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Easy Mexican Casserole Recipe - 45 Minute Family Dinner

This Ultimate Mexican Casserole combines seasoned ground meat, beans, corn, tomatoes, and gooey melted cheese for a bold, comforting, and family-friendly dinner. Ready in just 45 minutes, it’s the perfect one-dish meal for busy weeknights or casual gatherings.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican-American
Calories: 385
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 lb ground beef or turkey
  • 1 medium onion finely chopped
  • 1 15 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 15 oz can corn, drained
  • 1 10 oz can diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained
  • 1 8 oz can tomato sauce
  • 1 packet 1.25 oz taco seasoning mix
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 10 –12 corn tortillas cut into strips
  • 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend
  • Optional toppings: diced avocado fresh cilantro, sour cream, lime wedges

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
  2. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add ground meat and onion. Cook 6–8 minutes until browned and onion is translucent. Drain excess fat.
  3. Stir in beans, corn, diced tomatoes with chilies, tomato sauce, taco seasoning, and water. Simmer 5 minutes to blend flavors.
  4. Spread a thin layer of the meat mixture in the prepared baking dish.
  5. Layer one-third of the tortillas, then one-third of the cheese.
  6. Repeat layering twice more, ending with the meat mixture topped with remaining cheese.
  7. Bake uncovered for 25–30 minutes until bubbly and golden on top.
  8. Let rest 5–10 minutes before serving. Garnish with toppings of choice.

Notes

Drain all canned ingredients to prevent sogginess. For a lighter version, use ground turkey or reduced-fat cheese. This casserole freezes beautifully and tastes even better the next day.