7 Layer Casserole With Ground Beef and Rice

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 08/2/19
7-layer casserole with ground beef recipe

​The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Prep: 12 mins
Cook: 105 mins
Total: 117 mins
Servings: 4 to 6 servings

This recipe for a 7-layer casserole includes ground beef, rice, corn, tomato sauce, and other vegetables. It's a complete meal in one dish and is wonderful served with crusty rolls or cornbread and a tossed green salad.

The original recipe, from a 1950s Hunt's Tomato Sauce ad, calls for with a second can of tomato sauce; for added texture, you can swap that out for canned diced tomatoes. For some extra zing, try an optional eighth layer of shredded cheese.

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Ingredients

  • 1 cup rice, rinsed and drained

  • 1 cup canned whole kernel corn, drained

  • 1 dash salt

  • 1 dash freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce

  • 1/2 cup water

  • 1/2 cup coarsely chopped onion

  • 1/2 cup coarsely chopped green bell pepper 

  • 1 pound extra-lean ground beef

  • 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes

  • 4 strips bacon, halved lengthwise

  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese or cheddar Jack blend, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for 7-layer casserole with ground beef
    ​The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  2. Put the rice in a 2-quart baking dish.

    Put rice in a baking dish
    ​The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  3. Spoon the corn evenly over the rice layer and sprinkle lightly with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

    Corn in baking dish
    ​The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  4. Combine the 1 can of tomato sauce with 1/2 cup of water and pour over the corn layer.

    Combine tomato sauce and water
    ​The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  5. Sprinkle with the chopped onion and bell pepper.

    Sprinkle with chopped onion and bell pepper
    ​The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  6. Top the onion and pepper layer with the ground beef and sprinkle lightly with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

    Top with ground beef
    ​The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  7. Add the can of diced tomatoes.

    Add can of diced tomatoes to baking dish
    ​The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  8. Top with the strips of bacon.

    Top with strips of bacon
    ​The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  9. Cover tightly with foil and bake at 350 F for 1 hour.

    Cover tightly with foil
    ​The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  10. Uncover and cook 30 minutes longer, until bacon is crisp.

    Uncover and cook
    ​The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  11. If desired, top with shredded cheese, return to the oven and continue baking just until the cheese has melted.

    Top with shredded cheese
    ​The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
343 Calories
8g Fat
39g Carbs
29g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 343
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 8g 10%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Cholesterol 75mg 25%
Sodium 490mg 21%
Total Carbohydrate 39g 14%
Dietary Fiber 3g 10%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 29g
Vitamin C 22mg 110%
Calcium 41mg 3%
Iron 4mg 21%
Potassium 771mg 16%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)