Description
A hearty Mexican-inspired casserole made with seasoned ground beef, black beans, corn, salsa, melted cheese, and crispy golden tater tots. It’s an easy, comforting weeknight dinner that can be customized with extra vegetables or spice.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ lb ground beef
- 1 packet (1 oz) taco seasoning
- ½ cup water
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup corn, drained if canned
- ½ cup diced onion, optional
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 ½ cups salsa
- 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend
- 28–32 oz frozen tater tots
- 1–2 jalapeños, diced, optional
- ½ cup diced bell peppers, optional
- ½ cup sour cream, for serving, optional
- 1 avocado, sliced, for serving, optional
- Fresh cilantro or green onions, for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook for 5–7 minutes, breaking it into small crumbles, until browned. Drain excess fat.
- Stir in the taco seasoning and ½ cup water. Add the black beans, corn, onion, garlic, and optional jalapeños or bell peppers. Cook for 2–3 minutes until heated through.
- Spread the beef mixture evenly in the prepared casserole dish.
- Pour the salsa evenly over the beef mixture. Sprinkle the shredded Mexican cheese over the salsa.
- Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer over the cheese. Avoid overlapping them so they become crisp and golden.
- Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbling and the tater tots are golden and crispy.
- For an extra-crispy topping, broil for 2–3 minutes at the end, watching carefully to prevent burning.
- Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with cilantro or green onions and serve with sour cream, avocado, salsa, or guacamole if desired.
Notes
- For extra-crispy tater tots, pre-bake them for about 10 minutes before arranging them over the casserole.
- Ground turkey or chicken can replace the ground beef.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the meat and use additional black beans, corn, lentils, or plant-based crumbles.
- Use mild, medium, or hot salsa depending on your preferred spice level.
- Sharp cheddar and Monterey Jack can replace the Mexican cheese blend.
- Add zucchini, spinach, diced tomatoes, or bell peppers for extra vegetables.
- Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for 3–4 days.
- To freeze, assemble the casserole without baking, cover tightly, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight before baking or bake from frozen with an additional 15–20 minutes.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Main Course, Casserole
- Method: baking
- Cuisine: Mexican-Inspired, Tex-Mex
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 475 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 1,050 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 39 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
Keywords: Mexican tater tot casserole, tater tot casserole, Mexican casserole, taco casserole, ground beef casserole, easy weeknight dinner,