This easy and delicious Mexican ground beef casserole is a hearty and filling meal that’s packed full of fun Tex-Mex and Mexican flavors. Dig into this beefy casserole for an easy weeknight family meal or as an alternative to taco night.
Today we’re making some tasty Mexican ground beef casserole. Whether you want to call it Mexican casserole or Mexican lasagna, this flavor-packed meal is beefy and super filling. It’s layered with taco-seasoned ground beef mixed with fillings like corn, black beans, tomatoes, green chiles, layers of tortillas, refried beans and a blend of cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese.
This easy-to-make casserole with simple ingredients is also very versatile so you can change your fillings as needed; make it as mild or hot as you want and pick your favorite taco fixings to top it off before serving. I’ve mentioned many times how hearty and filling it is because it’s a very deep dish casserole and will stretch much longer than your average 9×13 casserole so expect a lot of leftovers.
For a chicken version with slightly different flavors, you might also like this chicken enchilada casserole. If you’re in the mood for regular tacos, try these slow cooker shredded beef tacos, Mexican shredded beef or shredded chicken tacos, an instant pot chipotle chicken tacos, or some warm, baked cheesy chicken tacos.
How To Make Mexican Ground Beef Casserole (1 Min Video)
Ingredients in Mexican Ground Beef Casserole
MEXICAN GROUND BEEF CASSEROLE RECIPE TIPS
- Beef – The leaner your meat, the less fat you have to drain after browning. I used 97% lean and still had a lot of grease to drain. While browning ground beef or sausage, I like to use a meat masher to break up any clumps.
- Onions and garlic – Try to use fresh onions and garlic but you can substitute them with onion and garlic powder. I went with a modest amount of onions and garlic but if you want a stronger flavor, feel free to add more.
- Taco seasoning – I used a packet of taco seasoning mix but you can use your own taco spice mix if you have a go-to recipe. There are plenty of pre-packaged seasoning brands to pick from like Taco Bell, McCormick and Old El Paso. Old El Paso has a few more flavors like chicken tacos, chipotle chicken, cheesy tacos and Al Pastor.
- Tomato paste – This enhances the beef flavor significantly. I like using the Cento brand of tomato paste that comes in a tube so it stores easily and you can reuse it when needed. It’s less of a hassle than dealing with canned tomato paste.
- Diced tomatoes – I used Rotel for more flavor but any kind of diced tomatoes should also work. Rotel combines diced tomatoes with green chiles so if you end up substituting, add a 4 oz. can of green chiles to the mix. Rotel also has a ton of flavors to experiment with like original, mild, hot, fire-roasted, Mexican-style lime and cilantro. Make sure to fully drain the can of tomatoes so the beef mixture isn’t watered down.
- Corn – I used a can of regular whole kernel corn but you can substitute it with southwest corn, fiesta corn, or Mexicorn for more flavor.
- Black beans – I used Bush’s Best black beans for this recipe. Some recipes use pinto beans instead. Make sure to drain the cans fully before adding in the beans.
- Chili powder – Chili powder is added here more as a flavoring spice mix instead of adding some heat.
Recipe Notes:
Chili powder is more of a spice blend than straight-up ground chili powder. It is mild to moderately spicy, depending on how much cayenne there is in there. It’s usually a blend of savory spices such as cayenne, cumin, oregano, onions and garlic to give you the perfect flavor profile for Mexican or Tex-Mex recipes. There is a hint of spice but the chili powder mostly adds an earthy, mildly spice and smoky flavor.
- Tortillas – This recipe works with both corn and flour tortillas. I used the Mission brand super-size yellow corn tortillas.
- Refried beans – Refried beans are one of the base layers of the casserole to mimic the flavors of a burrito. One 16 oz. can of refried beans was more than enough for the whole casserole. If you’re not a fan of refried beans, you can skip this.
Recipe Tip
- Spoon portions of the refried beans on the tortillas and use the back of a spoon to spread them.
- Cheese – Two 8 oz. bags or blocks of cheese is more than enough for the two layers in this casserole. This recipe uses a mix of Monterey Jack and cheddar but you could also go for a Mexican cheese blend which is usually a mix of Monterey Jack, cheddar, Asadero, and Queso Quesadilla, or even throw in some mozzarella in there for some cheese strings.
- Storing – The casserole will keep up to 3-4 days in the fridge.
