Description
Spicy Mexican Taco Casserole brings layers of zesty flavor to comfort food paradise. Melted cheese, seasoned ground beef, and crispy tortilla chips create a mouthwatering meal that will satisfy all dinner cravings.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins and Meats:
- 1 pound (1 lb) ground beef (or ground turkey)
Vegetables and Beans:
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (10 ounces) diced tomatoes with green chilies (Rotel)
- 1 cup frozen or canned corn (drained)
- Diced tomatoes
- Chopped cilantro
- Sliced jalapenos
- Sliced avocado
Seasoning, Dairy, and Additional Ingredients:
- 1 packet (or 2 tablespoons) taco seasoning
- ½ cup water
- 8 small corn tortillas (or 4 large flour tortillas, cut in halves)
- 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend (cheddar, Monterey Jack, or pepper jack)
- ½ cup sour cream (optional, for layering)
- Sour cream
- Salsa
Instructions
- Warm the oven to a toasty 375°F, creating an ideal environment for baking the hearty casserole.
- Sizzle ground beef and diced onions in a spacious skillet, browning the meat thoroughly while breaking it into crumbly pieces.
- Eliminate excess fat by carefully draining the meat mixture, ensuring a leaner base for the dish.
- Infuse the beef with aromatic garlic and zesty taco seasoning, introducing a splash of water to help blend the flavors and create a rich, savory sauce.
- Incorporate black beans, vibrant diced tomatoes, and sweet corn into the meat mixture, stirring gently to distribute ingredients evenly.
- Transfer the robust beef blend into a prepared baking dish, spreading it uniformly across the bottom to create a solid foundation for the casserole.
- Layer crisp tortilla chips or crushed tortillas over the meat mixture, creating a crunchy textural base.
- Sprinkle a generous blanket of shredded cheese across the top, ensuring complete coverage for maximum melty goodness.
- Slide the assembled casserole into the preheated oven, allowing it to bake until the cheese transforms into a golden, bubbling masterpiece.
- Once finished, retrieve the casserole and let it rest momentarily, allowing flavors to settle and cheese to slightly firm.
- Garnish with fresh cilantro, diced green onions, or a dollop of cool sour cream before serving to enhance the dish’s visual appeal and flavor profile.
Notes
- Swap ground beef with lean turkey or plant-based crumbles for a healthier protein option that reduces saturated fat content.
- Layer ingredients strategically to ensure even heat distribution and prevent soggy bottom layers during baking.
- Make this dish gluten-free by using corn tortillas instead of flour and checking taco seasoning labels for wheat-based additives.
- Prep ingredients ahead of time and refrigerate assembled casserole up to 24 hours before baking to enhance flavor melding and reduce day-of cooking stress.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg