Baking Mexican Casserole Without Cheese: How Long Does It Take?

Mexican casseroles are a great option for a quick, tasty, and easy meal. They are perfect for a weeknight dinner and can be made with simple ingredients that you may already have in your pantry. The best part? They can be made ahead of time and frozen for later!

A typical Mexican casserole consists of layers of ground beef, tortillas, beans, tomatoes, and cheese. However, there are many variations to this dish. You can use flour tortillas instead of corn, add in some bell peppers or poblano peppers, or even throw in some plant-based meat for a vegetarian option.

The cooking process is simple. First, cook the ground beef and drain the fat. Then, add in the beans, tomatoes, onion, taco seasoning, and soup. Simmer until everything is well combined and heated through. Next, layer the ingredients in a baking dish, starting with a layer of tortillas, followed by the meat/bean mixture, and then cheese. Repeat these layers, and cover with foil. Bake for 20-30 minutes at 325°F until bubbly.

There you have it! A delicious, hearty Mexican casserole that your family and friends will love.

Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes

Mexican Casserole

Ingredients

You will need the following ingredients to make a Mexican Casserole without cheese:

• Ground beef
• Taco seasoning
• Chili beans
• Crushed tomatoes
• Corn tortillas
• Sour cream
• Black olives
• Green onion
• Tomatoes

Method

• Preheat your oven to 350°F.
• Brown the ground beef in a large skillet and drain.
• Add the taco seasoning, chili beans, and crushed tomatoes to the skillet and stir.
• Prepare a 9x13 baking dish by spraying it with cooking spray.
• Layer the dish with corn tortillas, followed by the meat mixture, and then a layer of sour cream.
• Sprinkle the black olives, green onion, and tomatoes on top.
• Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes.

Tips

• You can use ground turkey or chicken instead of beef.
• You can also use homemade taco seasoning, ranch beans, or diced tomatoes if you prefer.
• For a vegetarian option, omit the ground beef and add 2 cups of beans instead.

Layering the ingredients

The beauty of a Mexican casserole is that you can use so many different combinations of ingredients and still have the cheese-tastic allure! Here is a step-by-step guide on how to layer the ingredients for a Mexican casserole.

Step 1: Prepare the ingredients

Before you start layering, make sure you have all the ingredients ready. Here are some common ingredients used in Mexican casseroles:

• Ground beef or chicken
• Taco seasoning
• Salsa
• Chili beans
• Corn
• Corn or flour tortillas
• Cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Mexican blend)
• Sour cream
• Black olives
• Green onions
• Tomatoes
• Cilantro
• Rice
• Refried beans
• Bell peppers
• Spices (cumin, chili powder, cayenne pepper)
• Greek yogurt or sour cream

You can also add some extra ingredients to give it your own twist, such as poblano peppers, jalapenos, or green chiles for some spice.

Step 2: Layer the ingredients in a baking dish

Once you have all your ingredients ready, it's time to start layering! Here's a suggested order for layering:

• Place a layer of tortillas on the bottom of a 9x13-inch casserole or baking dish. You can use corn or flour tortillas, depending on your preference.
• Spread a layer of refried beans or rice on top of the tortillas.
• Sprinkle a layer of cheese on top. You can use cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a Mexican blend.
• Add a layer of vegetables, such as bell peppers, onions, and tomatoes.
• Spread the meat mixture (ground beef or chicken with taco seasoning) on top.
• Repeat the layers, starting with the tortillas and ending with the meat mixture.
• Top with a final layer of cheese and any extra ingredients, such as black olives, green onions, or cilantro.

Step 3: Bake the casserole

Once you have layered all the ingredients, cover the dish with foil and bake it in the oven at 350°F for 20-45 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and the casserole is hot. You can also broil the casserole for a few minutes at the end to brown the cheese.

And that's it! You now have a delicious, hearty, and cheesy Mexican casserole that your family and friends will love. Serve it with some tortilla chips, salsa, and a fresh salad for a complete meal. Enjoy!

Using ground beef

Mexican Casserole with Ground Beef

Ingredients

You can use a variety of ingredients to make a Mexican casserole with ground beef. Here are some common ones:

• Ground beef
• Taco seasoning
• Salsa
• Chili beans
• Corn
• Tortillas (corn or flour)
• Cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, mozzarella, Colby, etc.)
• Sour cream
• Black olives
• Green onions
• Tomatoes
• Cilantro
• Rice
• Onion
• Bell peppers
• Spices (cumin, chili powder, cayenne pepper, etc.)
• Greek yogurt
• Refried beans

Method

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C-177°C).
• Cook and crumble the ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat until browned.
• Add the taco seasoning, salsa, chili beans, and corn to the beef and stir until combined.
• In a separate pan, sauté onions and bell peppers until softened.
• Add the beef mixture to the pan with the onions and bell peppers.
• Stir in rice, Greek yogurt, and spices until combined.
• In a baking dish, layer tortillas, beef mixture, cheese, and any other desired ingredients (such as refried beans, sour cream, black olives, etc.).
• Repeat the layers as needed.
• Bake in the oven for 15-30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the casserole is hot.
• Let the casserole cool for a few minutes before serving.

Tips and Variations

• You can use ground turkey or chicken instead of ground beef.
• You can add extra vegetables, such as poblano peppers, bell peppers, or jalapeños.
• You can make it spicy by adding more cayenne pepper or chili powder.
• You can add a layer of rice to the casserole for extra substance.
• You can make it ahead of time and store it in the fridge or freezer until you're ready to bake it.
• It can be served with tortilla chips, salad, rice, or beans.

Adding taco seasoning

Choosing Your Taco Seasoning

The great thing about taco seasoning is that you can buy it pre-made or make it yourself. If you're going the store-bought route, simply grab a packet of taco seasoning from your local grocery store. However, if you want to make your own, gather the following ingredients:

• Chili powder
• Ground cumin
• Ground black pepper
• Ground paprika
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Crushed red pepper flakes
• Dried oregano

Mix these spices together in a small bowl, and you've got your very own homemade taco seasoning!

Preparing the Meat

For your Mexican casserole, you'll typically use ground beef, but you can also use ground turkey or chicken for a lighter option. Start by cooking your chosen meat in a skillet over medium-high heat until it's browned. Drain the grease, and then it's time to add your taco seasoning.

Adding the Taco Seasoning

Once your meat is cooked, it's time to add the taco seasoning. If you're using a store-bought packet, follow the instructions on the packet for the correct amount. Usually, you'll need about 3 tablespoons of seasoning for every pound of meat. If you're using your homemade seasoning, add it to taste, keeping in mind that you can always add more but it's harder to add less! Stir the seasoning into the meat until it's well combined.

Layering the Casserole

Now that your meat is seasoned, it's time to start layering your casserole. In a 9x13-inch baking dish, start by spreading a layer of crushed tortilla chips or broken taco shells on the bottom. Then, add a layer of your seasoned meat. If you like, you can also add a layer of refried beans, olives, green chiles, or salsa to the meat for extra flavour.

Baking the Casserole

After layering your ingredients, it's time to bake your casserole. Cover the dish with foil and bake it in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 20-30 minutes, or until it's hot and bubbly. If you want a crispy topping, remove the foil for the last 5-10 minutes of baking.

Serving the Casserole

Your Mexican casserole is now ready to serve! You can top it with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, salsa, guacamole, or taco sauce. It's best served hot, and it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to four days.

Substituting with ground turkey

Ground turkey is a great substitute for ground beef in Mexican casseroles. It is a lean protein source that can be used in the same way as ground beef and will cook in a similar amount of time.

If you are using ground turkey, you may want to add some extra seasoning to the dish. For example, you could add a packet of taco seasoning to the meat while it cooks, or season the casserole with chili powder and sea salt to bring a classic taco flavour to the dish.

You can also add some extra vegetables to the dish, such as onion, garlic, and bell peppers, to add some refreshing flavour.

Ingredients:

• Avocado oil or olive oil
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained
• 1 (7-ounce) can green chilis
• 1 teaspoon sea salt, to taste
• 3 cups grated Colby Jack cheese
• 1 ripe avocado, sliced
• 3 stalks green onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup to 1 cup salsa

Instructions:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F and spray a 13” x 9” casserole dish with cooking spray.
• Heat the avocado oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until softened, about 3 to 5 minutes.
• Transfer the raw ground turkey to the skillet and use a spatula to chop it into bite-sized bits. Cook until much of the pink is gone. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt.
• Transfer the chopped bell pepper, minced garlic, chili powder, chicken broth, salsa, uncooked white rice, drained black beans, green chiles, and sea salt to the prepared baking dish. Stir everything well until combined.
• Stir in the ground turkey and onion mixture and sprinkle the cheese on top.
• Cover the casserole dish with aluminium foil and bake for 45 minutes.
• Remove the baking dish from the oven and remove the foil. Place the oven on the High Broil setting and broil the casserole for 5 to 8 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and turns slightly golden brown.
• Serve the casserole with your choice of toppings, such as avocado, guacamole, black olives, corn chips, sour cream, salsa, shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, or extra shredded cheese.

Frequently asked questions