Mexican Casserole with Ground Beef and Corn Tortillas

This Mexican Casserole with Ground Beef is an easy and satisfying way to spice up your dinner plans. Layered with corn tortillas, and a ground beef mixture complete with black beans and sweet corn puts this in the category of irresistible and easy casserole dishes. Did I mention there’s sour cream involved?

I always welcome the arrival of Autumn and all that comes with it. Crisp air, cool temperatures and of course the food. Which around here includes Roasted Chile Peppers in about e-v-e-r-y-thing. Before we get to this recipe, let’s take a look at a couple of shots of Colorado in all it’s Fall glory.

This was taken at Moraine Park in Rocky Mountain National Park.  This is our favorite meadow to watch elk during mating season each Fall. The grasses and foliage turn to such pretty colors to create a tapestry that reaches to the rugged mountains in the background … sigh.

Groves of aspen cover our hillsides with a blanket of yellow, gold and orange. Thanks to my friend Heather over at Rocky Mountain Cooking for this photo.  She just returned this week from a visit to the Independence Pass area just east of Aspen. Stunning.

And the air is filled with the aroma of chile when the multitude of roasters fire up their cages to char Pueblo, Hatch, Poblano, Jalapeno chile just so folks like me can make fresh Mexican and Southwestern meals.

Fall is a wonderful time to be in Colorado. And a wonderful time for this Mexican Casserole with Ground Beef and Corn Tortillas.

Thanks to my cousin Pam for introducing this Easy Mexican casserole with ground beef to my Fall collection of goodness. This is one of those things that I simply could not stop eating.

How To Make Mexican Casserole with Ground Beef

Just grab your favorite frying skillet and heat it over medium high heat.

• Once the skillet is hot, add the ground beef.
• With your favorite spatula, break the ground beef apart.
• Once the pink starts to fade from the meat, add the chopped onions.
• Cook until the onions are starting to soften.
• Add canned black beans (drained)
• Frozen or canned yellow corn (drained if using canned) I prefer frozen corn, 1 cup.
• 2 cans of tomatoes (drained)
• And 8 chile peppers, roasted, peeled, seeded and chopped. Hatch work great here, Pueblo (Mirisol) Peppers are lovely or 2-4 ounce can of chopped chiles (undrained) make this even easier.
• Add taco seasoning and 1/2 to 1 cup of water and let simmer for about 10 – 15 minutes or until mixture starts to thicken. Start with 1/2 cup of water and add more if mixture becomes dry. Here’s why:
• Important Tip: If the mixture is too watery, this will cause the corn tortillas to become soggy during baking. Different taco seasoning mixes may contain different amounts of corn starch (for the thickening agent) This is why I say start with 1/2 cup and add a little more at a time. You want the mixture a little soupy but not watery.

I urge you to use Homemade Taco Seasoning for this. It’s superior in flavor and void of preservatives. Ever since I discovered smoked paprika a few years ago, I’ve gone crazy using it. And sprinkling some in taco seasoning is no exception and adds a wonderful smoky flavor. I hope you take a look at this recipe.

If you’d like substitute this homemade mixture, just use about 3 tablespoons instead of a packet of taco seasoning. It brings a whole new level of earthy depth to this casserole. And you’ll love that bold color and bold flavor.

How to Build This Mexican Casserole with Tortillas

• Spray a 9 x 11 baking dish with PAM
• Add about 1 cup of the beef mixture as evenly as you can on the bottom of your baking dish. It won’t cover the pan, but will add a barrier for the tortillas so they will stay moist during baking.
• Place 6 corn tortillas over the ground beef mixture, overlapping them and placing them so they curl up the side of the dish by about a half inch.

• Cover the corn tortillas with half the remaining beef mixture

• Spread the sour cream over the beef mixture.
• Place the remaining 6 corn tortillas on top of the sour cream in the same manner you did with the first layer.
• Add the remaining ground beef mixture.
• Sprinkle with the cheese.

• Bake the casserole in a 350 degree oven for 25 – 30 minutes.
• Let the casserole sit for about 5 – 10 minutes. Cut into squares and serve. YUM!

Zesty and loaded with all of your favorite Mexican flavors, what’s not to love. This is a great weeknight meal that will reward you with some tasty leftovers, which means you don’t need to worry about cooking for the next evening…or two.

Recipe for Mexican Casserole with Ground Beef

As much as I love to spend time in the kitchen fussing over dinner, I’m also always looking for quick and easy dinner ideas. This Mexican Casserole With Ground Beef and Corn Tortillas is one that fits that bill.

It’s a favorite here On The Ranch and it’s a classic layered Mexican Casserole recipe that’s filled with flavor. Quick and easy, family friendly, I hope you give this a try.

If you make this recipe, please come back and give it a star rating and please leave a comment about your experience with the recipe.

And if you have a favorite Mexican Casserole with ground beef and corn tortillas, let me know, I’d love to give it a try.

More Mexican Recipes With Beef

• Chile Rubbed Braised Beef Tacos
• Ground Beef Enchiladas
• Mexican Pot Roast
• New Mexico Stacked Enchiladas

And if you’re in the eternal mood for Mexican Recipes, don’t miss my Mexican Southwest Category. And the most popular recipe in that category, Fried Tacos.

5 from 5 votes

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Mexican Casserole with Ground Beef and Corn Tortillas

Prep Time

20 mins

Cook Time

30 mins

Total Time

50 mins

 

Easy and satisfying this Mexican Casserole with Ground Beef is a popular recipe around our house.

Course: Casserole

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: Casserole, ground beef, Mexican

Servings: 16

Calories: 158 kcal

Author: Lea Ann (Cooking On The Ranch)

Ingredients

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 medium onion chopped
• 1 cup frozen corn thawed. You can use 1 can, drained. I prefer 1 cup frozen corn.
• 1-15 ounce black beans canned, drained and rinsed
• 2-3 tablespoons taco seasoning
• 1/2 – 1 cup water start with 1/2 cup. See note below.
• 12 yellow corn tortillas
• 2-15 ounce chopped tomatoes canned, drained
• 8 green chile peppers Hatch, Poblano, or Pueblo, roasted, chopped
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 cup Pepper Jack Cheese
• Sliced jalapeno peppers, chopped tomatoes and chopped cilantro for garnish

Instructions

1. In a large fry pan, brown ground beef. When the pink is starting to fade, add onions and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently.

2. Add corn, beans, tomatoes, chiles and taco seasoning and water. Mix well and simmer for 10 minutes.

3. Spray 9 x 13 baking dish with cooking spray.

4. Place 1 cup of ground beef mixture on the bottom of the pan. Place half of the tortillas on top of the ground beef, overlapping and placing them so they come about 1/2 inch up the side of the casserole dish.

5. Spoon half of the remaining beef mixture on top of the torttillas and spread the sour cream over the beef. Layer the rest of the corn tortillas and then the rest of the beef mixture. Top with the grated cheese.

6. Place in heated 350 degree F. oven and bake for 25 minutes. Garnish with sliced jalapenos, chopped fresh tomatoes and chopped cilantro. Let stand for 5 minutes and serve.

Recipe Notes

• Important Tip: If the mixture is too watery, this will cause the corn tortillas to become soggy during baking. Different taco seasoning mixes may contain different amounts of corn starch (for the thickening agent) This is why I say start with 1/2 cup and add a little more at a time. You want the mixture a little soupy but not watery.

Nutrition Facts

Mexican Casserole with Ground Beef and Corn Tortillas

Amount Per Serving

Calories 158 Calories from Fat 63

% Daily Value*

Fat 7g11%

Saturated Fat 4g25%

Cholesterol 31mg10%

Sodium 184mg8%

Potassium 214mg6%

Carbohydrates 14g5%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 2g2%

Protein 10g20%

Vitamin A 177IU4%

Vitamin C 5mg6%

Calcium 90mg9%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Tomato Cream Mexican Chicken Casserole

Mexican Casserole with Ground Beef  …It’s what’s for Dinner.