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This Tex Mex casserole is an easy, family-friendly dinner packed with seasoned meat, beans, melty cheese, and just the right amount of spice. It comes together quickly with simple ingredients, making it perfect for busy weeknights or casual get-togethers.
I like casserole dishes because they take a few ingredients and stretch them to create a meal that will satisfy the whole family. I found several recipes that sparked my own creativity and helped me come up with this cheesy Tex-Mex Casserole.
I love that you can make this with just 1/2 pound of ground beef. You can also leave out the corn tortillas if you’d prefer. The black beans serve as a great divider between layers.
Ingredients needed for Tex Mex Casserole
- ground beef-ground turkey is a great option as well
- thick and chunky salsa-we’ve used Pace, Old El Paso and homemade salsa using canned diced tomatoes-just add your own preferred seasonings
- Mexicorn-this is canned corn with added red and green peppers
- sour cream
- small curd cottage cheese
- corn tortillas
- black beans-canned beans are the easiest, but you can also use your own cooked black beans
- shredded cheddar cheese-we also like Colby Jack or quesadilla blends of shredded cheese
- optional toppings: cilantro, diced onions, sliced olives, avocado, etc.
Instructions
Start by browning the ground meat in a pan. Drain off any excess fat. Stir in the corn and the salsa and simmer together.
In a small bowl, mixt together the sour cream and cottage cheese until well blended.
Start to layer all the ingredients as shown below:
Place 3 of the tortillas in the bottom of a 9×13 casserole dish. Spread the cooked meat mixture over the tortilla layer.
Spread half of the black beans over the top of the meat mixture. Spoon half of the creamy mixture over the top of the beans.
Top the cream layer with half of the shredded cheese. Then repeat each layer, finishing with the last of the shredded cheese. Bake for 30 minutes.
This recipe is economical, satisfying and full of good, whole foods that will keep everyone happy! Serve with tortillas chips and a salad for a great weeknight meal!
Cheesy Tex-Mex Casserole
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound ground beef
- 15 oz (1 jar) thick and chunky salsa
- 11 oz can Mexicorn (it's a mix of corn, red and green bell peppers)
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 6 corn tortillas
- 15 oz can black beans drained and rinsed
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese divided
- garnish with cilantro, diced onions, avocado, etc. optional
Instructions
- 1/2 pound ground beefIn a large skillet, brown ground beef. Drain.
- 15 oz (1 jar) thick and chunky salsa, 11 oz can MexicornAdd in the salsa and corn. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- 1 cup cottage cheese, 1 cup sour creamIn a bowl, mix the cottage cheese and sour cream together until blended.
- 6 corn tortillasIn the bottom of a 2 quart casserole dish (or 9×13 pan), place 3 of the corn tortillas.
- Top with 1/2 of the meat mixture.
- 15 oz can black beansCover the meat mixture with 1/2 of the black beans.
- Spoon 1/2 of the cottage cheese mixture over the black beans.
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheeseSprinkle about 1 cup of cheddar cheese over the beans.
- Repeat the layers, ending with the cottage cheese layer.
- Cover with foil and bake at 350 for 30 minutes.
- Remove foil and top with the remaining cheese. Return to oven for 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted.
- garnish with cilantro, diced onions, avocado, etc.If desired, garnish with cilantro, onions and avocado
Nutrition
This post was originally sponsored by Crystal Farms Cheese
Posted in 2015, updated in 2026
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Alison @ Tickling the Wheat says
Yum! That would be an easy dish to take to a party. I have a 13×9 crock pot that would be perfect to use to keep it warm.
Rachael says
That dish is gorgeous! And the casserole looks yummy too.
carol clark says
My favorite is Chicken and rice Casserole
Shirley says
We just had our favorite casserole dish tonight! My grandma always called it Chile Chicken, it’s amazing!
Sarah says
My mom made this really simple, really yummy chicken casserole.
Sheri says
tuna casserole
Jamie @ Coffee With Us 3 says
I’ve got a creamy green chile chicken enchilada casserole that is so delicious! But basically I love casserole in general.
Nicky @ Little Family Adventure says
I don’t many casseroles, but macaroni and cheese is baked in the oven. It’s loaded with cheese and is really good.