Aunt Woofie's Meat-N-Rice Casserole

Recipe originally posted May 27. 2003. This has been well liked by anyone I have made it for. Even picky eaters have liked it. Kids have loved it too. You can use ground beef, ground turkey, ground chicken, Italian sausage or pork sausage. The sour cream and mayonnaise add a little bit of tartness and flavor to it. It is really good served with corn. It is really good the next day as leftovers or made the night before and refrigerated (before baking). It can easily be reheated in a microwave oven. You can also make it without baking it. Just put the cheese over the rice-meat mixture and heat in the skillet until it is hot and bubbly and cheese has melted. Edited July 30, 2009 I am allergic to pepper so I don't add it to my recipes. Use salt and pepper according to personal taste.

• Ready In: 1 hr 20 mins
• Serves: 8-10

Ingredients

• 2  cups water
• 1  cup white rice
• 1 -1 1⁄2 lb ground beef or 1 -1 1⁄2 lb ground turkey or 1 -1 1⁄2 lb ground chicken or 1 -1 1⁄2 lb pork sausage or 1 -1 1⁄2 lb Italian sausage
• 1 (10 3/4ounce) can  cream of mushroom soup
• 1  cup sour cream (optional)
• 1  cup mayonnaise (optional)
•  grated cheddar cheese (mild, medium or sharp, depending on desired amount)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Grease a 9x13-inch cake pan or large covered baking dish.
3. Set aside.
4. Bring water to a boil.
5. Stir in the rice and bring it to a boil.
6. Lower heat.
7. Boil rice for 15 minutes or until it is done, and set aside.
8. In a large skillet, brown the meat you are using.
9. If you are using ground turkey, you may need to add a little bit of water to get it to cook easily and to make it less dry no need to drain if using ground turkey.
10. If there is any grease drain it.
11. Add the soup, sour cream and mayonnaise to the meat.
12. Stir together and heat until it is bubbly.
13. Stir in the rice and mix thoroughly.
14. If mixture is too thick add a little bit of water or milk to desired consistency (about 1/4-1/2 cup).
15. Pour mixture into the greased pan or baking dish.
16. Cover with cheddar cheese.
17. If using a cake pan, cover with foil.
18. If using a covered baking dish cover it with the lid.
19. Bake in oven for 45-60 minutes or until hot and bubbly and cheese is melted.
20. Remove from oven and let stand for about 5 minutes before serving.
21. Serve with salad and/or vegetables.