Mexican Casserole Ground Beef (Print Version)

Hearty layers of beef, beans, and cheddar baked with tortilla chips for bold Mexican-inspired flavor.

# Ingredients:

→ Main components

01 - 450 g lean ground beef
02 - 1 can (approx. 425 g) Ranch Style beans
03 - 1 bag (280-340 g) tortilla chips, crushed (not all may be used as needed)
04 - 1 can (approx. 284 g) Ro-Tel diced tomatoes with green chilies
05 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
06 - 2 cups (200 g) shredded cheddar cheese, divided
07 - 1 package (about 30 g) taco seasoning
08 - 1 can (approx. 305 g) condensed cream of chicken soup
09 - 120 ml water

→ For serving

10 - Sour cream, as desired
11 - Salsa, as desired

# Instructions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 165°C. Lightly grease a 23 x 33 cm baking dish with oil or nonstick spray.
02 - In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef until no longer pink. Drain excess fat if necessary.
03 - Add Ranch Style beans, Ro-Tel tomatoes, chopped onion, taco seasoning, condensed cream of chicken soup, and water to the skillet. Stir well and simmer over medium-low heat for 5 minutes, ensuring all ingredients are thoroughly combined.
04 - Arrange a layer of crushed tortilla chips on the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Spoon half of the beef mixture over the chips, then sprinkle with half of the cheddar cheese. Repeat layers with remaining chips, beef mixture, and top with remaining cheese.
05 - Cover the dish with aluminium foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20–30 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbling throughout.
06 - Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 5–10 minutes. Serve individual portions topped with sour cream and salsa to taste.

# Notes:

01 - For enhanced flavour and texture, reserve extra tortilla chips to add at serving for added crunch.