Description
Loaded Taco Squares Casserole is a hearty and flavorful dish combining seasoned ground beef, vegetables, beans, and cheese layered with corn tortillas. Perfect as a family-friendly meal with a Tex-Mex twist, it bakes to bubbly perfection with melted cheddar cheese on top.
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 Thickener
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 ½ tsp cumin
- 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
Additional Veggies and Beans
- 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
Assembly
- 12 corn tortillas
- 12 oz cheddar cheese shredded
Instructions
- Preheat Oven Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Set it aside for later assembly.
- Cook Beef and Vegetables In a 4-quart saucepan over medium heat, brown the ground beef until no longer pink. Add diced bell pepper, onion, garlic, and kosher salt. Cook until the onion becomes soft and translucent, about 4 to 6 minutes.
- Add Seasonings Stir in chili powder and cumin, and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant. Then sprinkle the flour over the mixture and stir, cooking 2 minutes to thicken.
- Add Remaining Ingredients Mix in the hatch chiles, sweet corn, black beans, and diced tomatoes with their liquid. Stir well and bring to a simmer. Let cook for 3 to 4 minutes to blend flavors, then remove from heat.
- Layer Casserole Spread 1 cup of the meat mixture evenly on the bottom of the prepared baking dish to form a thin layer. Arrange six corn tortillas over the meat, slightly overlapping and going up the sides of the dish. Spread half of the remaining meat mixture on top of the tortillas, then sprinkle half of the shredded cheddar cheese.
- Repeat Layers Repeat the layering with the remaining tortillas, meat mixture, and cheese, ending with the cheese on top.
- Bake Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 35 to 45 minutes, or until the filling is hot throughout and the cheese is bubbly and browned on top.
- Cool and Serve Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes before slicing into squares and serving warm.
Notes
- Using lean beef (90%) reduces excess liquid; if using fattier beef, drain the excess fat before adding seasonings.
- Char corn tortillas on the stove before assembling to add a smoky flavor and firmer texture.
- Shred cheese fresh from a block for better melting and more flavorful results compared to pre-shredded cheese.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
