Loaded Taco Squares Casserole
A cozy recipe king, this loaded taco squares casserole combines flavorful ingredients to create the ultimate meal. Onion, bell pepper, and ground beef create the foundation. Tomatoes, chiles, sweet corn, and black beans build depth, giving it the "loaded" namesake. This Midwest staple is a perfect variation of a ground meat taco, ideal for a weeknight meal.
Servings: 15 servings
Ingredients
- 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
- 12 corn tortillas
- 12 oz cheddar cheese shredded
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish and set it aside.
- In a 4-quart saucepan, brown the ground beef. Add the bell pepper, onion, garlic, and salt. Cook until the onion is soft, 4-6 minutes. Add the chili powder and cumin. Stir and cook until fragrant, 1-2 minutes. Sprinkle the flour over the mixture. Stir and cook for 2 minutes.2 lb ground beef, 1 bell pepper, 1 onion, 2 cloves garlic, 1 tsp kosher salt, 1 tbsp chili powder, 1 ½ tsp cumin, 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
- Add the hatch chiles, sweet corn, black beans, and diced tomatoes with their liquid. Stir and bring the mixture to a simmer. Cook for 3-4 minutes, then remove from the heat.1 4-oz can hatch chiles, 1 cup canned or frozen sweet corn, 1 15-oz can black beans, 1 28-oz can diced tomatoes
- Spread one cup of the meat mixture on the bottom of the prepared baking dish. It will be a thin layer. Add six corn tortillas, overlapping and going up the sides of the baking dish slightly. Spread half of the remaining meat filling over the tortillas, followed by half of the cheese. Repeat the layers, ending with the remaining cheese.12 corn tortillas, 12 oz cheddar cheese
- Bake in the preheated 350°F oven until the filling is hot throughout and the cheese is browned, 35-45 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Video
Notes
Using leaner beef means less liquid from the beef. Use what you prefer, but you may need to drain the beef if there is excess liquid. 90% lean beef works well and does not usually need to be drained.
If desired, char the corn tortillas on the stove. It can enhance the texture and add a smoky element to the tortillas.
Freshly shredded cheese boosts the flavor of the dish. Shredding the cheese from a block gives a softer and more flavorful cheese.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 300kcal