Description
Loaded Taco Squares Casserole is a hearty and flavorful Mexican-inspired dish featuring layers of seasoned ground beef, vegetables, beans, corn, diced tomatoes, corn tortillas, and melted cheddar cheese baked to perfection. Ideal for family dinners or gatherings, it combines classic taco ingredients into a satisfying casserole with a melted cheese topping.
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
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 ½ tsp cumin
- 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 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
Main Components
- 12 corn tortillas
- 12 oz cheddar cheese shredded
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish; set aside.
- Cook Beef and Vegetables: In a 4-quart saucepan, brown the ground beef over medium heat. Add the diced bell pepper, onion, garlic, and kosher salt. Cook until the onion is soft, about 6 minutes. Stir in chili powder and cumin; cook 2 minutes until fragrant. Sprinkle flour over the mixture and stir, cooking for 2 minutes.
- Add Remaining Ingredients: Stir in hatch chiles, sweet corn, black beans, and diced tomatoes with their liquid. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 4 minutes, then remove from heat.
- Assemble Casserole: Spread 1 cup of the meat mixture in the bottom of the prepared baking dish in a thin layer. Layer six corn tortillas overlapping and going slightly up the sides of the dish over the meat. Spread half of the remaining meat mixture over the tortillas, then half of the shredded cheddar cheese. Repeat the layering ending with the remaining cheese on top.
- Bake: Bake in the oven at 350°F for 45 minutes until heated through and cheese is browned.
- Cool and Serve: Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Using leaner beef (90% lean) results in less liquid and usually does not need draining; use your preferred beef but drain if excess liquid appears.
- Char corn tortillas on the stove before assembling for enhanced texture and smoky flavor.
- Shredding cheese freshly from a block improves flavor and texture over pre-shredded cheese.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg
