Taco Rice Bake - an easy one-pan Mexican casserole. Ground beef, taco seasoning, rice, cream of chicken soup, Rotel diced tomatoes and green chiles, Ranch style beans, and cheese. We like to top the casserole with our favorite taco toppings - cheese, sour cream, jalapeños, and guacamole! Can make in advance and refrigerate or freeze for later. This was a great change to our usual taco night!!
Preheat oven to 350ºF. Lightly spray a 9x13-inch pan with cooking spray.
In a large skillet, brown meat and drain off fat. Stir in beans, tomatoes, onion flakes, taco seasoning, soup and 1/2 cup water. Simmer over medium-low heat until everything is well combined and heated through. Remove from heat.
In a pot, bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Add instant rice. Cover and remove from heat. Let rice sit for 5 minutes, until all water is absorbed.
Stir cooked rice and 1 cup of cheddar cheese into beef mixture. Pour into prepared 9x13-inch pan. Top with remaining 1 cup of cheddar cheese.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Top with your favorite taco toppings.
Notes:
You can assemble this casserole ahead of time and refrigerate it until ready to bake.
You can assemble this casserole and freeze it unbaked for later. To bake after freezing, thaw completely and bake as directed below.
You can substitute ground turkey for ground beef.
Here is our recipe for Homemade Taco Seasoning made with chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, oregano, paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper: https://www.plainchicken.com/homemade-taco-seasoning/
I suggest using Unsalted Cream of Chicken Soup in this dish to control the sodium.
What are Ranch Style Beans? Ranch style beans are a brand/type of beans. It says "Ranch Style Beans" on the can. They are near the pinto and chili beans at the grocery store.
If you can't find Ranch Style Beans, you can substitute a can of chili beans or pinto beans.
Use pinto beans or black beans and gluten-free cream of chicken soup for a gluten-free dish.
This recipe uses a can of Rotel diced tomatoes and green chiles. If you are sensitive to heat, I suggest using a can of Mild Rotel in this casserole.
Feel free to substitute 4 cups of your favorite cooked rice - white, brown, jasmine, basmati will all work fine.
Can use any cheese you prefer. Mexican cheese blend, pepper jack cheese, Monterey Jack, Colby would all be delicious.