Description
Mexican-inspired Taco Casserole brings layers of spicy ground beef, melted cheese, and crisp tortillas together in one comforting dish. Hearty ingredients combine for a crowd-pleasing meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef
Produce and Aromatics:
- 1/4 cup (59 milliliters) chopped cilantro (optional for garnish)
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) olive oil
Canned and Pantry Ingredients:
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 1 can (10 ounces / 284 grams) diced tomatoes with green chilies
- 1 can (15 ounces / 425 grams) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup (240 milliliters / 170 grams) corn kernels
- 1 cup (240 milliliters / 250 grams) salsa
- 8 small flour or corn tortillas, cut into quarters
- 2 cups (480 milliliters / 226 grams) shredded Mexican blend cheese
- 1 cup (240 milliliters / 227 grams) sour cream (optional)
- 1/4 cup (59 milliliters / 40 grams) sliced black olives (optional)
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 350F (175C) to prepare for baking.
- Sizzle olive oil in a skillet over medium heat, then introduce ground beef and crumble while cooking until thoroughly browned. Eliminate excess grease.
- Incorporate taco seasoning, diced tomatoes, black beans, and corn into the meat, stirring and simmering for 3-4 minutes until ingredients meld together.
- Lightly grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish and create the first foundation layer using half of the tortilla pieces, followed by spreading half of the seasoned beef mixture.
- Distribute half the salsa evenly across the beef layer, then sprinkle a generous layer of cheese.
- Construct a second identical layer with remaining tortillas, beef mixture, salsa, and cheese, creating a hearty casserole structure.
- Transfer the assembled casserole to the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until cheese transforms into a molten, golden blanket.
- Extract from oven and allow the casserole to rest for 5 minutes, enabling flavors to settle and texture to stabilize.
- Enhance the dish with optional garnishes like creamy sour cream, fresh cilantro, and briny black olives before serving.
Notes
- Swap ground beef with lean turkey or plant-based crumbles for a healthier protein option that reduces saturated fat and calories.
- Use whole wheat or corn tortillas to increase fiber content and create a gluten-free version of the casserole.
- Layer ingredients carefully to ensure even distribution of flavors and prevent soggy tortilla bottoms by lightly toasting tortilla pieces before assembling.
- Prep ingredients ahead of time and assemble the casserole quickly for a convenient weeknight meal that can be refrigerated and baked later.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 460 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg