some more appealing pictures, as these don’t do it much justice.
- 1 lb lean ground meat (I used ground moose. Could also use lean beef, bison or turkey)
- 2 cups onion, chopped
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 Tbsp butter
- 1 Tbsp flour (I used gluten-free flour mix)
- 2 cups milk (I used unsweetened almond milk)
- 1 cup light aged cheddar, shredded
- 4 cups brown rice or grain of choice (quinoa, white rice, brown rice, or spaghetti squash for low carb)
- ⅓ cup additional light aged cheddar cheese, shredded
- Optional: salt & pepper, chopped tomatoes
- Cook whatever grain you're using (or squash). I used rice, so I used my rice cooker according to the machine's directions.
- Meanwhile, brown your meat in a large skillet. Add the onions and cook until translucent.
- Add garlic powder and salt and pepper if using.
- Remove the meat from the pan. In the same pan, add your butter, melt it, then whisk in the flour. Over medium heat.
- Allow the flour and butter to cook together for 20 seconds. Then slowly add the milk, whisking the whole time to prevent lumps. Once you have a sauce, add in the 1 cup of shredded cheese and whisk until smooth. If the mixture appears too thick, add some more milk.
- Add the meat back into the pan with the cheese sauce and stir until combined.
- Meanwhile, set your oven to BROIL HIGH.
- Once your grain is cooked, place 4 cups of the cooked grain in a 9x13 oven safe serving dish.
- Then, pour the cheesy meat mixture on top spreading around evenly.
- Sprinkle on the remaining ⅓ cup of cheese.
- Place in the oven and cook until the cheese is melted...about 5-10 minutes.
- Garnish with chopped tomatoes if desired. Serve with green salad or a green vegetable.