- Reheat in the oven – Bake at 350°F for 20-30 minutes until warmed through or for individual servings, reheat in the microwave for a couple of minutes.
Customize It!
- Add more flavor – Add more flavor with some ground chorizo.
- Add more layers – Try adding a layer of rice to add more substance.
- Make it spicy – Spice it up with fresh jalapenos, poblanos, chipotles, or a few dashes of ancho or chipotle chili powder.
And that’s about it. I hope you enjoy this filling beefy casserole and it keeps everyone fed and happy for many days. Let me know how you liked it, what substitutions you made and what you paired it with in the comments below!
This post was originally published on July 3, 2013 and updated on September 18, 2022.
MORE MEXICAN-INSPIRED RECIPES TO TRY
- Chicken Enchilada Casserole
- Slow Cooker Shredded Beef Tacos
- Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Beef
- Instant Pot Chipotle Chicken Tacos
- Cheesy Baked Chicken Tacos
- Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
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Mexican Ground Beef Casserole
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 8–12 1x
Description
This easy and delicious Mexican ground beef casserole is a hearty and filling meal that’s packed full of fun Tex-Mex and Mexican flavors.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. ground beef
- 1/2 medium yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 (1 oz.) packets taco seasoning
- 4 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 (10 oz.) cans Rotel, drained
- 1 (15 oz.) can whole kernel corn, drained
- 1 (15 oz.) can black beans, drained
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 (16 oz.) can refried beans
- 12 corn tortillas
- 2 cups (8 oz.) Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
- 2 cups (8 oz.) cheddar cheese, shredded
- Salt and pepper, to taste
TOPPING IDEAS
Instructions
- Over medium-high heat in a Dutch oven, brown the ground beef until cooked. Remove beef and set aside. Drain any fat from the pot.
- Saute onions in some oil until soft. Add garlic and saute for another 30 seconds.
- Add beef back to the pan and add taco seasoning, tomato paste and water according to the taco seasoning packet instructions. Simmer until the water has cooked down.
- Add Rotel, corn, black beans, chili powder, salt and pepper to taste and stir to combine. Simmer for 5 minutes until the beef mixture has cooked down a little and flavors are well combined. Do a taste test and adjust seasonings as needed.
- Combine the shredded Monterey Jack and cheddar cheese and mix well.
- Line the bottom of a 9×13 casserole dish with 6 tortillas, overlapping them to cover the entire surface.
- Spread half the refried beans on top of the tortillas, add 1/2 the beef mixture and top with 1/2 of the mixed cheese.
- Repeat 6 tortillas -> 1/2 refried beans -> 1/2 meat mixture -> 1/2 cheese layers one more time.
- Bake uncovered at 350°F for 30 minutes or until the cheese top has melted.
- Let it stand for 10 minutes before garnishing with your favorite toppings. Dish and serve warm.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- Layering cheat sheet – Layer 6 tortillas in a 9 x 13 casserole dish then layer in this order: 1/2 refried beans -> 1/2 meat mixture -> 1/2 cheese x 2 with the cheese top being the final layer.
- Add more flavor – Add more flavor with some ground chorizo.
- Add more layers – Try adding a layer of rice to add more substance.
- Make it spicy – Spice it up with fresh jalapenos, poblanos, chipotles, or a few dashes of ancho or chipotle chili powder.
- Scroll up to RECIPE TIPS for more useful tips, suggestions and ingredient substitutions.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 45 mins
Comments & Reviews
Great dish!
Only 2 of us, so we have enough for 2 more meals. Going freeze it in freezer bags.
Wish I’d read the Notes first. Would have added some chorizo!
looking for an alternative to tacos tonight. I used 1lb of beef and 1 can of Rotel otherwise I followed the recipe. Will definitely be making it again
Wow! I made this for the first time tonight and it’s delicious!!! There is so much flavor that I will be craving this again and I cut down on the heat. i used only a half tablespoon of chili powder instead of a full one, and i used mild rotel instead of the regular one. I left out the refried beans. I was concerned that the tortillas would be chewy but nope, they melt in your mouth! I served it with a side of sour cream. This recipe is definitely going to be a regular around here. Thank you for a recipe that is easy to make and is so delicious!!
I made it tonight for CincoDaMayo it was a big hit! My husband loved it! I added by the rice& Blackbeans and made guac on side I will def make again thanks for recipe
You’re very welcome and thanks for sharing, Debbie. Guacamole is so delicious, it’s hard not to dig in. I’m glad this was a success on Cinco De Mayo!
This recipe is delicious. Quick and easy and very tasty.
Thank you and I’m glad you enjoyed the casserole, Sharron!
Delicious ! Easy to follow Instructions. Love the “optionality” for modifying the recipe.
I doubled+ the corn, added roasted red peppers from my freezer, increased the black beans by 2/3, and used a blend of ground beef and pork. Lovely and sweet!
Thanks for sharing your substitutions, Nancy! I know most people don’t have the same taste or are allergic to certain ingredients, so I always try to include a ‘Customize It!’ section. I’m always glad to hear it’s serving its purpose well!
I didn’t have all the ingredients (tomato paste) and I used a packaged taco seasoning. There is only my husband and myself so I cut the recipe in half. It was very good! Comfort food for me. I look forward to making variations. I will use my own mix of taco seasoning. Also we are low carb so I left out the tortilla layers and just sprinkled some tortilla strips on top before baking. I would give my version a 4/5 for taste and texture. Thank you for the recipe!
I’m glad you managed to build on the recipe. That’s the beauty of cooking! The tomato paste can be skipped – it just adds some umami and enhances the ground beef flavor a lot. I love the idea of tortilla strips!
Can this recipe be portioned out and then frozen? Let thaw then microwaved.
I don’t see why not. I took a look at the ingredients and I don’t see anything that will change or degrade drastically once frozen. You usually have to be careful with dairy like cottage cheese or sour cream but regular shredded cheese is okay. The only thing that might be a little soggy once frozen are the corn tortillas. You might be able to mitigate the soggyness a little by lightly pan-frying/toasting them in a pan on both sides with a little oil to give more form and toughness.
Can I make this in advance and cook later in the day?
Absolutely! If you cover and keep it refrigerated for a couple of hours before cooking it, I would add a little more baking time to account for it being baked from chilled.
I made this tonight for my family and it is so delicious! I almost didn’t add the refried beans. I changed my mind and added them. They really bring the dish together. I also thought about switching the corn tortillas to flour, but in the end I followed the recipe. The only thing I did differently was to add the onion and garlic in with the ground beef while it browned. Don’t deviate from the recipe because it’s delicious the way it is. We added some sour cream and Picante sauce to top it off (and a little extra cheese).
I’m glad to hear the original recipe (plus fresh onions and garlic) worked out for you! I always expect others to use my recipes as a base or inspiration to build on but it’s always great to find out someone has the same tastes as me!
Delicious!! The only thing I changed was a little less refried beans (I don’t really like them) and only put a dash of chili powder in because I didn’t want it too spicy. The two packs of taco seasoning provided plenty of seasoning. I used white corn tortillas. It’s not only delicious, but really pretty too look at too. I squeezed some fresh lime on my portion and added sour cream. This recipe is a keeper!
I tend to flip-flop on my stance on refried beans – it really depends on who makes them. Sometimes they are great and other times they’re just…meh. If I remember correctly, I either used Old El Paso or the Taco brand of refried beans for this recipe. I was not a fan of Rosaritas. You could also doctor up the refried beans with some cumin or a little taco seasoning.
This was great! I used leftover taco meat then added the other ingredients as mentioned. I only had about 1# of meat leftover but used all the same measurement for everything else. I oddly didn’t have chili powder so I used the supplement; paprika, cayenne pepper & cumin in it’s place. I made guacamole, cut up cilantro & had sour cream to garnish our meal. It was excellent!
Great that you managed to find spices to substitute chili powder – I hope my recipe notes on chili powder helped! Fresh guacamole is the best! I served mine with a generous dollop of sour cream too 🙂
Good recipe. I didn’t have corn tortillas (my favorite) so I had to use flour. I softened the flour a little in a greased skillet. Also since I didn’t have corn tortillas I threw in some tortilla chips on top of the refried beans for corn flavor. No black beans so did use (as you suggested) pinto beans. Actually turned out really good. Also added some bell pepper with the onions and garlic.
Great tips on substituting with flour tortillas and I’m glad they held up well in the casserole. This should be helpful for others. Loving the addition of tortilla chips too – I bet that additional crunch was fun!