This 30 Minute Taco Casserole is made healthier with the use of brown rice and fat-free beans. It comes together easily and quickly, and tastes absolutely delish! Nobody will realize it's on the healthy side.
Optional Garnishes: chopped green onions, diced avocado, diced tomatoes, cilantro, sour cream, or salsa
Instructions
In a large nonstick skillet, add ground beef, taco seasoning, and 3 TB water. Stir together to incorporate. Brown until cooked through. Remove from heat and set aside.
In an 8x8 baking dish, layer cooked rice on the bottom of dish. In a microwavable bowl, combine refried beans and salsa. Microwave until hot, about 2 minutes. Stir and layer mixture over the rice.
Layer browned beef mixture over the beans/salsa. Sprinkle half of the cheese over the beef. Follow with all the chips, if using them, and top with remaining cheese and black olives. Bake 10 minutes at 350F or just until cheese is melted.
Garnish with green onions, avocados, or tomatoes. Serve warm.
Notes
This dish can be lightened up even more by using just 1 cup of low-fat cheese and omitting the corn chips.
When browning your ground beef, make sure to break it up into small pieces. This will ensure that it cooks evenly and mixes well with the taco seasoning.
Don't skip the step of heating up the refried beans and salsa together. This not only makes the beans easier to spread but also allows the flavors to meld together.
Use a good quality, flavorful salsa. This is a key ingredient that adds a lot of flavor to the casserole.
We also love serving this casserole with a side of extra refried beans or this creamy 5-Minute Real Guacamole.
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