Spicy Mexican Casserole (Print version)

A hearty Spicy Mexican Casserole layered with seasoned beef, black beans, corn tortillas, salsa, jalapeno, and melted cheese.

# Ingredients:

For the beef filling

01 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
02 - 1 1/2 lb (680 g) lean ground beef
03 - 1 small yellow onion, diced
04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1 jalapeno, seeded and minced
06 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 2 tablespoons chili powder
08 - 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
09 - 1/2 teaspoon chipotle powder
10 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
11 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
12 - 1 can (15 oz or 425 g) black beans, rinsed and drained
13 - 1 cup (165 g) corn kernels, frozen or canned and drained
14 - 1 can (14.5 oz or 411 g) fire-roasted diced tomatoes, drained lightly
15 - 1 cup (240 ml) hot or medium salsa

For layering

16 - 12 small corn tortillas, halved if needed to fit
17 - 2 1/2 cups (280 g) shredded Mexican cheese blend
18 - 1/2 cup (45 g) crushed tortilla chips, optional for topping
19 - 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro, for serving
20 - 1 lime, cut into wedges
21 - Sour cream or avocado, optional for serving

# Instructions:

01 - Heat the oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - Warm the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook for 7-9 minutes, breaking it into small crumbles, until browned and cooked through.
03 - Add the onion, bell pepper, jalapeno, and garlic. Cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring often, until the vegetables soften and the garlic smells fragrant.
04 - Stir in the chili powder, cumin, chipotle powder, salt, pepper, black beans, corn, tomatoes, and salsa. Simmer for 5-7 minutes until the mixture thickens and is no longer watery.
05 - Spread a thin layer of filling in the baking dish. Add a layer of corn tortillas, then more filling and cheese. Repeat the layers, ending with cheese on top.
06 - Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes, until hot through the center and bubbling at the edges.
07 - Remove the foil. Add crushed tortilla chips if using, then bake for 5-8 minutes until the cheese is melted and lightly browned.
08 - Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Top with cilantro and serve with lime wedges, sour cream, or avocado.

# Good to know:

01 - Use hot salsa for a spicy casserole or medium salsa for a family-friendly version.
02 - Letting the casserole rest helps the layers slice cleanly.
03 - Nutrition is an estimate per serving without optional sour cream or avocado.

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