Easy Mexican Casserole

I love casseroles. They’re not only easy to put together for my household, but we hardly ever have any leftovers! This easy easy Mexican casserole for beginners is a great place to start, whether you’re new to cooking or you prep meals each week in advance for your family.

If you’re searching for the perfect simple easy Mexican casserole meal, this dish delivers. It’s not only savory and filling, but its aroma will remind you of visiting your favorite Mexican restaurant!

All you need is about 15 minutes of prep time and this quick easy Mexican casserole recipe will be ready to eat in less than one hour. Just like that! Filled with delicious ground beef and plenty of cheese, you’ll wonder why you haven’t tried this one before.

I’m betting that if you try this recipe once, you’ll want to add it to your weekly menu rotation. Best of all, it’s also a family friendly easy Mexican casserole, making this a great addition to your at-home menu, even if you have kids.

This casserole is just perfect for dinner any night of the week and loaded with flavor.

My husband loved this meal, and it is now one of our favorite dinners to make!

Bake and enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 ½ lbs. Ground Beef

2-3 C. Crushed tortilla chips

1 Can Rotel drained

1 Can Red Kidney Beans drained

2 C. Sour cream

1 Tbsp. Chili powder

2 tsp. Cumin

1 tsp. Oregano

½ C. Chopped green onions

2 Small Roma tomatoes chopped

2 C. Cheddar cheese

Salt and pepper to taste

Scroll to bottom for printable recipe card.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Uses basic ingredients that can be found in pantries or the refrigerator.
• Only requires approximately 15 minutes of prep time before it’s ready to be baked in the oven.
• Great for making ahead of time, especially if your household often has a busy or packed schedule.
• Freezer-friendly so you can store and save any leftovers without a hassle (and without wasting any food).

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

Ground beef: Substitute ground beef for turkey for a leaner version of this best easy Mexican casserole dish. You can also mix your beef with pork for added flavor. If you’re using beef but want this recipe to remain as a healthy easy Mexican casserole version, you can also opt for 90/10 lean beef, instead.

Rotel: If you don’t have any Rotel on hand, you can use your own tomatoes and add additional chili seasoning to make this dish come to life.

Cheddar cheese: While cheddar cheese is recommended for maximum flavor in this casserole, you can swap it for Italian cheese mix, pepper Jack, or even Monterey cheddar. Try different cheeses that you and your family love with this one!

Green onions: If you’re out of green onions or live with picky eaters, you can keep them out and serve them fresh over individual servings. You can also add onion powder to this casserole if you are not a fan of the texture of onions or green onions. 

How to Make It

Step 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. While your oven is preheating, spend time prepping the ingredients in your favorite casserole dish.

Step 2. Sauté the meat in a skillet over medium-high heat on the stove until it is completely browned. Browning the meat adds an incredible flavor to this recipe that you won’t want to miss out on.

Step 3. Add the chili powder, cumin, oregano and salt and pepper to taste to the skillet, and sauté for a minute longer, incorporating the seasonings and coating the beef with them.

a. Add chili powder

b. Next, add the cumin

c. Add the oregano

Step 4. Stir in the Rotel and beans, and simmer the mixture for 5 minutes.

Step 5. Place crushed tortilla chips into the bottom of a well-greased 9×13 baking dish.

Step 6. Add the meat mixture on top of the tortilla chips.

Step 7. Spread the sour cream over the meat in an even layer.

Step 8. Place the tomatoes and green onions on top of the sour cream (if you are using them).

Step 9. Sprinkle the cheese on top.

Step 10. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until bubbly. You can also broil this casserole on high for 1 to 2 minutes once it’s ready to be served for a deliciously golden brown crust.

Enjoy!

Tips for Success

Drain the grease well after heating up your beef. The higher the fat in your meat, the more grease it will produce. You’ll want to drain the grease so your casserole does not turn out too greasy and inedible.

Use freshly grated cheese for optimal melting. While it’s possible to use packaged, shredded cheese, it may not melt as well as traditional fresh blocks of cheese.

Storage & Reheating

This casserole can be stored in a casserole dish in an airtight container for up to 3 or 4 days in your refrigerator. You can also store individual servings in traditional Tupperware containers (with lids) in your fridge for 3 to 4 days.

If you want to save this casserole for even longer, you can do so by placing individually stored servings in Tupperware in your freezer for 2 to 3 months.

Reheating this easy Mexican casserole is possible by first thawing or allowing saved servings and allowing them to come to room temperature. You can place your leftovers in a casserole or baking dish and reheat at 350 degrees for 10–15 minutes each. You may also microwave leftovers for 2–3 minutes per serving.

Serving Suggestions

If you’re in need of serving suggestions and homemade easy Mexican casserole ideas for sides, consider preparing easy Mexican rice or yellow rice to go along with this dish, depending on your preferences. You can also make this alongside air fryer green beans if you’re searching for a healthy side that’s fit for the whole family.

Notes

This recipe is sure to bring smiles to your family, especially if your household loves Mexican food and plenty of cheesy goodness! Try serving it with a refreshing pineapple lemon drink or an orange creamsicle milkshake for dessert!

Now, remember to save this recipe on Pinterest for later 🙂