• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to privacy navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Jo Cooks

Simple - Easy - Comfort

Join my free recipe email club!
Free eBook
  • Recipe Index
  • Cookbooks
    • The Big Book of Jo’s Quick and Easy Meals
    • 30-Minute One-Pot Meals
  • ABOUT JO
  • Contact
  • Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter YouTube
  • Dinner Ideas
  • Instant Pot
  • Slow Cooker
  • 30 Minute Meals
  • One Pot
  • Desserts
  • mexican tater topped casserole garnished with chopped tomato and green onion
    Mexican Tater Topped Casserole
  • chicken enchilada rice casserole
    Chicken Enchilada Rice Casserole
  • mexican beer chicken taco casserole
    Mexican Beer Chicken Taco Casserole
  • side view shot of a spatula lifting up a piece of beef tamale casserole from a skillet
    Beef Tamale Casserole
  • side view shot of a bowl of mexican rice with a fork in it
    3 Ingredient Mexican Rice
Home / Recipes
1 hour 10 minutes
4.51 from 141 votes
103 Comments

Mexican Beef and Rice Casserole

Jump to RecipePrint Recipe
  • 608
  • 385
by: Joanna Cismaru
12.08.19
Updated: 02.29.20

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

This Mexican Beef and Rice Casserole is an easy and delicious comfort food! A colorful dish loaded with beef, rice, fire-roasted tomatoes, and so much more! It’s the perfect weeknight meal that will satisfy even the pickiest eaters.

a wooden spoon holding a scoop of Mexican Beef and Rice Casserole

I love Mexican food – and I also love a good casserole! A cheesy casserole you say? Even better! It’s comfort food season around here and I couldn’t pass up the idea of putting together a good ‘ole homemade casserole full of some of my favorite flavors. Does anyone else love warming up their kitchen this time of year with cooking or baking when it starts to get cold out? I certainly do!

This casserole is loaded full of spinach, corn, and one of my favorites – fire-roasted tomatoes! It’s super simple to put together and essentially all you’re going to need is a skillet to assemble it and a casserole dish to cook it! Trust me when I tell you this is real comfort food, juicy ground beef with rice and a cheesy finish and a whole lot of yumminess!

process of making Mexican Beef and Rice Casserole

Ingredients

  • Ground beef – I like to use a lean ground beef – you can also use other options of protein if you like such as ground chicken, turkey or pork!
  • Spinach – End trimmed, and roughly chopped.
  • Corn – Any brand of frozen corn kernels will do the trick!
  • Tomatoes – I used one can of fire roasted tomatoes – you can use a different kind if you like and also roast your own tomatoes if you’d prefer!
  • Rice – I used long grain rice for this recipe but you can use any rice of your choice!
  • Chicken broth – You can also use beef and vegetable broth too – I like the low sodium or no salt added options.
  • Taco seasoning – Any brand work fine!
  • Salsa – You can use a mild or more spicy version or make your own!
  • Cheese – I used a Mexican 4 cheese blend today.
  • Cilantro – Chopped, for garnish – this is optional if you’re not a cilantro-person!

Can I Make My Own Roasted Tomatoes?

Yes please! I love all things homemade. If you’re looking to roast your own tomatoes for this dish, it’s actually quite simple. Here’s how:

Add the tomatoes of choice, to a roasting pan, drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Bake the tomatoes in the oven for about 30 minutes or until they begin to char. Once done, chop the up a bit and add the tomatoes to the casserole as suggested! Finito!

process of making Mexican Beef and Rice Casserole

How To Make Mexican Beef and Rice Casserole

  1. Preheat oven: To 375 degrees and spray a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray; set aside.
  2. Cook the beef: In a large skillet, cook the ground beef for about 5 minutes, breaking it into crumbles, over medium-high heat. Stir in taco seasoning and continue to cook until the beef starts to brown and is no longer pink.
  3. Add vegetables: Add the spinach, corn, roasted tomatoes, salsa, and 1/2 of the shredded cheese to the skillet and stir. Finally, add the rice and broth, and stir until ingredients are well incorporated.
  4. Assemble casserole: Spoon the contents of the skillet into the prepared casserole dish, cover with aluminum foil.
  5. Cook casserole: Place the casserole dish into the oven and bake for 45 minutes, or until the rice is cooked. When finished, remove the foil and top with remaining cheese. Bake for another 5 minutes or until cheese has melted.
  6. Garnish and serve: Once removed from the oven, garnish with cilantro and serve hot.
mexican casserole all prepped and ready to go in the oven

What Else Can I Add

The options are endless here people! From different kinds of protein to the vast variety of vegetables that exists out there in the world! Making this dish vegetarian is a no-brainer, there are so many options for filling and satisfying flavors as well as substituting chicken broth for a vegetable broth. Here are some suggestions to get you started:

MeatVegetables
Ground TurkeyBell Peppers
ChickenZucchini
Ground VealBroccoli
SausageCauliflower
Beans
Chickpeas
Black olives
Onions
Mushrooms
Eggplant
Jalapeños
Mexican Beef and Rice Casserole served on a blue plate topped with cheese and parsley

How To Serve

You can serve this casserole a number of different ways. When I think of authentic Mexican cuisine, I can’t help but think of serving it with fresh tomatoes, guacamole, sour cream, or perhaps even some tortilla chips or homemade naan bread. The world is your oyster – don’t let me stop you there!

Want To Make This Dish Ahead Of Time?

This Mexican beef and rice casserole is great to put together a head of time. In the fridge it will last about 3 – 4 days wrapped or sealed well with a lid or plastic wrap.

Can I Freeze This Casserole?

The answer is yes – this whole casserole can be frozen, as long as it’s tightly sealed. It can be stored for up to 6 months this way and when you’re ready to eat just pop it into the fridge to thaw overnight. Stick it in the oven the next day at 350 degrees, cook for 45 minutes, and you’re good to go!

Mexican Beef and Rice Casserole on a blue plate with a fork

Try More Of My Mouth Watering Casserole’s:

  • Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole
  • Beef Tamale Casserole
  • Sweet Potato Casserole
  • Sausage Potato Breakfast Casserole
  • Skillet Sloppy Joe Casserole
  • Baked Spaghetti Casserole
  • No Peek Chicken Rice Casserole
  • Tuna Noodle Casserole

Looking for more recipes? Follow on… My Newsletter Pinterest Facebook Instagram

a wooden spoon taking a scoop of beef and rice casserole

Mexican Beef and Rice Casserole

4.51 from 141 votes
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 1 hr
Total: 1 hr 10 mins
Author: Joanna Cismaru
Serves: 8
Print Pin Rate
This Mexican Beef and Rice Casserole is an easy and delicious comfort food! A colorful dish loaded with beef, rice, fire-roasted tomatoes, and so much more! It's the perfect weeknight meal that will satisfy even the pickiest eaters.

Equipment

  • 9×13-inch Casserole Dish
  • 12-inch Cast Iron Skillet

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 tbsp taco seasoning
  • 1 bunch spinach ends trimmed and roughly chopped
  • 1 cup frozen corn kernels
  • 14 oz fire roasted diced tomatoes (1 can) can substitute with regular diced tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup salsa store bought
  • 2 cups Mexican 4 cheese blend shredded
  • 1 cup long grain rice uncooked
  • 2 cups chicken broth low sodium
  • 2 tbsp fresh cilantro chopped
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat oven: To 375 degrees and spray a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray; set aside.
  • Cook the beef: In a large skillet, cook the ground beef for about 5 minutes, breaking it into crumbles, over medium-high heat. Stir in taco seasoning and continue to cook until the beef starts to brown and is no longer pink.
  • Add vegetables: Add the spinach, corn, roasted tomatoes, salsa, and 1/2 of the shredded cheese to the skillet and stir. Finally, add the rice and broth, and stir until ingredients are well incorporated.
  • Assemble casserole: Spoon the contents of the skillet into the prepared casserole dish, cover with aluminum foil.
  • Cook casserole: Place the casserole dish into the oven and bake for 45 minutes, or until the rice is cooked. When finished, remove the foil and top with remaining cheese. Bake for another 5 minutes or until cheese has melted.
  • Garnish and serve: Once removed from the oven, garnish with cilantro and serve hot.

Recipe Notes

  1. To freeze this, cook it completely without cheese and let it cool completely. Transfer it to an airtight container, then just reheat it in the microwave (add the cheese now) when ready to serve.
  2. Use any type of broth you have on hand
  3. You can use ground chicken, pork, or turkey for this recipe if you’d like.
  4. Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on products used.

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 268kcal (13%)Carbohydrates: 14g (5%)Protein: 21g (42%)Fat: 14g (22%)Saturated Fat: 7g (44%)Cholesterol: 63mg (21%)Sodium: 469mg (20%)Potassium: 362mg (10%)Fiber: 1g (4%)Sugar: 3g (3%)Vitamin A: 548IU (11%)Vitamin C: 3mg (4%)Calcium: 215mg (22%)Iron: 2mg (11%)
Course:Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine:Mexican
Keyword:beef, casserole, mexican casserole
Tried this recipe? Rate it belowtag @jocooks on instagram and hashtag it #jocooks!

