Description
Loaded Taco Squares Casserole is a hearty and flavorful dish featuring seasoned ground beef, bell peppers, onions, beans, and sweet corn layered with corn tortillas and melted cheddar cheese. Perfect for a family dinner or a crowd-pleasing meal, this casserole is baked to golden perfection with a delicious Mexican-inspired seasoning blend.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 2 lb ground beef
- 1 bell pepper seeded and diced
- 1 onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp kosher salt
Seasonings and Thickeners
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 ½ tsp cumin
- 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 4-oz can hatch chiles
Additional Fillings
- 1 cup canned or frozen sweet corn
- 1 15-oz can black beans rinsed and drained
- 1 28-oz can diced tomatoes
Assembly
- 12 corn tortillas
- 12 oz cheddar cheese shredded
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish and set it aside.
- Cook Beef and Vegetables: In a 4-quart saucepan, brown the ground beef over medium heat. Add the diced bell pepper, onion, minced garlic, and kosher salt. Cook until the onion is soft, about 6 minutes.
- Add Spices and Flour: Stir in the chili powder and cumin, cooking until fragrant for 2 minutes. Sprinkle the all-purpose flour over the mixture and stir well. Cook for an additional 2 minutes to incorporate the flour.
- Add Remaining Ingredients and Simmer: Add the hatch chiles, sweet corn, rinsed black beans, and diced tomatoes with their liquid. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer. Let it cook for 4 minutes, then remove from heat.
- Layer the Casserole: Spread 1 cup of the meat mixture in the bottom of the prepared baking dish as a thin base layer. Arrange 6 corn tortillas on top, overlapping and extending slightly up the sides of the dish. Spread half of the remaining meat filling over the tortillas, then sprinkle with half of the shredded cheddar cheese.
- Repeat Layers and Top: Repeat with the remaining meat filling and cheese, finishing with a layer of cheese on top.
- Bake: Bake the casserole in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until the filling is hot throughout and the cheese is bubbly and browned.
- Cool and Serve: Remove from the oven and allow the casserole to cool for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Using leaner beef (such as 90% lean) results in less liquid; drain excess if necessary.
- Char corn tortillas on the stove if you want to add texture and a smoky flavor.
- Freshly shred cheese from a block for better flavor and softer texture compared to pre-shredded cheese.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg
