Description
This Crunchy Tex-Mex Casserole is a flavorful, family-friendly dish layered with seasoned beef, beans, and tortilla chips, then topped with a spicy ranch drizzle. It’s a satisfying meal that combines the bold flavors of Tex-Mex with the comforting texture of a baked casserole.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 (1-ounce) packet taco seasoning
- 1 (15.5-ounce) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (10-ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained
- 4 cups lightly crushed tortilla chips
- 2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese
- 1/2 cup ranch dressing
- 1 to 2 teaspoons hot sauce, to taste
- Chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 13×9-inch baking dish.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef, salt, and pepper, cooking until browned, about 6 to 8 minutes. Drain excess fat.
- Stir in taco seasoning, pinto beans, and diced tomatoes with their juices. Cook for 2–3 minutes until heated through.
- Spread half of the crushed tortilla chips in the prepared baking dish. Top with half of the beef mixture and 1 cup of cheese. Repeat layers.
- Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted and bubbly, about 15–20 minutes.
- While casserole bakes, mix ranch dressing with hot sauce in a small bowl to create the spicy ranch drizzle.
- Remove casserole from oven and let cool slightly. Drizzle with spicy ranch and sprinkle with chopped cilantro, if using. Serve warm.
Notes
- Use ground turkey or plant-based meat as a substitute for beef if desired.
- Adjust the amount of hot sauce to control the spiciness of the drizzle.
- This dish is perfect for meal prep and reheats well.
- For extra crunch, add more crushed chips on top just before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of casserole
- Calories: 530
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 950mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
