Description
Mexican taco casserole delivers a hearty feast with layers of zesty flavors and comforting textures. Cheese, ground beef, and tortillas create a satisfying meal you’ll savor with each delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) ground beef (or ground turkey)
- 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend (cheddar, Monterey Jack, or pepper jack)
- 1 can (15 oz/425 g) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 8 small corn tortillas (or 4 large flour tortillas, cut in halves)
- 1 can (10 oz/284 g) diced tomatoes with green chilies (Rotel)
- 1 packet (or 2 tbsps) taco seasoning
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup frozen or canned corn (drained)
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup sour cream (optional, for layering)
- Diced tomatoes
- Chopped cilantro
- Sliced jalapenos
- Sliced avocado
- Sour cream
- Salsa
Instructions
- Preheat: Warm the oven to 375°F, preparing a perfect baking environment for the taco casserole.
- Sauté: In a large skillet, brown ground beef and onions, breaking the meat into fine crumbles while releasing rich flavors.
- Season: Drain excess fat, then introduce taco seasoning and a splash of water, creating a robust and aromatic meat sauce.
- Combine: Fold in black beans, diced tomatoes, and corn, ensuring an even distribution of ingredients throughout the mixture.
- Layer: Transfer the seasoned meat mixture into a baking dish, creating an even base, then top with a crisp layer of crushed tortilla chips for added texture.
- Cheese Finale: Liberally cover the casserole with shredded cheese, ensuring complete and even coverage for maximum melting potential.
- Bake: Slide the prepared casserole into the preheated oven, cooking until the cheese turns golden and bubbly, typically 20-25 minutes.
- Garnish: Remove from the oven and let rest briefly, then embellish with fresh cilantro, green onions, and a dollop of sour cream to elevate the dish’s flavor and presentation.
Notes
- Manage Meat Moisture: Drain ground beef thoroughly to prevent a watery casserole and ensure a rich, concentrated flavor base that holds together perfectly.
- Customize Spice Levels: Adjust taco seasoning intensity by adding more or less according to personal heat preference, allowing flexible flavor control for different palates.
- Enhance Texture Variation: Layer tortilla chips strategically to maintain crunchiness; place some chips on bottom and some on top to create multiple textural experiences throughout the dish.
- Dietary Adaptation Options: Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for lighter protein alternatives, making the casserole suitable for health-conscious or vegetarian diners without compromising traditional taco flavors.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg