Description
Loaded Taco Squares Casserole is a flavorful and hearty Mexican-inspired dish featuring layers of seasoned ground beef, vegetables, black beans, corn, and cheese between corn tortillas. Baked to perfection with a melted cheesy topping, this casserole makes a satisfying meal for a crowd or family dinner.
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
Spices and Thickener
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 ½ tsp cumin
- 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
Additional Ingredients
- 1 4-oz can hatch chiles
- 1 cup canned or frozen sweet corn
- 1 15-oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 28-oz can diced tomatoes with liquid
- 12 corn tortillas
- 12 oz cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Dish: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish and set it aside to prepare for layering.
- Brown the Beef and Cook Vegetables: In a 4-quart saucepan, brown the ground beef over medium heat. Add the diced bell pepper, onion, garlic, and kosher salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft, about 4-6 minutes.
- Add Spices and Flour: Stir in the chili powder and cumin, cooking until fragrant for 1-2 minutes. Sprinkle the all-purpose flour over the mixture, stir well, and cook for an additional 2 minutes to thicken.
- Simmer the Filling: Add the hatch chiles, sweet corn, black beans, and diced tomatoes with their liquid. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer. Let it cook gently for 3-4 minutes, then remove from heat.
- Assemble the Casserole: Spread one cup of the meat mixture evenly on the bottom of the prepared baking dish to form a thin base layer. Layer six corn tortillas over the meat mixture, overlapping and pressing them up the sides slightly. Spread half of the remaining meat filling over the tortillas, then sprinkle half of the shredded cheddar cheese on top. Repeat the layers with the remaining meat mixture and finish with the remaining cheese.
- Bake the Casserole: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 45 minutes until the filling is hot throughout and the cheese is nicely browned.
- Cool and Serve: Remove from the oven and allow the casserole to cool for 10 minutes before slicing into squares and serving.
Notes
- Using leaner beef such as 90% lean is recommended to minimize excess liquid; if using fattier beef, drain excess fat before proceeding.
- Charring the corn tortillas briefly on the stove before layering can add a smoky flavor and enhance texture.
- Shredding cheese fresh from a block produces better flavor and melting consistency than pre-shredded cheese.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
