Mexican Tortilla Casserole: A Layered Fiesta
This Mexican Tortilla Casserole is a hearty and flavorful dish that's perfect for a family dinner or a casual gathering. It's a layered masterpiece of tortillas, seasoned ground beef, refried beans, rice, corn, salsa, and melted cheese, baked to perfection. The combination of textures and flavors creates a truly satisfying meal that's sure to please everyone. This casserole is easy to prepare and can be customized to your taste preferences by adjusting the level of spice in the salsa or adding your favorite toppings.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 1 packet taco seasoning mix
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 can refried beans (warm in the microwave for easier spreading)
- 1 cup prepared rice (such as Minute Rice)
- 1 can Mexican blend corn (drained, use about half a can)
- 4-5 large flour tortillas
- 8 oz of thick chunky salsa (mild or hot)
- Cooking spray
- Optional toppings: sour cream, diced onion, shredded lettuce
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Spray a springform, round cake pan, or casserole dish with cooking spray.
- Brown the ground beef and diced onion in a skillet. Drain any excess grease.
- Stir in the taco seasoning mix according to package directions.
- Assemble the casserole in layers:
- Place one tortilla in the bottom of the baking dish.
- Spread 1/3 of the refried beans over the tortilla.
- Top with 1/3 of the ground beef mixture and sprinkle with some cheese.
- Repeat with a second tortilla, adding half of the rice, half of the salsa, half of the corn, and more cheese.
- Layer another tortilla, followed by the remaining beans, ground beef, and cheese.
- Cover with the final tortilla.
- Top with the remaining rice, salsa, corn, and a generous amount of cheese.
- Cover the casserole with aluminum foil and bake for 40 minutes.
- Uncover and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Let the casserole stand for 5 minutes before cutting to allow it to set.
- Serve with optional toppings of sour cream, diced onion, and shredded lettuce.
Tips
- For a spicier casserole, use a hot salsa and add some chopped jalapeños to the ground beef mixture.
- To make this casserole ahead of time, assemble the layers and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight and bake as directed when ready to serve.
- You can use any type of cheese you prefer, such as Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, or Pepper Jack.
- To make this casserole vegetarian, substitute the ground beef with a plant-based crumble or beans.
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