Mexican Casserole - Recipe Diaries (2024)

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This Weight Watcher's Mexican Casserole is going to be your favorite new casserole recipe. It's packed with ground beef, tomatoes, corn, tortillas, and black beans. It's pretty much a taco that is stacked inside a casserole dish.

Mexican Casserole - Recipe Diaries (1)

Love easy casserole recipes like this one try Baked Spaghetti and Meatball Casserole, Bubble Up Meatball Sub casserole, or Bubble Up Breakfast Casserole.

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  • Why You Will Love This Recipe
  • Ingredients Needed
  • How to Make Mexican Casserole
  • Recipe FAQs
  • More Great Weight Watcher Recipes to Try
  • Mexican Casserole

Why You Will Love This Recipe

I managed to cut back the sodium content down on this casserole to about 200 mg by using no salt-added canned food. I've been on this low-sodium kick lately and I found no salt added corn, black beans, and tomatoes at the grocery store. I even found low sodium taco seasoning. The only ingredients that had sodium in it were the cheese and corn tortillas.

This casserole is made in only 1 or 2 dishes for easy clean up.

It's loaded with a ton of all your favorite Mexican vegetables like beans, corn, and tomatoes.

Ingredients Needed

Mexican Casserole - Recipe Diaries (2)
  • Extra lean ground beef (drained or rinsed!) - Is considered better than higher fat options for several reasons. First, it has less saturated fat, which can contribute to heart disease and other health issues. Additionally, it tends to have fewer calories per serving, making it a good option for those watching their weight. The 96% lean ground beef from Aldi is my favorite.
  • Onion (chopped) - use minced onion or onion powder if you don't like onions
  • Canned jalapeno slices, chopped
  • Fresh tomatoes, chopped or 1 (15 oz) can diced canned tomatoes
  • Can kernel corn (drained) - refers to corn that has been harvested, cooked, and preserved in a can. It is a popular food item due to its convenience and long shelf life. However, some people prefer fresh or frozen corn for its taste and texture.
  • Black beans (rinsed and drained) - are a convenient and versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes. They are a great source of protein and fiber, and can be added to salads, soups, stews, and even dips.
  • Taco seasoning mix - Is a blend of spices used to flavor ground beef or other meats for use in tacos. It typically includes a combination of chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and sometimes salt and pepper. It can be purchased pre-mixed, or made at home using individual spices. I usually buy the Lower Sodium Taco Seasoning packets such as Mrs Dash.

See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

How to Make Mexican Casserole

Step 1: Brown ground beef and chopped onions in large skillet; brown 10 to 12 minutes or until thoroughly cooked, stirring constantly. Drain all fat from skillet and return beef/onions to skillet.

Mexican Casserole - Recipe Diaries (3)

Step 2: Add corn, black beans, tomatoes, chilies/jalapenos, and taco seasoning mix; mix well. Reduce heat; simmer 5 minutes.

Step 3: Meanwhile spray a 12x8-inch (2-quart) baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Cut each tortilla in half; place 8 halves in the bottom of the sprayed baking dish, overlapping slightly.

Mexican Casserole - Recipe Diaries (5)

Step 4: Spoon half of the beef mixture evenly over the tortillas. Spoon sour cream over beef mixture; spread evenly. Top with the remaining 8 tortilla halves and remaining beef mixture. (Cover tightly with foil & Freeze for later OR cook as directed below…).

Mexican Casserole - Recipe Diaries (6)

Step 5: (Thaw overnight if frozen) Heat oven to 350ºF. Bake at 350ºF for 25 minutes. Remove from oven; sprinkle with cheese. Cover; let stand 5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Sprinkle with chopped cilantro and serve with fresh chopped lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, black olives, etc…

Mexican Casserole - Recipe Diaries (7)

Serving Size: Slice the casserole into 6 equal portions. Serving size is 1 slice.

I hope you like this casserole dish just as much as I did! Serve with your favorite taco condiments such as sour cream, avocado, etc....

Recipe FAQs

What are the five components of a casserole?

In a standard casserole recipe, there is protein, vegetables, starch, sauce, and cheese. Sometimes there will be dairy added to the casserole. This recipe can be made into so many new recipes just by changing the 5 components of a casserole! Instead of tortillas add cooked pasta!

How do Americans make casseroles?

Casseroles are usually layered dishes and they get slowly cooked in the oven covered in foil.

What is the difference between a hotdish and casserole?

Casserole is the name of the dish used to cook with, whereas hot dish is the meal itself

More Great Weight Watcher Recipes to Try

  • Spaghetti with Ground Beef Sauce
  • Pizza Pasta Casserole
  • Weight Watchers Starbucks Points
  • WW Meatballs (Low Point)

If you tried this Mexican Casserole Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you! Follow along on Tiktok @jennarecipediaries

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Mexican Casserole - Recipe Diaries (12)

Mexican Casserole

5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star

4.4 from 7 reviews

  • Author: Jenna
  • Total Time: 35 min
  • Yield: 6 1x
Print Recipe

Description

Weight Watcher's Mexican Casserole is going to be your favorite new casserole recipe. It's packed with ground beef, tomatoes, corn, and black beans.

