Description
Sizzling Mexican casserole brings zesty flavors dancing across your plate in minutes. Hearty layers of seasoned ground beef, melted cheese, and crisp tortilla chips create a quick, satisfying meal perfect for busy weeknights you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 (15-ounces) can Ranch Style beans
- 1 (10-12 ounces) bag tortilla chips
Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 (1-ounce) package taco seasoning
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 (10.5-ounces) can Unsalted Cream of Chicken Soup
- 1 (10-ounces) can Rotel diced tomatoes & green chilies, undrained
- 1/2 cup water
Garnish and Serving:
- Sour cream
- Salsa
Instructions
- Craft a delectable Mexican-inspired casserole that promises robust flavors and speedy preparation in under half an hour.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high flame and thoroughly cook ground meat until no pink remains, carefully eliminating excess grease.
- Introduce black beans, diced tomatoes, chopped onions, zesty taco seasoning, creamy condensed soup, and a splash of water into the skillet, allowing ingredients to meld and warm through.
- Prepare a spacious rectangular baking dish with a light coating of cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Create the first foundation layer using crunchy tortilla chips, distributing them evenly across the dish’s bottom surface.
- Generously spread the seasoned meat and bean mixture over the chip layer, ensuring complete coverage.
- Sprinkle a generous handful of sharp cheddar cheese across the mixture, creating a vibrant layer of potential melty goodness.
- Repeat the layering process with another set of tortilla chips, meat mixture, and remaining cheese for maximum flavor complexity.
- Shield the casserole with aluminum foil and slide into a preheated oven, allowing ingredients to bubble and marry flavors for approximately 25 minutes.
- Remove foil and activate the broiler, watching carefully as cheese transforms into a golden, slightly crisp topping.
- Allow casserole to rest and settle for several minutes before serving, which helps maintain structural integrity.
- Garnish with dollops of cool sour cream and vibrant salsa to enhance the dish’s authentic Mexican character.
Notes
- Use ground turkey or chicken for a leaner protein option that cuts down on fat without sacrificing flavor.
- Swap regular tortilla chips for baked or whole grain varieties to make the dish healthier and add extra nutrients.
- Add diced bell peppers or zucchini to boost vegetable content and create more texture in the casserole.
- For a gluten-free version, ensure you use gluten-free taco seasoning and soup, and check tortilla chip ingredients carefully.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 475
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 789 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg