Mexican Beef and Rice Casserole

Name: Mexican Beef and Rice Casserole
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 70 min
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)

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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!

How To Make Mexican Beef and Rice Casserole

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.

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:

Meat	Vegetables
Ground Turkey	Bell Peppers
Chicken	Zucchini
Ground Veal	Broccoli
Sausage	Cauliflower
	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

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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.

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