Tex Mex Casserole Recipe

Like a culinary fiesta dancing across your taste buds, Tex-Mex casserole represents the ultimate comfort food fusion. You'll want to master this dish that blends spicy Mexican influences with hearty American cooking techniques. Whether you're a home cook looking to impress your family or a novice chef seeking an easy weeknight meal, this recipe promises to transform your dinner routine. Curious about how to create a crowd-pleasing dish that's both delicious and simple? Let's uncover the secrets of this mouthwatering casserole.

Recipe Highlights

• A classic Tex-Mex Casserole requires ground beef, corn tortillas, enchilada sauce, black beans, and Mexican cheese blend as primary ingredients.
• Brown ground beef thoroughly, layer corn tortillas, add black beans, pour enchilada sauce, and top generously with cheese for authentic preparation.
• Customize the recipe by substituting ground beef with chicken, adding jalapeños, experimenting with different beans, or adjusting spice levels.
• Enhance the casserole's flavor profile with garnishes like fresh cilantro, sour cream, diced avocado, crumbled queso, and lime wedges.
• Prepare the casserole in advance, refrigerate overnight, and reheat easily for a convenient, stress-free meal that serves multiple people.

History

Although Tex-Mex cuisine has deep roots in the cultural fusion between Texas and Mexico, the casserole style of preparation represents a more modern American adaptation.

You'll discover this culinary tradition emerged in the mid-20th century, when home cooks began transforming traditional Mexican recipes into convenient, one-dish meals.

The casserole's popularity exploded during the 1950s and 1960s, when convenience cooking became a hallmark of American kitchens.

You'll notice key influences from:

• Mexican immigrant communities
• Southwestern regional cooking
• Post-World War II kitchen innovations
• Emerging processed food technologies

These culinary crossroads created a unique dish that balanced authenticity with practicality.

Recipe

Tex-Mex Casserole combines the bold, spicy flavors of Mexican cuisine with the comforting, hearty style of American casserole cooking.

This family-friendly dish layers seasoned ground beef, soft corn tortillas, and melted cheese into a satisfying meal that's both easy to prepare and delicious to eat. Perfect for weeknight dinners or casual gatherings, this casserole offers a simplified approach to traditional Tex-Mex flavors.

By using just a few key ingredients, home cooks can create a crowd-pleasing dish that delivers maximum taste with minimal effort.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 10 corn tortillas
• 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend
• 1 can (15 oz) enchilada sauce
• 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained

Preheat the oven to 375°F. In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat, breaking it into small crumbles. Drain any excess fat to ensure the casserole isn't greasy.

Prepare a 9×13 inch baking dish by spreading a thin layer of enchilada sauce on the bottom.

Begin layering the casserole by placing corn tortillas to cover the bottom of the dish. Spread half the ground beef over the tortillas, followed by half the black beans, half the enchilada sauce, and half the cheese.

Repeat the layers, ending with a generous topping of cheese. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes.

After the initial baking time, remove the foil and return the casserole to the oven for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is golden and bubbling.

Allow the casserole to rest for 10 minutes before serving, which helps the layers set and makes cutting and serving easier.

For the best texture, use fresh corn tortillas and ensure they're completely covered by sauce to prevent drying out.

Cooking Steps

You'll start by thoroughly browning the ground beef in a large skillet, ensuring no pink remains and draining excess fat to create a lean, flavorful base for your casserole.

Next, carefully layer your corn tortillas across the bottom of the baking dish, creating a solid foundation that will absorb the rich enchilada sauce and support your other ingredients.

When adding black beans and cheese, distribute them evenly across each layer to guarantee a perfect bite with balanced flavors and textures in every forkful.

Step 1. Brown Ground Beef Thoroughly

Fire up your skillet and get ready to transform that ground beef into a flavor-packed foundation for your Tex-Mex casserole.

Start with a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking the 1 pound of ground beef into small, uniform crumbles. Use a wooden spoon or spatula to continuously stir and prevent large clumps from forming.

Watch for these key visual cues:

• Meat changing from pink to deep brown
• No visible pink remaining in the center of the crumbles
• Even, consistent color throughout the meat

Cook for 8-10 minutes, ensuring the beef reaches an internal temperature of 160°F.

Drain excess fat using a colander, which prevents a greasy casserole texture. Pat the meat gently with paper towels to remove additional fat.

Your thoroughly browned ground beef is now ready to become the protein-rich base of your delicious Tex-Mex casserole.

Step 2. Layer Corn Tortillas Carefully

After carefully browning the ground beef, your next move is crafting a perfect tortilla foundation for the casserole.

Start by cutting corn tortillas to fit snugly in your 9×13 baking dish, ensuring complete bottom coverage without significant gaps. Layer tortillas in a slightly overlapping pattern, trimming edges if needed to create a uniform base.

Key tortilla layering tips:

• Use room-temperature tortillas for easier handling
• Cut tortillas with kitchen shears for precise sizing
• Overlap edges by approximately 1/2 inch
• Avoid stretching tortillas, which can cause tearing

Press tortillas gently to create a compact foundation.

This initial layer acts as a crucial structural element, absorbing sauce and supporting subsequent ingredients. Ensure tortillas are positioned evenly, creating a solid base that will transform into a deliciously tender casserole backdrop.

Step 3. Add Beans Evenly

Black beans transform this Tex-Mex casserole from a simple meat and cheese dish into a protein-packed, fiber-rich meal that'll satisfy hungry diners.

When adding beans, distribute them evenly across each layer to ensure consistent flavor and texture. Use a 15-oz can of black beans, thoroughly drained to prevent excess moisture.

Gently spread beans in a uniform layer, covering approximately 80% of the surface area, which allows tortillas and meat to peek through. This strategic placement prevents bean clumping and guarantees every bite includes a balanced mix of ingredients.

Aim for about 1/2 cup of black beans per layer, using a fork or spatula to create an even spread. Careful distribution ensures each serving receives an equal portion of hearty, nutritious beans.

Step 4. Pour Enchilada Sauce

While layering ingredients creates the foundation of your Tex-Mex casserole, pouring the enchilada sauce demands precision and care. Carefully open the 15-ounce can of enchilada sauce, ensuring a smooth, even pour across your ingredient layers.

Tilt the can slightly, allowing the sauce to cascade gently over the ground beef, black beans, and tortillas.

Key pouring techniques include:

• Distribute sauce in a consistent, zigzag pattern
• Cover approximately 80% of the layer's surface
• Avoid pooling sauce in any single area
• Ensure each ingredient receives a light coating

The sauce acts as a moisture-binding agent, helping tortillas soften and ingredients meld together. Use a spatula to spread sauce if needed, creating a uniform layer that will provide rich, tangy flavor throughout your casserole.

This step is crucial for achieving authentic Tex-Mex taste and texture.

Step 5. Sprinkle Remaining Cheese

Once you've evenly distributed the enchilada sauce across your layered ingredients, the next step is to generously sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top of the casserole.

Cover every inch of the surface, ensuring a uniform layer that will melt into a golden, bubbling blanket. Use the full 2 cups of shredded Mexican cheese blend, distributing it carefully with your fingers or a spoon to create complete coverage.

Focus on achieving an even spread that reaches the edges of the baking dish, which helps create those irresistible crispy cheese corners.

The cheese will act as a protective layer, sealing in moisture and adding rich, creamy flavor to your Tex-Mex casserole.

This final cheese layer promises a mouthwatering, visually appealing finish that'll make your dish look as delicious as it tastes.

Final Thoughts

If you're looking to impress your family or dinner guests, this Tex-Mex casserole recipe offers a foolproof way to bring authentic southwestern flavors to your table.

The beauty of this dish lies in its simplicity and adaptability. You can easily customize the recipe by adding jalapeños, swapping ground beef for chicken, or incorporating different beans.

Consider garnishing with fresh cilantro, sour cream, or diced avocado to elevate the presentation and taste. The make-ahead option means you'll spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying a delicious meal with loved ones.

Pro tip: Let the casserole rest before serving to allow the layers to settle and flavors to meld, ensuring each bite is perfectly balanced and satisfying.