A fast, fabulous and easy Mexican casserole might be just the dish to serve for a family dinner, company or potluck dinner. This recipe isn’t just good; it is inexpensive and flexible. Those that do not like onions or olives can omit them from the casserole. The important ingredients that should be left in the recipe are the meat, beans, salsa and cheese.
Make this dish as mild or as hot as desired. Use mild salsa for families with young children that might not like a great deal of heat in their food. Use hot salsa for those that love spicy foods. Prepare a batch of fresh salsa and use about 1 to 2 cups in the dish. Serve with salad and a few extra tortilla chips on the side.
Cooked shredded chicken can easily be substituted for the hamburger to add a different flavor to the dish. For a less spicy flavor, substitute pinto beans for the black beans. To make more servings, double the recipe and bake it in a 9-by-13-inch baking pan. Change the flavor of this casserole with the addition of chopped green bell peppers, chile peppers or cilantro. Give this dish a different flavor each time you prepare it.
Easy Mexican Casserole
Makes 6 to 8 servings
Ingredients:
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- Nonstick cooking spray
- 3 cups crushed tortilla chips
- 1 12-ounce jar prepared mild or hot salsa
- 1 15-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 3 medium scallions, finely chopped
- 1 2.25-ounce can sliced black olives, drained
- 8 ounces (about 2 cups) grated cheddar cheese
- Sour cream, for garnish
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef for 15 to 17 minutes until no traces of pink remain in the meat. Remove cooked beef from skillet with a slotted spoon and transfer to a bowl; set aside.
- Spray the bottom and sides of an ovenproof 7-by-11-inch (2-quart) casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Spread crushed tortilla chips evenly over the bottom of the casserole dish.
- Top tortilla chips with an even layer of the cooked ground beef.
- Pour salsa evenly over the layer of ground beef.
- Spread the black beans evenly over top of the salsa.
- Sprinkle scallions and sliced olives evenly over top of the black beans.
- Top casserole with an even layer of cheddar cheese.
- Bake for 20 minutes, or until the cheese melts and the inside of the casserole is bubbling.
- Cut casserole into squares. Garnish with a dollop of sour cream and serve.
Deborah Harding - Deborah Harding has developed recipes, worked with herbs and written home school curriculum for over 20 years.
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