Meet Joanna Cismaru

I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

30 recipes from around the world cover.

Never miss a recipe!

Subscribe and get a FREE dinner recipes ebook!

side view shot of a bowl full of romanian meatballs with a fork stuck in one
Previous Post
Romanian Meatballs (Chiftele)
a bowl full of slow cooker short ribs and carrots surrounded by sprigs of rosemary
Next Post
Slow Cooker Short Ribs

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment & Rate Recipe Cancel reply

Did you make this recipe? Rate it:




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Comments

  1. Patricia D says

    January 29, 2021 at 6:45 am

    Made this last night delicious! We left the spinach out. We used Tostitos Scoops to basically use this as a dip. Husband used a soft style soft taco to roll up. Served sour cream guacamole salsa shredded lettuce on the side. Will make again!

    Reply
Older Comments

Primary Sidebar

Joanna Cismaru

Hey there!

I'm Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

Read More…
cover for the big book of jo's quick and easy meals.

My Cookbook

Pre-Order Now: Amazon | Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Indie Bound | Books-A-Million

Never miss a recipe!

Subscribe and get a FREE dinner recipes ebook!

Sign me up

Dinner Recipes

a wooden spoon lifting a salisbury steak out of the skillet

Salisbury Steak

closeup of beef stew in a dutch oven with a ladle inside.

Beef Stew

overhead shot of zucchini lasagna in a baking dish

Zucchini Lasagna

a white bowl full with american goulash and a fork inside stacked on top of an empty bowl

American Goulash (Chop Suey)

two plate with sloppy joes and buns next to a greens salad

Sloppy Joes

beef barley soup in a white bowl with a spoon inside.

Beef Barley Soup

overhead shot of chicken broccoli and rice casserole in a pot

One Pot Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole

creamy chicken lazone in a skillet garnished with parsley.

Chicken Lazone

Popular Now

a hand dipping a chicken tender in ranch dressing

Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

a fork stabbing a garlic butter steak bite in a skillet full of them

Garlic Butter Steak Bites

a prime rib roast sliced on a plate

Prime Rib Roast

side view shot of a cinnamon bun with a bite taken out of it on a plate

Cinnabons Cinnamon Rolls

side view shot of a hand dipping a piece of naan bread into the bowl of chicken tikka masala

Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala

close up of the layers on the homemade croissant

Homemade Croissants

overhead shot of crusty bread loaf

No Knead Bread

side view shot of two halves of a chicken salad sandwich stacked on a plate exposing the centers

The Best Chicken Salad

Jo Cooks...

Flavors from around the world

No matter what household we have all grown up in, there is something that has brought us all together here and that is a love and appreciation of food. Food that is from cultures and cuisines across the world has always been a staple of the blog. I'm excited to bring you all a taste of each corner of the earth, every last bite seasoned to perfection and served up with love - from my kitchen to yours.
moo shu pork in a white bowl with a pair of tongs.

Asian

italian meatballs with sauce in a white bowl.

Italian

chimichangas on a serving platter on a bed of lettuce garnished with salsa and sour cream.

Mexican

sweet cheese buns stacked on top of each other with the top one broken in half.

Romanian

sideview shot of butter chicken on a plate over white rice garnished with parsley

Indian

red lentil hummus in a big black bowl garnished with a bit of smoked paprika.

Middle Eastern

Trending Now

overhead shot of oven baked chicken breasts in a baking dish

Baked Chicken Breast

overhead shot of oven baked chicken thighs in a pan

Oven Baked Chicken Thighs

a whole roast chicken surrounded by potatoes

Roast Chicken

a prime rib roast sliced on a plate

Prime Rib Roast

Browse All
  • Easy Dinners
  • Instant Pot
  • 30 Minute Meals
  • Chicken Recipes
  • Desserts
  • Recipe Index

Featured On

today logo.
huffpost logo.
the washington post logo.
jezebel logo.
countryliving logo.
good housekeeping logo.
lifehack logo.
buzzfeed logo.
mashable logo.
woman's day logo.
health logo.
better homes & gardens logo.
delish logo.
healthline logo.
nbc news logo.
blogloving logo.
university of washington logo.
shape logo.
Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter YouTube
  • Recipe Index
  • Cookbooks
  • About Jo
  • Contact
  • visit my other site: Craving Home Cooked
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Statement
© 2021 · All Rights Reserved · Back to Top
Opens in a new window Opens an external site Opens an external site in a new window

Subscribe and get a free dinner recipes ebook!

17690shares
  • 608
  • 1
  • 385