Skillet Mexican Casserole
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Skillet Mexican Casserole. Made with layers of corn tortilla, cheddar cheese, ground beef, beans and tomatoes and topped with fresh avocado slices and cilantro.
Every Christmas Eve since we could remember, our family has made this Mexican casserole. It was passed down from our great grandma, and is the ultimate comfort food for a cold night in with family.
We decided to create our own twist on our family’s recipe by making it in a cast iron skillet, rather than a traditional casserole dish. We love how this adds a rustic flare to the dish, and looks gorgeous as well.
If you’re looking for a super simple dinner to serve your family, roommates or friends on a weeknight or special occasion, this is the perfect meal!We guarantee you, they will love it!
This post is all about skillet Mexican casserole.
Skillet Mexican Casserole
What’s in this recipe?
Ground Beef: A pound of ground beef adds protein to this dish and adds so much meaty flavor.
Sharp Cheddar Cheese: Sharp Cheddar cheese is so delicious and also adds a beautiful flavor to this dish.
Yellow Onion: Yellow onion is a more mild, sweet onion and pairs perfectly with the other flavors in the dish.
Original Bush Beans: We used original bush beans in this recipe to add some texture and added depth to the casserole.
Cream of Chicken: Cream of chicken marries all the layers together and makes this a delicious casserole consistency.
Rotel Tomatoes with Green Chilies: Tomatoes with chilies adds extra spice and flavor to this dish.
Garlic: A few garlic cloves are added to the meat and onion mixture for flavor.
Chili Powder: A bit of chili powder adds a nice kick to the skillet Mexican casserole.
Cumin: Cumin is a traditional spice added to a lot of Tex-Mex foods like this one. We love the warmth and depth it adds to the flavor profile.
Onion Powder: Onion powder adds additional flavor that pairs well with the rest of the flavors in this dish.
Oregano: Oregano adds a hint of freshness to this dish.
Corn Tortillas: We cut corn tortillas in half and layered them in the the casserole. They add a delicious flavor and get so tender as they cook.
How to Make the Skillet Mexican Casserole
This skillet Mexican casserole is super simple to make and is the perfect weeknight dinner for a family, roommates or game night!
Brown the Beef…
To start, you’ll need a medium size pan or dutch oven. This is what you’ll use to brown the beef. Add the ground beef, onions and minced garlic to the pan. Cook until the meat is completely done.
Once the meat is done cooking, add the spices and sauté for a couple more minutes. Remove from heat and set the pan to the side for later.
Create Layers…
Now it’s time for the fun part! Casseroles are all about the different layers, which makes each one fun to make and so different.
Next, you’ll need your large cast iron skillet (this is the one we used). To make the layers, follow this order: 1 layer for the corn tortillas, 1 layer of ground beef mixture, 1 layer of beans and 1 layer of cheese.
Depending on how big your cast iron skillet is, you’ll want to repeat these layers until it’s full to the top of the skillet. We had two complete layers in our large skillet.
Lastly, in a small mixing bowl, combine the cream of chicken and Rotel tomatoes. Then, pour the mixture over the top of the casserole. Add a sprinkle of cheese to the top.
Bake the Casserole…
We baked the casserole for about 40 minutes to cook it all the way through in the cast iron skillet. Depending on the size and material of your skillet or baking dish (if you chose to use one), you’ll want to bake it 5 minutes less or 5-10 minutes more.
Once the casserole is finished cooking, garnish the top with fresh avocado and cilantro.
Finally, enjoy this Skillet Mexican Casserole with some tortilla chips and salsa on the side.
If you made this recipe, let us know! Tag us on Instagram, or leave a comment down below. Plus, share this recipe on Pinterest with your friends!
Skillet Mexican Casserole
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 yellow onion (chopped)
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp oregano
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 can original Bush beans
- 1 can cream of chicken soup
- 1 can Rotel with green chilies
- 1 pkg corn tortillas (cut in half)
- cilanto and avocado (for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a medium size pan or dutch oven, brown ground beef, onions, and garlic. Once the meat is cooked, add chili powder, cumin, onion powder and oregano and sauté for a couple more minutes.
- Once the meat is cooked, it’s time to layer your casserole in the cast iron skillet. Layer in the following order: 1 layer of corn tortillas (sliced in half), 1 layer of ground beef, 1 layer of beans, and 1 layer of cheese. Repeat until the dish is full.
- In a small mixing bowl, combine cream of chicken soup and Rotel. Pour the mixture over the top of the casserole. Top with a sprinkle of cheese (about 1/4 cup).
- Bake for 40-45 minutes. Enjoy with friends and family or with your roommates.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: dinner, Main Course
- Cuisine: American, Mexican, Tex-Mex
This post is all about Skillet Mexican Casserole.
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