Description
Savor the convenience of one pan taco casserole, where ground beef, tortillas, and melty cheese come together in a quick weeknight dinner that saves you dishes and time. Packed with zesty flavors and ready in under 30 minutes, this crowd-pleasing meal brings Mexican-inspired comfort straight to your table.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 lb ground beef or turkey
Main Components:
- 2 cups cooked rice
- 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup salsa
Seasonings and Toppings:
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Optional: sliced olives
- Optional: diced jalapenos
- Optional: chopped green onions
Instructions
- Heat your oven to 375°F. Grab an oven-safe skillet that will hold all the ingredients comfortably.
- Place 1 lb ground beef in the skillet over medium-high heat. Break the meat into small crumbles while cooking until no pink remains. Drain any excess fat from the pan.
- Sprinkle the entire packet of taco seasoning over the cooked meat. Stir thoroughly to coat every piece with the spicy mix.
- Add the entire can of drained black beans and 2 cups of cooked rice to the skillet. Pour 1 cup of salsa over the mixture and blend everything together until well combined.
- Distribute 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese evenly across the top of the casserole. Scatter optional toppings like ¼ cup sliced olives or 2 tablespoons diced jalapeños if desired.
- Transfer the skillet directly into the preheated oven. Bake for exactly 18 minutes until the cheese melts completely and develops a golden, slightly crispy surface.
- Remove the skillet from the oven using thick oven mitts. Let the casserole rest for 3-4 minutes before serving to help the ingredients set and cool slightly.
Notes
- Replace ground beef with ground chicken or a plant-based crumble for a lighter protein option that still packs tons of flavor.
- Drain canned beans thoroughly to prevent excess liquid from making the casserole soggy and losing that perfect texture.
- Make sure your skillet is truly oven-safe before transferring directly from stovetop to oven to avoid potential kitchen disasters.
- Customize your toppings with fresh ingredients like chopped cilantro, diced tomatoes, or a dollop of sour cream to add brightness and extra layers of taste.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 475 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg