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Mexican White Trash Casserole Recipe

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★★★★★

4.4 from 97 reviews

Mexican White Trash Casserole is a layered, hearty dish featuring seasoned ground beef, refried beans, tortilla chips, and melted Mexican cheese, baked to bubbly, golden perfection. This comforting casserole combines crunchy chips with creamy beans and savory beef, topped with fresh garnishes like sour cream, guacamole, and cilantro for an easy and flavorful Tex-Mex meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

  • 1 bag (9-10 oz) tortilla chips, lightly crushed
  • 1 pound ground beef or turkey for lighter option
  • 1 packet taco seasoning (about 1 oz)
  • 1 cup salsa, your preferred heat level
  • 1 can (15 oz) refried beans
  • 2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese, divided

Toppings

  • Sour cream, to taste
  • Guacamole, to taste
  • Diced fresh tomatoes, to taste
  • Sliced black olives, to taste
  • Chopped green onions, to taste
  • Fresh cilantro leaves, to taste

Instructions

  1. Get your oven ready: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter to prevent sticking during baking.
  2. Cook the seasoned beef: In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef until fully cooked and no longer pink, about 6-8 minutes. Drain excess grease. Stir in the taco seasoning packet and salsa, then let the mixture simmer for 2-3 minutes so flavors meld.
  3. Start the first layer: Spread half of the lightly crushed tortilla chips evenly on the bottom of the prepared baking dish to form a crunchy base.
  4. Add the creamy middle layers: Evenly spread the refried beans over the tortilla chips, followed by half of the seasoned beef mixture, smoothing it out to cover the layer.
  5. Add the first cheese layer: Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded Mexican blend cheese evenly over the beef layer to help bind the casserole.
  6. Build the final layers: Add the remaining crushed tortilla chips on top of the cheese layer, then spread the rest of the beef mixture evenly. Finally, top with the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheese, covering the casserole surface completely.
  7. Bake until bubbly perfection: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden around the edges. Let it cool for 5 minutes before serving.
  8. Add toppings and serve: Garnish with sour cream, guacamole, diced tomatoes, sliced black olives, chopped green onions, and fresh cilantro leaves as desired. Serve warm and enjoy this delicious, cheesy Mexican-inspired casserole.

Notes

  • You can substitute ground turkey for ground beef to reduce fat content.
  • Adjust the salsa heat level to your personal preference, from mild to spicy.
  • For extra crunch, add another layer of crushed chips before the top cheese layer.
  • To make the dish vegetarian, skip the meat and use additional refried beans or a plant-based meat substitute.
  • Letting the casserole rest for a few minutes after baking helps it set and makes serving easier.

Keywords: Mexican casserole, taco casserole, ground beef recipe, baked Mexican dish, easy casserole, refried beans recipe, tortilla chip casserole, cheesy casserole, weeknight dinner

Find it online: https://cheframiflavor.com/mexican-white-trash-casserole-recipe/