Description
This Taco Bake Casserole is a hearty, flavorful dish combining seasoned ground beef, black beans, tomatoes, and a creamy sour cream mixture layered with crunchy tortilla chips and melted cheese. Perfect for a comforting family dinner, it bakes to golden bubbly perfection and is garnished with fresh cilantro and optional olives for added zest.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 envelope taco seasoning mix
- 3/4 cup water
- 1 can (15 ounces) diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
- 2 cups crushed tortilla chips, divided
- 1 can (10.75 ounces) condensed cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chilies
Optional Ingredients
- 1/4 cup sliced ripe olives
- Fresh cilantro, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the casserole.
- Cook Ground Beef: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until browned, breaking it up with a spoon. Drain excess grease to keep the dish from being too oily.
- Add Seasoning: Stir in the taco seasoning mix and water, bringing the mixture to a boil. Then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for about 5 minutes to meld flavors.
- Combine Tomatoes and Beans: Add the drained diced tomatoes and rinsed black beans to the skillet, cook for another 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, then remove from heat.
- Prepare Cream Mixture: In a separate bowl, mix the condensed cream of chicken soup with sour cream until smooth and creamy.
- Layer Chips: Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish and spread 1 cup of the crushed tortilla chips evenly across the bottom.
- Layer Beef and Cream Mixtures: Spread half of the beef mixture over the chips, then evenly top with the sour cream mixture. Sprinkle the remaining crushed tortilla chips over this layer.
- Add Toppings: Top the casserole with chopped onion, green chilies, shredded cheddar, and Monterey Jack cheeses.
- Bake the Casserole: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 25 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Garnish: If desired, add sliced ripe olives on top just before serving for extra flavor.
- Rest and Serve: Allow the casserole to cool for a few minutes out of the oven, then garnish with chopped fresh cilantro before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Drain the diced tomatoes well to prevent the casserole from becoming too watery.
- Feel free to substitute the cream of chicken soup and sour cream with dairy-free alternatives to make the dish lactose-free.
- You can add extra chili powder or hot sauce if you prefer a spicier casserole.
- For a vegetarian version, replace ground beef with sautéed vegetables or a meat substitute and use vegetarian soup.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheat well in the oven or microwave.
