Description
A crowd-pleasing, layered casserole featuring seasoned ground beef, black beans, corn, and melted cheddar cheese between layers of crispy tortilla chips. It offers a perfect balance of comfort food and entertaining elegance with a satisfying crunch.
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs ground beef (80/20 lean-to-fat ratio)
- 3 cups sturdy tortilla chips, crushed (varied sizes)
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (divided)
- 2 tbsp taco seasoning (homemade or packet)
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup corn (frozen or canned)
- 1 cup sour cream
- 4 stalks green onions, sliced
- 2 medium Roma tomatoes, diced
- Cooking spray or olive oil for greasing dish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray or olive oil.
- Crush tortilla chips into varied sizes (chunks and crumbs) and set aside.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef, breaking it up with a spatula. Cook for 6-8 minutes until no longer pink.
- Drain excess grease, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the pan.
- Sprinkle taco seasoning over the beef and add 1/2 cup water. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until liquid reduces and sauce thickens.
- Remove from heat and stir in the rinsed black beans and corn.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the sour cream and 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese.
- Layer the casserole: Spread half the chips on the bottom, followed by half the beef mixture, then dollop and spread half the cheese-sour cream mixture.
- Repeat layers with remaining chips, beef mixture, and cheese-sour cream mixture.
- Top with the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese.
- Bake for 20 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbling, and chips are golden brown.
- Optional: Broil for 2 minutes for extra crispiness, watching closely to prevent burning.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes to allow layers to set.
- Garnish with diced fresh tomatoes and sliced green onions before serving.
Notes
Do not skip the resting time; cutting immediately will cause layers to slide apart. Use sturdy tortilla chips to prevent disintegration. Ensure beans and corn are thoroughly drained to maintain crispiness. Fresh tomatoes should be added after baking to prevent sogginess. This dish is best enjoyed fresh; freezing the assembled casserole is not recommended as chips become mushy.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 square slice
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 26
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 28
Keywords: taco casserole, cheesy casserole, entertaining recipes, easy dinner, ground beef recipes, crispy tortilla chips, crowd pleaser, weeknight dinner