Mexican Ground Beef Casserole

Mexican Ground Beef Casserole has quickly become one of our family favorites and I can guarantee it will be yours too. An easy dinner recipe using browned ground beef, beans, rice and spices for a one dish meal that is out of this world!

overhead shot of mexican ground beef casserole in pan


 

I find that Mexican food is the ultimate comfort food. Warm flavors with lots of cheese. Make that into a casserole dish and you’ve got pure magic.

My readers always seem to be looking for new ways to use ground beef beyond meatballs, tacos and meatloaf. It is a hearty protein and easy on the wallet. Mexican ground beef recipes, to be specific.

Why You’ll Love This Mexican Ground Beef Casserole

Warm ground beef perfectly seasoned and mixed with your favorite taco ingredients- what’s not to love!

  • Dinner is ready in a flash – When you’re looking for a meal that’s easy to whip up with simple ingredients, this tasty Mexican ground beef casserole is it.
  • Great for picky eaters – This ultimate Mexican casserole is loved by both kids and adults, making it a winner with the whole family every time.
  • So many topping ideas – You can easily modify this recipe to fit your family’s needs- especially if you have a picky eater.
  • No need to turn on the oven – This casserole with it’s many layers of deliciousness cooks right on the stove- no oven or baking dish required!
close up of mexican rice and beef on fork

Ingredients

All of these simple ingredients can be found at your local grocery store.

  • Ground beef – I like to use a lean ground beef for this easy mexican casserole recipe. A 90/10 mix is a safe bet.
  • Vegetable oil – We just need a little bit of oil to prevent the meat from sticking to the pan. Especially because the fat content in the meat is so low.
  • Taco seasoning – Feel free to buy the store bought packet. But you can also make your own homemade taco seasoning.
  • Kosher salt – Different salts measure differently, so be sure to keep that in mind if using something other than Kosher salt.
  • White onion – If you have a picky eater, you can leave this out. But it adds great flavor to the meat mixture.
  • Chicken stock – I always prefer to use low sodium, but that is optional. You can also use chicken broth if that’s what you have on hand.
  • Jasmine rice – Plain white rice can also work well here, just use a long grain rice variety.
  • Black beans – If using from a can, make sure they are rinsed and drained.
  • Fire roasted diced tomatoes – You can easily find these in a can. They add a little bit of a kick to the casserole.
  • Green chiles – Green chiles add a nice overall flavor and some color.
  • Hot sauce – I like to add a little heat. Use your favorite brand, or omit if you don’t want the added spice.
  • Frozen corn – I like using sweet corn, but feel free to use canned or fresh if that’s what you have on hand.
  • Colby jack cheese – shredding your own cheese is much preferred. Pre-shredded cheese has an additive that prevents it from melting well.

I garnished with avocado, sour cream and scallions for a colorful one dish meal. Hubby and I ate Mexican Beef and Rice Casserole for the next 3 meals and ended up making another double batch the next week to take for lunches!

close up overhead shot of overhead shot of bowl of mexican ground beef casserole

How to Make Mexican Ground Beef Casserole

You are going to love how easy it is to make one of my favorite Mexican recipes.

  1. Cook beef. In a skillet or cast iron pan, heat vegetable oil over medium heat. Add ground beef, breaking up pieces as it cooks. Cook until there is no pink and it is nicely browned.
  2. Add seasonings and onion. Add taco seasoning, kosher salt and diced white onion, continue to cook for an additional couple minutes. 
  3. Remaining ingredients. Add chicken stock, jasmine rice, drained and rinsed black beans, diced tomatoes with juice, green chiles and hot sauce, toss to combine. 
  4. Cover and cook. Cover and allow to bake. Stir half way through to prevent rice from sticking to the bottom of the pan. 
  5. Add corn. When nearly done, add frozen corn, cook for an additional couple minutes. 
  6. Add cheese. Toss with colby jack cheese. 
  7. Add toppings. Serve with optional garnishes including sour cream, scallions, avocado and cilantro.

What to Serve with Mexican Ground Beef Casserole

This is one of our favorite dinners to make on busy weeknights. It’s a great recipe because you can customize it or serve it however you’d like to.

We usually eat this casserole as is, but you can serve it with tortilla chips for serving, or even add it to flour tortillas to make them into tacos.

Because the casserole already has both rice and beans, we don’t normally serve it with extra. But you could throw in a side of refried beans.

overhead shot of bowl of mexican ground beef casserole

Favorite Toppings

Maybe the best part about this casserole is how easily you can customize it with toppings! Just about any of your favorite taco toppings would taste great on this casserole. Here are some of our favorites:

Variations

There are plenty of ways you can make this Mexican ground beef casserole your own.

  • Meat – Swap out the ground beef for something like ground chicken or ground turkey instead.
  • Vegetables – You can throw in as many vegetables as you’d like. Bell pepper, rotel tomatoes, and black olives would all taste great in this easy casserole.
  • Cheese – We like colby jack, but you could swap it out for cheddar cheese, pepper jack, monterey jack, cotija, mexican blend cheese or even a queso sauce.
  • Turn into tacos – Add the ground beef mixture to corn tortillas or flour tortillas to make tacos instead of a taco casserole.
  • Rice– We found white rice to work the best, but you can also use brown rice (different texture) or a Mexican rice box mix. If it comes with a seasoning packet, omit the additional salt.
overhead shot of wooden spoon in pan of mexican ground beef casserole

Storage and Freezing

This casserole is easily stored and frozen.

How to Store Mexican Ground Beef Casserole

Just like your other favorite Mexican leftover, you can store this leftover Mexican ground beef casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will last for up to 3-4 days.

Can I Freeze Mexican Ground Beef Casserole

This casserole also freezes well in the freezer. Check out my tips for freezing a casserole.

straight on shot of wooden spoon in pan of mexican ground beef casserole

More Easy Dinner Recipes

Easy dinner ideas is the name of the game at our house. Here are a few more favorites, including casserole recipes.

overhead chicken tex-mex skillet recipe

Tex-Mex Chicken and Rice Skillet Recipe

4.86 from 7 votes
Busy families can never have enough delicious and quick one dish meals. This Chicken and Rice Skillet is one of our favorites and so easy!
See The Recipe!
plate of chicken casserole topped with avocado and sour cream

Creamy Mexican Chicken Casserole

4.86 from 14 votes
This easy, creamy Mexican Chicken Casserole combines tender chicken, vegetables, and beans with lots of cheese for the ultimate easy dinner!
See The Recipe!
angle of cheesy meatball casserole

Meatball Casserole

4.27 from 42 votes
Cheesy Meatball Casserole comes together w/ frozen meatballs, marinara sauce, and pasta. Minimal prep makes it the perfect weeknight dinner! 
See The Recipe!

Before you get started, make sure you know how to properly season your cast iron and how to clean your cast iron!

overhead shot of pan of mexican ground beef casserole with text overlay
overhead shot of mexican ground beef casserole in pan

Mexican Ground Beef Casserole Recipe

4.62 from 26 votes
Mexican Beef and Rice Casserole is an easy weeknight recipe using ground beef, taco seasoning and other easy ingredients for a one dish meal your whole family will love! 
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 8 people

Ingredients

Topping Ideas:

Instructions

  • In an extra large skillet or cast iron pan, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat. Add the ground beef, breaking up pieces as it cooks. Cook until there is no pink. If you use anything above 90/10 mix, drain the grease after meat has cooked. 
  • Stir in the taco seasoning, white onion and garlic, continuing to cook for 2 minutes. 
  • Add the chicken stock, jasmine rice, black beans, diced tomatoes with juice, green chiles and hot sauce, toss to combine. 
  • Cover and allow the casserole to cook for 15-20 minutes. Stir halfway through to prevent rice from sticking to the bottom of the pan. 
  • When the rice is done (taste test), stir in the corn and cook for an additional 2 minutes. 
  • Toss with the colby jack cheese until melted.
  • Serve with optional garnishes including sour cream, scallions, avocado and cilantro. 
  • If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings.

Video

Notes

I always keep instant rice in the pantry. The amount of liquid can vary greatly from one batch to the next and if the called for amount of rice isn’t soaking up all the liquid, I can add 1-2 tablespoons of instant rice to compensate without ruining the recipe. 

Nutrition

Calories: 442 kcal, Carbohydrates: 29 g, Protein: 40 g, Fat: 19 g, Saturated Fat: 10 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 6 g, Trans Fat: 0.4 g, Cholesterol: 102 mg, Sodium: 903 mg, Potassium: 794 mg, Fiber: 7 g, Sugar: 3 g, Vitamin A: 660 IU, Vitamin C: 10 mg, Calcium: 273 mg, Iron: 5 mg
Author: Jessica Formicola
Calories: 442
Course: Main Course, Main Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: casserole recipes, ground beef recipes, skillet recipes
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see your recipes – snap a picture and mention @savoryexperiments or tag #savoryexperiments!
collage of mexican ground beef casserole
Jessica Formicola in her ktichen

About the Author

Jessica Formicola

Jessica the mom, wife and food lover behind Savory Experiments. She is obsessed with butter, salt and bacon and spends all her time in the kitchen and behind a camera. Jessica is a contributor to PopKitchen by Parade, Better Homes & Gardens, The Daily Meal Food + Travel and more!

Read More About Jessica

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Recipe Rating




Questions and Reviews

  1. 5 stars
    OMG! My mouth is literally drooling, this looks amazing! Definitely making this soon, thank you!

  2. I a having a taco event next Saturday…..game board night with friends………THIS recipe is now going to be the centerpiece of the buffet! Everything in ONE big pot – FABULOUS…..can be a taco or taco salad…….so simple. Thank you so much!

  3. 5 stars
    I want to try Cookbook Roulette now! That sounds really exciting!! I like your adaptations on this recipe. I can see why it remains in rotation.

  4. OMG! I was mouthwatering the whole time while scrolling down the recipe. That looks absolutely amazing and delicious.