Enter this Mexican Casserole! It is easy, cheesy, healthy, and a huge crowd-pleaser. With only 15 minutes hands-on time, this versatile recipe is a dream meal for busy cooks. So sub in other grains or protein to transform it into a brand new casserole.
Making this casserole is easy. Start with the basics. Cook the onions and bell peppers, and add the beef, chili powder, cumin, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Sauté until the beef is browned. Remove from the heat and stir in the rice and Greek yogurt. Assemble the casserole by layering the beans, cheese, diced tomatoes with green chilies, and ground beef mixture. Top with more cheese and bake the casserole until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Switch to broil and cook until the cheese is lightly browned. Garnish with cilantro and green onions and serve hot.
To make the Mexican Casserole, you will need the following ingredients:
Preheat the oven to 350 °F. Coat a 9×13-inch large casserole dish with nonstick spray and set aside.
In a Dutch oven or deep skillet, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high. Add 1 chopped onion and 2 chopped red bell peppers. Sauté for about 5 minutes until slightly softened.
Add 1 pound ground beef, 2 tablespoons chili powder, 1 ½ teaspoons cumin, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, and ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper. Sauté until the beef is cooked through, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add 2 minced garlic cloves and cook just until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Remove the beef mixture from heat. Stir in 2 cups cooked brown rice and 1 cup plain Greek yogurt until evenly combined. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
Spread 15 ounces refried black beans into an even layer in the prepared dish.
Sprinkle ¼ cup grated Cheddar cheese and ¼ cup grated mozzarella cheese over the beans.
Sprinkle the tomatoes and green chilies evenly over top.
Spoon the ground beef mixture evenly on top of the tomatoes.
Top with remaining ½ cup grated Cheddar and ½ cup grated mozzarella.
Bake, uncovered, for about 15 minutes until the cheese is melted and the casserole is hot.
Switch the oven to broil and continue cooking for 3-4 minutes until the cheese is lightly browned. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes.
Sprinkle the Mexican casserole with chopped cilantro and green onions, and serve.
This Mexican Casserole is delicious, hearty, healthy, and easy to make. Give this recipe a try in your own kitchen, and don’t forget to tag #cookmerecipes on social media when you do!
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