Mexican Casserole {The Best Healthy Mexican Casserole} – Well Plated

If Mexican food always sounds like a good idea in your house the way it does in ours, then this ultimate Mexican Casserole is a must for your meal plan this week! It combines pantry staples with fresh ingredients for that rich, cheesy Southwest sensation that we never seem to stop craving.

Easy Cheesy Mexican Casserole With Rice

Thanks to main ingredients that are often on hand at home – brown rice, canned beans and tomatoes, and cheese – this recipe is the pinnacle of easy and healthy comfort food.

This Mexican casserole with rice is a good Mexican dish because it relies on classic Mexican flavors, but with a healthy spin (like Taco Salad!).

It calls for lean ground beef, whole grain brown rice, and Greek yogurt instead of sour cream. Also, by using fully-flavored cheeses (hello, sharp cheddar) you can pack more flavor while using less.

This family-friendly recipe is adapted from my exceptionally popular Mexican Chicken Casserole. That recipe calls for quinoa and cubed boneless, skinless chicken breast.

For today’s Mexican casserole, I was hungry for something more old school and picked up inspiration from one of the most iconic, universally beloved Tex-Mex recipes of them all: 7 Layer Taco Dip.

Why it took me so long to come to the idea of a layered casserole I cannot explain, but I will be making up for lost time from now until forever. Rather than mixing all of the ingredients together, this Mexican casserole layers them, and the results are unstoppably delish.

While I usually opt for regular black beans in my Mexican recipes, with the layer-dip inspo in the back of my mind, I made this Mexican casserole with refried beans instead.

The refried beans make the casserole delightfully creamy and are a tasty change of pace. Like a layered dip but in heartier form, it’s fantastic to scoop with chips. Refined palate that he has, Ben eats his Mexican casserole with Doritos.

That’s the beloved nature of Mexican flavors: you can use so many different combinations and still have the cheese-tastic allure! (Another favorite Mexican casserole with tortillas: Slow Cooker Taco Casserole. This Chicken Tortilla Casserole is excellent too.)

If you’re looking for a hands-free way to cook a Mexican casserole, check out my Crock Pot Mexican Casserole and Instant Pot Mexican Casserole. If you are in for a little layered fun, however, today’s Mexican casserole with rice and refried beans is the move. It celebrates the savory flavors so many of us love in Mexican food.

How to Make Mexican Casserole

With the key five components of a casserole – a protein such as ground meat, a grain to hold it together like rice, creamy filling, fresh vegetables, and a delectable cheesy top, this Mexican casserole has it all and is a well-balanced dish.

The Ingredients

• Lean Ground Beef. Flavorful, protein-packed, and delicious with the other flavors in this casserole. Not feeling the beef? You can swap ground chicken or ground turkey.

• Cooked Brown Rice. I chose brown rice for this casserole for its whole grain benefits and classic taste, but you could also use quinoa or another cooked grain of your choice. Heads up! The rice is not cooked as a part of this recipe, so it’s important to have it already cooked before starting the rest of the casserole.
• Onion + Bell Peppers. Scrumptious, colorful, and healthy additions.
• Spices. A little cumin, chili powder, and cayenne pepper give this casserole an extra kick of flavor and a touch of heat.
• Nonfat Greek Yogurt. A sneaky, healthier swap for sour cream. It provides the same tangy flavor and creamy texture.
• Refried Beans. Both refried black beans and classic refried beans (pintos) will taste delicious here. If you’re in a hurry, you can use canned refried beans for this recipe. However, if you desire to make them without added salt or preservatives, use my Instant Pot Black Beans or Instant Pot Refried Beans recipe instead.
• Cheeses. Sharp cheddar and mozzarella create the ideal creamy and cheesy combination for our casserole.
• Tomatoes with Green Chilies. Bold Southwestern flavor packed into one easy can.

The Directions

1. Cook the rice.

2. Sauté the onion and bell peppers.

3. Add the beef and spices, sautéing until cooked through. Stir in the garlic.

4. Take the skillet off of the heat, then stir in the rice and yogurt.

5. Layer time! Spread the refried beans in the prepared baking dish.

6. Top with part of the cheeses.

7. Add the tomatoes and green chilies.

8. Top with the rice and ground beef mixture.

9. Add the remaining cheeses.
10. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes. Pop under the broiler for 3 to 4 minutes, until the cheese browns.
11. Let the casserole rest for a few minutes, top with cilantro, and DIG IN!

Recipe Adaptations

• Mexican Casserole with Chicken. Swap in ground chicken meat for the ground beef called for in this recipe.
• To Make Vegetarian. Omit the ground beef and use a can of pinto beans or vegetarian “meat” crumbles instead.
• To Make Gluten Free. No changes needed. This casserole recipe is gluten free as written.

Make Ahead and Storage Tips

This Mexican casserole with ground beef recipe produces very generous portions for six, which is beneficial because it lasts up to a week in the fridge, and it stores very well in the freezer for any portions you don’t finish.

• To Make Ahead. Cook the rice, and chop the onions, bell peppers, and garlic up to 1 day in advance. Store each in a separate airtight storage container in the refrigerator.
• To Store. This casserole can be stored in an airtight storage container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
• To Reheat. Rewarm leftovers in a baking dish in the oven at 350 degrees F. You can also reheat it in the microwave. I like to add a splash of water or broth to keep it from drying out.
• To Freeze. Freeze leftover casserole in an airtight freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

More Ways to Serve Mexican Casserole

• With Tortillas. For a Mexican casserole with tortillas, pile this casserole into tortillas and enjoy it burrito style.
• As a Burrito Bowl. Serve this casserole in a bowl with your favorite toppings.
• With Chips. Grab a bag of your favorite tortilla chips, and serve this casserole as a hearty dip.

What to Serve With Mexican Casserole 

Abundant with lean protein, whole grains, and fresh vegetables, this is truly an all-in-one meal. If you’re looking to supplement it though, here are some suggestions:

More Marvelous Mexican Casseroles

• Baking Dish. The ultimate kitchen tool for casseroles and so much more.
• Dutch Oven. An invaluable addition to your kitchen that will serve you well in so many recipes.
• Chef’s Knife. Ideal for prepping ingredients for any casserole recipe.

Guess what we’re in the mood for tonight (and tomorrow and the day after tomorrow…).

COOKBOOK NEWS & EVENTS

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