Description
Mouthwatering Mexican-inspired Layered Taco Bake combines zesty flavors and hearty ingredients for a crowd-pleasing dinner. Cheese-covered tortillas, seasoned ground beef, and fresh toppings create a perfect meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1 pound (1 lb) ground beef
Vegetables and Beans:
- 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup corn kernels
- 1/4 cup chopped green onions (optional)
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1/4 cup sliced black olives (optional)
Seasoning and Additional Ingredients:
- 1 packet taco seasoning mix
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 cup salsa
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup crushed tortilla chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375F (190C), preparing a 9×13 inch baking dish for a zesty layered meal.
- Brown ground beef in a skillet over medium heat, crumbling meat while cooking. Drain excess fat and infuse with taco seasoning, simmering for 5 minutes to develop robust flavors.
- Create a foundation by spreading salsa across the bottom of the baking dish, ensuring complete coverage.
- Distribute seasoned beef evenly over the salsa, creating a hearty protein layer.
- Sprinkle black beans and corn across the beef, adding texture and nutritional depth.
- Spread a smooth sour cream layer over the bean and corn mixture, creating a creamy barrier.
- Generously cover the sour cream with shredded cheddar cheese, ensuring complete surface coverage.
- Crush tortilla chips and scatter them across the cheese layer for a crispy, crunchy topping.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes until cheese melts completely and edges turn golden.
- Enhance presentation by garnishing with fresh cilantro, sliced black olives, and chopped green onions.
- Serve with optional side accompaniments like sliced jalapenos, diced tomatoes, and shredded lettuce for customizable heat and freshness.
Notes
- Customize the heat level by choosing mild or spicy taco seasoning based on personal preference.
- Replace ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a leaner or vegetarian version.
- Use low-fat cheese and Greek yogurt instead of sour cream to reduce overall calorie content.
- Prepare this dish ahead of time by assembling layers and refrigerating, then bake when ready to serve for convenient meal planning.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 483 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 670 mg
- Fat: 33 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg