Description
Comfort meets Mexican-inspired flavors in this hearty Taco Casserole that brings zesty layers of ground beef, crisp tortillas, and melted cheese to your dinner table. Hearty portions and bold spices make this dish a crowd-pleasing meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb (454 g) lean ground beef
- 6 large tortillas
- 3 cups (270 g) shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 cups jarred tomato salsa
- 1 can (590 ml or 19 oz) black beans, rinsed well
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1/2 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Seasonings:
- 3 teaspoons taco seasoning
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (omit if using salted taco seasoning)
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 375F (190C) and thoroughly coat a 9×13 inch baking vessel with cooking spray.
- Sauté ground beef alongside diced bell peppers, chopped onions, taco seasoning, crumbled oregano, minced garlic, and a pinch of salt in a spacious skillet over medium flame until meat turns rich brown and vegetables become tender.
- Incorporate salsa and black beans into the meat mixture, allowing flavors to meld while simmering for approximately 5 minutes.
- Create the first foundational layer by arranging tortillas across the baking dish’s base, slightly overlapping to ensure complete coverage.
- Generously distribute half the seasoned meat mixture over the tortilla base, then sprinkle a robust layer of shredded cheese.
- Repeat the layering process with remaining tortillas, meat mixture, and cheese, constructing a symmetrical casserole stack.
- Shield the dish with aluminum foil and slide into the preheated oven, baking for 25 minutes to develop deep, harmonious flavors.
- Remove foil and continue baking for an additional 10 minutes, allowing cheese to transform into a golden, effervescent blanket.
- Extract from oven and permit the casserole to rest for 5 minutes, enabling ingredients to settle and flavors to intensify before serving.
Notes
- Make tortillas crispy by lightly toasting them in a dry skillet before layering in the casserole for added texture and depth of flavor.
- Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a leaner or vegetarian version that doesn’t compromise on taste.
- Customize heat levels by choosing mild, medium, or spicy salsa, and adjust taco seasoning intensity to suit personal preference.
- Enhance nutritional value by adding diced zucchini or spinach to the meat mixture for extra vegetables without altering the core recipe.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 590
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg