Description
This Taco Casserole is a delicious and easy weeknight dinner that combines seasoned ground beef, beans, corn, and green chilies layered with creamy cheese and tortillas. Topped with fresh veggies and your favorite salsa or guacamole, it’s a comforting and flavorful meal perfect for the whole family.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Mixture
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 (15 ounce) can corn, drained
- 1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chilies
Creamy Layer
- 1 cup sour cream
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
Assembly
- 12 flour tortillas (6-inch size)
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Optional Toppings
- Shredded lettuce
- Diced tomatoes
- Salsa
- Guacamole
- Extra sour cream
Instructions
- Brown the Ground Beef: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks until no large clumps remain, about 7-10 minutes.
- Drain Excess Grease: Carefully drain the excess grease from the skillet using a colander or spoon, being cautious not to lose any meat.
- Cook the Onion: Add the chopped onion to the skillet and cook until softened and translucent, about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
- Add Seasoning and Tomato Sauce: Stir in the taco seasoning packet and tomato sauce, mixing well to evenly distribute the seasoning throughout the meat.
- Simmer Mixture: Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally until the sauce thickens slightly and flavors meld.
- Incorporate Beans, Corn, and Chilies: Stir in the rinsed black beans, drained corn, and chopped green chilies, mixing to combine thoroughly.
- Heat Through: Let the mixture simmer for an additional 2-3 minutes to warm the added ingredients, then remove from heat.
- Prepare Creamy Cheese Layer: In a separate bowl, combine the softened cream cheese and sour cream, mixing until smooth.
- Assemble the Casserole: In a greased baking dish, layer tortillas, meat mixture, creamy cheese blend, and shredded cheddar cheese, repeating layers until ingredients are used, finishing with a cheese layer on top.
- Bake: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and bake the casserole for approximately 25-30 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve: Let the casserole cool for a few minutes before serving. Add optional toppings such as shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, salsa, guacamole, and extra sour cream as desired.
Notes
- Use corn tortillas for a gluten-free option if preferred.
- Adjust the amount of taco seasoning based on your spice tolerance.
- For a lighter version, use reduced-fat cheese and sour cream.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated thoroughly before serving.
- Adding jalapeños can add extra spice and flavor.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking and stovetop cooking
- Cuisine: Mexican-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of casserole
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 770mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 7g
- Protein: 27g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: taco casserole, weeknight dinner, ground beef casserole, easy Mexican recipe, layered casserole, taco night
