Cheesy Ground Beef Casserole: My Family's Go-To!

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
2. Brown ground beef in a large pot over medium-high heat. Season with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Drain any excess grease. Set aside, covered with foil to keep warm.
3. In the same pot, melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Sauté diced onions until softened. Add minced garlic and cook briefly until fragrant.
4. Pour in beef broth and bring to a boil. Stir in uncooked rice, reduce heat to a simmer, cover tightly, and cook for specified time (follow rice package instructions, roughly 10 minutes, then add mushrooms). Add mushrooms, cover again, and cook until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
5. Once the rice is cooked, remove from heat and let it rest, covered, for 10 minutes. This allows the rice to fully absorb any remaining liquid and become perfectly fluffy.
6. Stir in the cooked ground beef, cream of mushroom soup, milk, sour cream, and half of the cheddar cheese into the rice mixture until well combined.
7. Transfer the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese evenly over the top.
8. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden brown.
9. Let cool slightly before serving. Garnish with fresh herbs, if desired.