Description
Mexican-inspired Taco Casserole delights dinner tables with layers of tortillas, seasoned ground beef, and melted cheese. Hearty ingredients blend seamlessly, creating a comforting meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
- 1 lb (454 g) ground beef or ground turkey
- 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend
- 8 small flour or corn tortillas
- 1 cup salsa
- 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 1 (10 oz) can Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies
- 1 small onion, diced
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 packet taco seasoning or 2 tbsps homemade taco seasoning
- ¼ cup chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Oven Preparation: Ignite the oven to 375F (190C), creating an ideal thermal environment for baking.
- Meat Foundation: In a large skillet, sauté ground beef and onions until the meat caramelizes and develops a rich, golden-brown complexion.
- Flavor Infusion: Incorporate taco seasoning, Rotel tomatoes, black beans, and corn into the meat mixture, allowing the ingredients to harmonize and intensify flavors for approximately five minutes.
- Base Construction: Spread a generous layer of salsa across the bottom of a rectangular baking dish, establishing a moisture-rich foundation.
- Layering Technique: Construct alternating strata of tortillas, seasoned meat mixture, sour cream, and shredded cheese, ensuring each layer is evenly distributed and fully covers the previous component.
- Final Composition: Top the casserole with a final tortilla layer, lavishing it with salsa and a complete cheese blanket.
- Baking Protocol: Cover the dish with aluminum foil, bake until heated through, then remove the foil to allow the cheese to transform into a golden, bubbling masterpiece.
- Culinary Presentation: After a brief resting period, garnish with fresh cilantro and optional accompaniments like guacamole, additional salsa, or spicy jalapeños.
Notes
Optimize Meat Browning: Ensure ground beef is cooked at high heat with minimal stirring to achieve a perfect caramelized exterior, creating deeper flavor profiles and preventing soggy texture.
Tortilla Layer Strategy: Use slightly stale or corn tortillas for better structural integrity, preventing sogginess and maintaining a crisp base that holds the casserole’s rich filling together.
Cheese Melting Technique: Shred cheese directly from a block for superior melting quality, avoiding pre-shredded varieties which contain anti-caking agents that can impact texture and smooth melting.
Dietary Adaptation Hacks: Substitute ground beef with plant-based alternatives like lentils or black beans for vegetarian versions, use low-fat cheese for lighter options, and select gluten-free tortillas to accommodate various dietary restrictions.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 470
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg