Mexican Casserole: A Deliciously Easy Family Meal

Mexican Casserole is the ultimate crowd-pleasing family meal. This cheesy Tex-Mex bake is loaded with flavorful ground beef, beans, tomatoes, and tortilla chips. The creamy, comforting casserole comes together with just a quick sauté and one easy baking step. Serve it straight from the dish alongside salsa, guacamole, and sour cream for a casual family dinner or potluck that will have everyone asking for seconds. Keep reading to learn just how easy it is to make this delicious Mexican Casserole at home.

Why You Should Make Mexican Casserole

Mexican Casserole hits all the right notes. It’s budget-friendly, packed with protein, and freezes well for busy weeks. Kids and adults alike will devour the fun textures and Tex-Mex flavors. The casual one-dish meal works for family dinners, potlucks, and tailgates. You can easily customize it to suit your tastes. Add some heat with chopped jalapeños or swap in spicy chorizo for the ground beef. The creamy, cheesy casserole is pure comfort food at its finest.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 package taco seasoning
• 1 can ranch-style beans
• 1 can Ro-tel diced tomatoes
• 2 cups shredded cheese
• 8-10 ounces tortilla chips
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• Toppings: salsa, sour cream, avocado

Steps:

1. Brown ground beef with onions in a skillet over medium-high heat. Drain fat.
2. Add taco seasoning, beans, tomatoes, and soup. Stir well and simmer.
3. In a greased casserole dish, layer chips, beef mixture, and cheese.
4. Bake at 350°F covered for 15 minutes until hot and bubbly.
5. Let sit 5 minutes before serving. Top with desired toppings.

Tips for Making the Best Mexican Casserole

Follow these tips for Mexican Casserole success:

• Choose a flavorful taco seasoning blend for maximum flavor.
• Fry the ground beef over high heat for browned crispy edges.
• Use a combination of crunchy and soft taco-style tortilla chips.
• Shred the cheese yourself for better melting. A cheese blend works great.
• Mix the filling well to evenly distribute the ingredients.
• Bake until hot and bubbly with the cheese melted on top.
• Finish with diced avocado, fresh cilantro, hot sauce, or Greek yogurt.

Perfect Pairings for Mexican Casserole

Serve your piping hot Mexican Casserole with:

• Lime wedges for squeezing
• Guacamole or diced avocado
• Chopped fresh cilantro
• Diced tomatoes
• Shredded lettuce
• Sour cream
• Jalapeños for heat
• Salsa
• Tortilla chips for scooping

With its fun flavors, Mexican Casserole is a guaranteed family-pleaser. For more easy and appetizing recipes, check out the recipe section on aazmihealth.com.

FAQs

What kind of tortilla chips should I use? A combo of crunchy yellow corn chips and soft white corn tortilla chips works best.

Can I prep this ahead of time? Yes! Assemble everything except chips in the baking dish up to 3 days ahead. Add chips and bake just before serving.

Can I use ground turkey? Absolutely. Lean ground turkey is a great alternative.

What else can I add? Get creative with sliced olives, corn, diced chiles, cilantro, or sautéed peppers and onions.

Should I make any substitutions? Cheddar, Colby, or Mexican cheese blends all work. Chicken or vegetable broth can sub for cream soup.