Description
Loaded Taco Squares Casserole is a hearty and flavorful dish featuring layers of seasoned ground beef, vegetables, beans, corn, tortillas, and melted cheddar cheese baked to perfection. This crowd-pleasing casserole is perfect for family dinners or potlucks, delivering comforting Mexican-inspired flavors in every bite.
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
Spices and Thickening
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 ½ tsp cumin
- 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
Additional Vegetables 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
Other Ingredients
- 12 corn tortillas
- 12 oz cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Baking Dish: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish and set it aside for later use.
- Cook Ground Beef and Vegetables: In a 4-quart saucepan over medium heat, brown the ground beef until no longer pink. Add the diced bell pepper, onion, garlic, and kosher salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened, about 4 to 6 minutes.
- Add Spices and Flour: Stir in the chili powder and cumin. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant. Sprinkle the all-purpose flour over the mixture, stirring well, and cook for an additional 2 minutes to thicken.
- Add Vegetables and Beans: Mix in the hatch chiles, sweet corn, black beans, and diced tomatoes with their liquid. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer. Let it cook for 3 to 4 minutes, then remove the saucepan from the heat.
- Layer the Casserole: Spread one cup of the meat mixture in an even thin layer on the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Overlap six corn tortillas, arranging them to cover the meat layer and going slightly up the sides of the dish. Spread half of the remaining meat mixture over the tortillas, followed by half of the shredded cheddar cheese. Repeat the layering with the remaining meat mixture and cheese, finishing with cheese on top.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated 350°F oven and bake for 45 minutes until the filling is hot throughout and the cheese is browned and bubbly.
- Cool and Serve: Remove from the oven and let the casserole cool for 10 minutes before slicing into squares and serving.
Notes
- Use lean ground beef (90% lean) to reduce excess liquid, or drain the beef after browning if needed.
- For extra flavor and texture, char the corn tortillas on the stovetop before layering.
- Shredding cheese from a block instead of pre-shredded cheese provides better flavor and melt texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg
