Description
Loaded Taco Squares Casserole is a hearty and flavorful Tex-Mex dish featuring a savory ground beef and vegetable filling layered with corn tortillas and melted cheddar cheese. Perfect for a family dinner or potluck, this casserole delivers a satisfying combination of spices, beans, and cheese baked to golden perfection.
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
Seasonings and Thickeners
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 ½ tsp cumin
- 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 4-oz can hatch chiles
Additional Vegetables
- 1 cup canned or frozen sweet corn
- 1 15-oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 28-oz can diced tomatoes
Base and Cheese
- 12 corn tortillas
- 12 oz cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish and set it aside to be ready for assembly.
- Cook Meat 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 becomes soft, about 4-6 minutes. Stir in chili powder and cumin, and cook until fragrant, 1-2 minutes.
- Thicken the Mixture: Sprinkle the flour over the beef and vegetable mixture and stir. Cook for 2 minutes to remove the raw flour taste and help thicken the sauce.
- Add Remaining Ingredients: Add the can of hatch chiles, sweet corn, black beans, and diced tomatoes with their liquid to the saucepan. Stir everything together, bring to a simmer, and cook for 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat once slightly thickened.
- Assemble the Casserole: Spread one cup of the meat mixture evenly over the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Layer six corn tortillas on top, overlapping them slightly and placing some up the sides of the dish. Spread half of the remaining meat mixture over the tortillas, then sprinkle half of the shredded cheddar cheese on top. Repeat the layers, finishing with the remaining cheese on top.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated 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 and serving to allow it to set.
Notes
- Using leaner beef such as 90% lean helps reduce excess liquid. You may need to drain the beef if using fattier cuts.
- For enhanced flavor and texture, char the corn tortillas on the stovetop before layering.
- Freshly shredding cheese from a block improves melt quality and flavor compared to pre-shredded cheese.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg
