Description
Cheesy taco casserole brings Mexican-inspired comfort straight to dinner tables with layers of hearty flavors and melted goodness. Savory ground beef, zesty seasonings, and gooey cheese create a crowd-pleasing meal that makes dinner feel like a fiesta.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef (80/20)
- 1 packet taco seasoning
Vegetables and Beans:
- 1 can (14.5 ounces/411 grams) diced tomatoes with green chilies
- 1 can (15 ounces/425 grams) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup corn kernels (fresh, frozen, or canned)
- 1/4 cup sliced black olives (optional)
- 1/4 cup chopped green onions (for garnish)
Dairy and Tortillas:
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 6 small flour tortillas
- 1 cup salsa
- Sour cream (for topping)
- Fresh cilantro (for topping)
Instructions
- Heat oven to 375°F and prepare a 9×13 casserole dish with cooking spray.
- In a skillet, brown ground beef over medium heat, thoroughly draining excess fat.
- Incorporate taco seasoning, diced tomatoes with green chilies, and black beans into the beef, allowing the mixture to simmer and meld flavors for 5 minutes.
- Create a foundational layer of tortillas across the bottom of the prepared casserole dish.
- Distribute the seasoned beef mixture evenly over the tortilla base, ensuring complete coverage.
- Sprinkle corn kernels across the beef layer, followed by a generous spread of salsa.
- Generously cover the salsa with shredded cheddar cheese, creating a rich and flavorful stratum.
- Repeat the layering process, building additional depth and complexity to the casserole.
- Crown the casserole with an extra layer of cheese and scatter black olives for added texture and visual appeal.
- Transfer the assembled casserole to the preheated oven, baking for 20-25 minutes until cheese melts and turns golden and bubbly.
- Once removed from oven, garnish with freshly chopped green onions, a dollop of sour cream, and sprinkle of cilantro before serving.
Notes
- Swap ground beef with turkey or plant-based crumbles for a lighter, healthier version that’s still packed with flavor.
- Reduce sodium by using low-sodium taco seasoning and selecting no-salt-added canned beans and tomatoes.
- Create a gluten-free option by replacing wheat tortillas with corn tortillas or cauliflower rice as a base layer.
- Prep ahead by assembling the casserole up to 24 hours in advance and storing covered in the refrigerator before baking for easy weeknight meals.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 482 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 760 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg