This Cheesy Kale, Mushroom, and Rice Casserole is a great gateway recipe for anyone who wants to try kale! It’s easy, cheesy comfort food for a cold day!
Cheesy Kale, Mushroom, and Rice Casserole
Comfort food is in full throttle in this kitchen! Here’s what happens when I’m too lazy to make risotto, ridiculously bored of macaroni and cheese, and when I’m on a roaring kale and mushroom kick.
Though the kale and mushroom combo are my go-to, you could easily enlist any of your favorite veggies to make this scrumptious side dish. No kale? Spinach would make the perfect swap!
So… how was it?
Delicious! This was one of those random, throw in everything from the fridge as you cook kind of meals… a method of cooking usually yields the best, most random results!
This fridge-cleaning casserole was an instant success and made a delicious and comforting lunch for a cold, dreary day. After weeks of chowing noodles and quinoa like it was my job, it was such a nice change of pace to have some fluffy rice back in my life.
Red pepper flakes have become my ultimate topping for anything cheese-related and I wouldn’t skip them for the world!
The flavorful kale and hearty mushrooms were a fantastic paring with garlic and rice. I’m actually craving it again so I may try my hand at a new variation with a different mix of colorful veggies. Maybe some spinach and buttery squash? Ahhh can’t wait!
Cheesy Kale, Mushroom, and Rice Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 cup cooked rice (1/4 cup dry rice cooked any way you’d like)
- ½ cup ricotta or blended cottage cheese
- a handful of chopped curly kale
- 8 oz sliced button or portabello mushrooms
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tsp butter for sauteing
- grated cheddar and parmesan cheeses (approx. a handful of each)
- salt, pepper, parsley red pepper flakes, and garlic powder, to taste
Instructions
- PREHEAT oven to 350 degrees F.
- Cook rice utilizing your favorite method. This is a great use for leftover rice or you can cook some up fresh to make this easy cheesy casserole!
- While the rice is fluffing away, saute your veggies in a teeny bit of butter.
- Season kale and mushrooms with a teeny bit of salt and pepper, and add garlic towards the end to prevent burning.
- Once both the rice and veggies are done cooking, combine in a baking dish and stir in ricotta or cottage cheeses.
- Sprinkle in a little of your grated Parmesan and stir to incorporate.
- Taste the mixture and re-season if needed.
- At this point i usually add in a sprinkle of parsley and some additional garlic powder, to taste. Top casserole with grated cheddar and parm cheeses and sprinkle liberally with red pepper flakes for an extra kick of flavor.
- BAKE for 20-25 minutes or until golden and bubbly, turning your oven to BROIL towards the end of baking for just a minute or so to give the dish an extra golden layer on top. Just keep an eye on it to prevent burning during this extra step. Worth it!
Notes
Nutrition
If you get a chance to try this Cheesy Kale, Mushroom, and Rice Casserole, let me know!
You can leave me a comment here (LOVE checking those daily!) or tag @PEASandCRAYONS on Instagram so I can happy dance over your creations. I can’t wait to see what you whip up!
we really enjoyed this, thanks!
Amazing. I made it just as you said, and it was delicious! Thank you for this recipe.
Perfection! I’ve done it with grits too and loved it! It’s pretty flexible!
How about quinoa instead of rice??
Just made this and it is just full of flavor not to mention wonderful cheese!! 🙂
Yay!!!! Give the kiddos a high-five from me =) Hope they like it too!
oh my wonderful goodness ~~~ just pulled this out of the oven and took a sneak peak spoon full absolutely delish! the children love the picture with it covered in cheese and can’t wait to try it either. another great recipe from you!
This looks delicious, Jenn! I love casseroles and this one looks super easy. 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Aww yay thanks Suzi! =) Let me know what you think!
Hi, new follower here and thanks for following me on Twitter. I am really going for this dish. In fact I just may make this today. I have brown rice already cooked and have the other ingredients as well. Love it.
haha I was craaaaaaaaaaving it though! =) I’m going to try it next time without the starchy goodness! Thanks Leah!
This definitely did not need rice, it was delicious though.
I love new ways to eat Kale…..this is right up my alley!
YUMMY!!
of course i’m following you silly!