Ingredients

Scale

  • 1 lb extra lean ground beef (drained or rinsed!)
  • ½ cup onion (chopped)
  • ¼ cup canned jalapeno slices, chopped
  • 2 cups fresh tomatoes, chopped or 1 (15 oz) can diced canned tomatoes
  • 1 (15 oz) can kernel corn (drained)
  • 1 (15 oz) can black beans (rinsed and drained)
  • 1 (1 ¼ oz) package taco seasoning mix
  • 8 corn tortillas
  • ¾ cup nonfat sour cream
  • ⅓ cup reduced-fat Mexican cheese blend, shredded
  • bunch fresh cilantro, chopped, to taste (or less (or more)

Instructions

  1. Brown ground beef and chopped onions in large skillet; brown 10 to 12 minutes or until thoroughly cooked, stirring constantly. Drain all fat from skillet and return beef/onions to skillet.
  2. Add corn, black beans, tomatoes, chilies/jalapenos and taco seasoning mix; mix well. Reduce heat; simmer 5 minutes.
  3. Meanwhile spray 12x8-inch (2-quart) baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Cut each tortilla in half; place 8 halves in bottom of sprayed baking dish, overlapping slightly.
  4. Spoon half of beef mixture evenly over tortillas. Spoon sour cream over beef mixture; spread evenly. Top with remaining 8 tortilla halves and remaining beef mixture. (Cover tightly with foil & Freeze for later OR cook as directed below…).
  5. (Thaw overnight if frozen) Heat oven to 350ºF. Bake at 350ºF for 25 minutes. Remove from oven; sprinkle with cheese. Cover; let stand 5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Sprinkle with chopped cilantro and serve with fresh chopped lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, black olives, etc…
  6. Slice the casserole into 6 equal portions. Serving size is 1 slice.

Notes

My WW Personal Points: 7 Click here to see in recipe builder (will have to log in)

Instead of tortillas add some cooked pasta.

  • Prep Time: 10 min
  • Cook Time: 25 min
  • Category: Easy
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: ⅙th of the pan
  • Calories: 355
  • Sugar: 8.2
  • Fat: 5.9
  • Saturated Fat: 2.2
  • Carbohydrates: 52.3
  • Fiber: 10.4
  • Protein: 26.7
Mexican Casserole - Recipe Diaries (2024)

FAQs

Where did the Mexican casserole come from? ›

The first version of a Mexican casserole seems to have been the muk-bil (literally, “to put in the ground”). Made by the Mayans on the Yucatan Peninsula since pre-Hispanic times, it is the King Kong of tamales.

How do you reheat frozen breakfast casserole? ›

If you want to freeze the casserole and reheat

Pre-bake the casserole as instructed above, then cool to room temperature and cover tightly with foil. Freeze for up to 1 month, then reheat in a 350 F oven for 1 hour. Uncover and bake for 30 minutes more, until completely warmed through and browned on top.

How hot should a casserole be? ›

Safe Minimum Internal Temperature Chart
ProductMinimum Internal Temperature & Rest Time
Eggs160 °F (71.1 °C)
Fish & Shellfish145 °F (62.8 °C)
Leftovers165 °F (73.9 °C)
Casseroles165 °F (73.9 °C)
6 more rows
May 11, 2020

What Mexican dish was invented in America? ›

Fajitas were invented in the USA by Mexicans that were working on ranches in Texas. This was in the 1940s. Fajitas can be considered part of the genre of Mexican cuisine, but known more as Tex-Mex, or northern Mexican cuisine.

Why do you have to refrigerate breakfast casserole overnight? ›

The casserole is covered and refrigerated overnight to allow the liquid ingredients to be absorbed into the bread. This is a perishable mixture and should be cooked the morning or day after assembly. Bake in an oven set no lower than 325 °F. Most recipes suggest 350 °F.

Why is my breakfast casserole soggy? ›

Incorrect oven temperature - Casseroles that are baked at an oven temperature that is too low may not cook evenly, resulting in a soggy top and a firm or crunchy bottom. Too much liquid - Casseroles that have too much liquid may not be able to absorb all of the moisture, leading to a soggy top.

Is it better to freeze a breakfast casserole cooked or uncooked? ›

The answer depends on what's in it. Casseroles with raw protein (meat, poultry, seafood) should be completely cooked before freezing. However dishes with pre-cooked meats or no meat are fine to go in the freezer uncooked.

Can you put raw meat in a casserole? ›

Always Cook Meat Before Adding

Don't add raw meat to a casserole.

Should I cover casserole in oven? ›

The primary reason for covering a casserole as it bakes is to trap moisture inside the dish. This will not only keep the casserole itself moist, but it will also help get the casserole up to cooking temperature.

What is the key to making a good casserole? ›

  1. Choose the right baking dish. If you're all about the crunchy topping, use a shallow dish. ...
  2. Undercook your pasta. ...
  3. Drain your meat. ...
  4. Beware of mushy vegetables. ...
  5. Know your cheeses. ...
  6. Master the art of casserole assembly. ...
  7. Don't skip the topping. ...
  8. Make it now, but bake it later.
Nov 1, 2021

Who made the first Mexican dish? ›

In fact, we have the Mayans to thank for inventing the earliest form of the tortilla, a food that is central to Mexican cuisine today. The Mayans often ate tortillas with a paste made from beans given that meat was scarce in the region where they lived.

Where did most Mexican food originate? ›

Mexican Cuisine Origin

Throughout time, different cultures have shaped the Mexican cuisine you know and love today. However, the roots of Mexican food are from Mesoamerican cuisine. Spanish and French conquistadors also made their respective contributions to this cuisine.

Where does authentic Mexican food come from? ›

Authentic Mexican food dates back to the times of Mayan Indians and the Aztec Empire. Both cultures collided, combining foods like corn tortillas, beans, chili peppers, wild game, and fish. When Spain invaded Mexico in the 1500s, foods like pork, dairy, garlic, and other herbs and spices became popular.

What country is casserole from? ›

A casserole (French: diminutive of casse, from Provençal cassa, meaning 'pan') is a kind of large, deep pan or bowl used for cooking a variety of dishes in the oven; it is also a category of foods cooked in such a vessel.

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