Mexican Casserole Recipe
Looking for a delicious, easy-to-make dinner that will impress your family and friends? This **Mexican Casserole Recipe** is the perfect combination of savory flavors, creamy textures, and crunchy tortilla chips. Whether you're hosting a casual gathering or whipping up a weeknight meal, this casserole will quickly become one of your go-to recipes. It’s layered with seasoned ground beef, beans, tomatoes, and cheese, giving you all the flavors you love in Mexican cuisine in one simple dish.
Yield: 4
Equipment
- - **Large skillet**: For browning the ground beef and combining ingredients.
- - **9x13 casserole dish**: To layer and bake the casserole.
- - **Aluminum foil**: To cover the casserole and help it cook evenly.
Materials
- - **1 pound lean ground beef**: Provides a hearty and savory foundation for the casserole.
- - **1 can Ranch Style beans**: These beans are packed with flavor and add a creamy texture to the dish.
- - **1 10-12 ounce bag tortilla chips crushed**: You’ll use these to create the crunchy layers in your casserole.
- - **1 can Ro-tel tomatoes**: Adds a spicy and tangy flavor with green chilies mixed into the tomatoes.
- - **1 small onion chopped**: For added depth and flavor in the meat mixture.
- - **2 cups shredded cheddar cheese divided**: This will create those delicious, gooey layers of cheese.
- - **1 package taco seasoning**: Adds bold Mexican spices like cumin chili powder, and garlic.
- - **1 can cream of chicken soup**: This is the secret ingredient for a creamy rich base in the casserole.
- - **1/2 cup water**: Helps combine all the ingredients and keep everything moist during cooking.
- - **Sour cream and salsa**: Perfect for serving on top to add freshness and extra flavor.
Instructions
Step 1: Preheat the Oven
- Start by preheating your oven to **325°F (165°C)**. This moderate heat will ensure that your casserole bakes evenly and comes out perfectly bubbly.
Step 2: Brown the Ground Beef
- In a large skillet, cook **1 pound of lean ground beef** over medium heat until browned. Make sure to break up the meat as it cooks so that it’s evenly crumbled. Once the meat is cooked, drain off any excess fat to prevent the casserole from becoming greasy.
Step 3: Add Beans, Tomatoes, Onion, and Seasoning
- To the browned beef, stir in **1 can of Ranch Style beans**, **1 can of Ro-tel tomatoes**, and **1 small chopped onion**. Mix in **1 package of taco seasoning**, **1 can of cream of chicken soup**, and **1/2 cup of water**. Simmer the mixture over medium-low heat for about 5-10 minutes, until everything is well combined and heated through.
Step 4: Prepare the Casserole Dish
- Grease a **9x13-inch casserole dish** with a bit of oil or cooking spray to prevent sticking. Then, place a layer of crushed tortilla chips (about half of your **10-12 ounce bag**) on the bottom of the dish.
Step 5: Layer the Casserole
- Now it’s time to build your layers. Spread half of the beef and bean mixture over the crushed tortilla chips in the casserole dish. Next, sprinkle **1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese** on top of the meat mixture. Repeat these layers: crushed tortilla chips, the remaining meat mixture, and the remaining **1 cup of cheddar cheese**.
Step 6: Bake
- Cover the casserole with foil and bake in the preheated oven for **20-30 minutes**, or until the cheese is melted, and the casserole is bubbly around the edges.
Step 7: Let It Rest
- Once your casserole is done baking, remove it from the oven and let it sit for **5-10 minutes** before serving. This allows the layers to settle and makes it easier to slice and serve.
Step 8: Serve with Toppings
- Serve your Mexican casserole with a dollop of **sour cream** and a spoonful of **salsa** on top. You can also add fresh toppings like chopped cilantro, diced avocado, or sliced jalapeños for extra flavor and texture.