Very fun dish! The recipes and photography on your blog are FABULOUS! I’m so glad I landed here as I was stocking and hopping through blogs!!! I’m your newest follower and would love to have you to come by for a visit and share the “love” back sometime soon!!!
Your new bloggy friend,
Aimee from ItsOverflowing.com
sounds good to me!!! =) I did a squash and tomato sauce casserole for dinner tonight. warm veggies in a dish are all I want lately! lol =)
Cheesy yummy goodness!! This makes me crave a casserole right now!
yayyyyy veganize away! let me know how it turns out lovely! <3
What a fun dish! I have used rice in a casserole-style dish, but don’t often. I may have to give this one a try!
I love cheesy rice! Wait! actually, anything with cheese:) Thanks for the gorgeous recipe!
WHOA!! This looks ah-mazing!!!
this recipe has made me crave vegan cheesy spinach with ketchup! off to the kitchen i go! x
This sounds fabulous! I love making casseroles with rice. One of my childhood favorites was a chicken and rice casserole!
I love these kind dishes. I think all of the cheesy goodness would make up for the lack of meat to my husband. Looks delicious!
yesssss. looks SO tasty and comforting.
this looks so yummy!! I love your pictures. I can’t wait to get a better camera :]
Oh this looks crazy good! It’s not about when you’re too lazy for risotto – it looks like a YUM alternative to risotto! Plus I need more ways to enjoy kale cooked as, raw it’s just too bitter for me… :S
bahahahaha I love you for that! =) I think if cheese didn’t exist the world might be a sad sad place =) though there must ALWAYS bee green nearby it!
This looks super yummy! I haven’t done with rice, but it sounds like a great idea—it must soak up lots of flavor!
Wow! That really does look like comfort food at it’s best!! And I can see green therefore it is obviously healthy despite all that delicious cheese!! ;D
That looks crazy delicious!
Oh my gosh, this is probably one of the most exciting recipes I’ve come across in the blogosphere in a long time. It looks AMAZING.
I’m definitely going to try to make a vegan version this week. I can’t wait! Thanks for sharing another great looking meal! 🙂
Mmmm – this looks delicious! Some cashew cream in the mix instead of cheese for me and I think this would be heaven. 🙂
Rice and cheese is always a winner!
That looks delish! I use kale in a soup I make and I love it!
Yum! Never used rice in a casserole before.. 🙂
Mmmm yes ma’am! I want this in mah belly right meow!
This looks amazing. I would replace the kale with spinach because my kids will eat it. I’m gonna try it!
You had me at Kale and Portabello’s!! I love mushrooms in casserole dishes like this! YUM!!! What a fun and easy idea 🙂
xxoo
The flavors involved in this dish look make my mouth drolly.
This looks great! I love all the flavors involved here, so I’m sure I’d love it!
I’ve been all about kale lately, so this recipe is ringing bells for me … and of course, having a cheese element helps … I do use rice in casseroles … usually with kielbasa and peppers and a soupy sauce or with mince and peppers and tomato sauce … total lazy comfort food…
That looks so delicious!! I’m not generally a mushroom fan (Crazy I know) but I usually like them in things like this!
i love casseroles cuz there are basically no rules! i’m working on a cheesy lentil and rice one!
I love to throw things together into something new. I do it all the time, because I’m too lazy to look something up! This looks wonderful!
This looks delicious! I have some brown rice and kale that really need to get used up—I think I may have to try this. Thanks for the inspiration : )
Looks delish! I’m always looking for new ways to use kale!
That looks lovely! 🙂
My roommate uses rice often in casserole dishes like this. I’m more of a pasta girl- but that could also be because rarely do I keep rice on hand…
Oh man, that looks so cheesy and delicious 🙂 Kale is relatively new to me, but I’ve fallen in love with it and am always looking for new recipes. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Yummo. I make a Mexican-style casserole with brown rice… love the texture it brings, especially when slathered in guacamole. ha. Kale and mushrooms are such a good combo 🙂
Yay! Thanks Cate!
this looks tasty and easy! I am adding it to my recipe folder!
I want.
bahaha so do I! I keep forgetting and make my quinoa fried rice… but we should both try it that way for sure! =) quinoa makes everything fantabulous <3
Oooh this sounds good. I wanna make this with quinoa!