1. Sauté Onion, Brown Beef, and Add Garlic:

• Heat 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large skillet (with a lid) over medium heat.
• Add the diced onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes, until it becomes soft and translucent.
• Add the ground beef to the skillet with the onions. Cook, breaking the beef apart with a spoon or spatula, until it is fully browned and no longer pink. Drain off any excess fat from the skillet carefully.
• Add the minced garlic to the beef and onion mixture. Cook for an additional minute, stirring constantly, until the garlic is fragrant.

2. Toast Rice, Add Broth, and Simmer:

• Stir the uncooked long-grain rice into the skillet with the beef mixture. Toast the rice for 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently, until the grains are well coated in the pan drippings and may appear slightly translucent.
• Pour in the beef broth. Add the Italian seasoning, and season with salt and black pepper to your taste. Stir everything well to combine.
• Bring the liquid to a gentle boil. Once it begins to bubble, reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet tightly with a lid, and let it simmer for 18-20 minutes. Avoid lifting the lid during this time.
• After 18-20 minutes, the rice should be tender and most of the liquid should be absorbed.

3. Make the Garlic Butter Cheese Sauce:

• While the rice is simmering (or just after it finishes), prepare the cheese sauce.
• In a small saucepan, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter over low heat. (The original recipe doesn’t mention adding garlic to the cheese sauce butter, but given the recipe name, it’s a great addition. To follow the spirit, add 1 minced garlic clove to the melting butter and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant if desired).
• Pour in the milk and warm it gently with the butter.
• Add the shredded cheddar cheese and grated Parmesan cheese to the warm milk and butter.
• Stir constantly over low heat until the cheeses are completely melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy. Do not let the sauce boil.

4. Combine Cheese Sauce with Skillet:

• Pour the prepared warm cheese sauce into the skillet with the cooked beef and rice mixture.
• Stir everything thoroughly but gently to combine, ensuring the creamy cheese sauce coats all the beef and rice.

5. Final Simmer and Serve:

• Cook the combined mixture, uncovered, for another 2-3 minutes over low heat to allow the flavors to meld together perfectly.
• Remove from heat. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley if desired.
• Serve the Cheesy Garlic Butter Beef and Rice hot, directly from the skillet or portioned into bowls. Enjoy this magical comfort meal!