Taco Casserole

Here’s a flavorful and easy Taco Casserole recipe—perfect for a weeknight dinner or a party:

🌮 Taco Casserole

Ingredients:

For the meat layer:

• 1 lb (450g) ground beef or turkey

• 1 small onion, chopped

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 packet taco seasoning (or homemade: 1 tsp chili powder, ½ tsp cumin, ½ tsp paprika, ½ tsp oregano, salt & pepper)

• ½ cup water

For the casserole layers:

• 1 can (15 oz / 425g) black beans, drained and rinsed

• 1 cup corn kernels (fresh, canned, or frozen)

• 1 cup salsa

• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (or Mexican blend)

• 6–8 corn tortillas or 8–10 small flour tortillas, cut into pieces

Optional toppings:

• Sour cream

• Sliced jalapeños

• Chopped cilantro

• Diced tomatoes

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven:

   • Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.

2. Cook the meat:

   • In a skillet over medium heat, sauté onions and garlic until soft.

   • Add ground beef, season with taco seasoning, and cook until browned.

   • Stir in ½ cup water and simmer 2–3 minutes until thickened.

3. Assemble the casserole:

   • Layer half of the tortilla pieces in the baking dish.

   • Spread half of the cooked meat over the tortillas.

   • Add half of the black beans, corn, salsa, and shredded cheese.

   • Repeat the layers with remaining tortillas, meat, beans, corn, salsa, and cheese.

4. Bake:

   • Cover with foil and bake 20 minutes.

   • Remove foil and bake another 10 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.

5. Serve:

   • Top with sour cream, jalapeños, tomatoes, and cilantro if desired.

💡 Tips:

• For extra flavor, add a layer of refried beans or cream cheese mixed with taco seasoning.

• You can make it ahead of time, refrigerate, and bake when ready.

I can also give a quick skillet version that doesn’t require baking and is ready in 20 minutes if you want a faster option. Do you want that version?