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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Crystal Farms Cheese. All opinions are 100% mine.
We have two weeks of the new school year behind us already and I’m in full “back to school” mode with our schedule! I’m searching Pinterest for easy week-night dinner ideas that are quick to put together and the kids will love. I like casserole dishes because they take a few ingredients and stretch them to create a meal that will satisfy the whole family. I found several recipes that sparked my own creativity and helped me come up with this Cheesy Tex-Mex Casserole.
We really owe Wisconsin a debt of gratitude. 🙂 Nothing makes a casserole dish better than lots of delicious cheese! Crystal Farms cheese is a delicious way to get loads of calcium and make dishes like this Tex-Mex Casserole just that much better. It’s gluten-free and Crystal Farms brand is lactose tolerant. Hail to the cheese! (If you can’t tell, I really REALLY like cheese.) 🙂
Cheesy Tex-Mex Casserole
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound ground beef
- 1 jar about 15 oz thick and chunky salsa
- 1 can 11 oz Mexicorn (it's a mix of corn, red and green bell peppers)
- 1 can 15 oz black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 6 corn tortillas
- 2 cups Crystal Farms cheddar cheese
- Sliced olives optional
- Cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- In a large skillet, brown ground beef. Drain.
- Add in salsa, corn and all but a few olives (I left my olives out and just added them on top of half of the casserole, since I'm the only sane person in the family who loves olives!) Simmer for 5 minutes.
- In a bowl, mix the cottage cheese and sour cream together until blended.
- In a 2 quart casserole dish, place 3 corn tortillas. I had two next to each other and then split the third one in half to fill in the empty room on the sides.
- Top with 1/2 of the meat mixture.
- Cover the meat mixture with 1/2 of the black beans.
- Spoon the cottage cheese mixture over the black beans.
- Sprinkle about 1 cup of cheddar cheese over the beans.
- Repeat the layers, ending with the cottage cheese layer.
- Cover with foil and bake at 350 for 30 minutes.
- Remove foil, sprinkle with the remaining cheese and olive slices. Return to oven for 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted.
- If desired, garnish with cilantro (YUM) and add tortilla chips around the edges. Just because it's pretty. 🙂
Serve with tortillas chips and a salad for a great weeknight meal! I love that you can make this with just 1/2 pound of ground beef. I think that next time I make it, I may just leave out the corn tortillas as well. The black beans serve as a great divider between layers. It’s totally up to you-if you like enchiladas and corn tortillas, you can leave then in. If not, just skip that layer! This recipe is economical, satisfying and full of good, whole foods that will keep everyone happy!
For more great cheesy recipes, check out Crystal Farms favorites and follow Crystal Farms on Facebook or Crystal Farms on Pinterest!
To help you make your own amazing casseroles, I’m giving away a beautiful Le Creuset pan, thanks to Crystal Farms! Enter below for your chance to win this beauty!
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Andrea | Cooking with a Wallflower says
I love a good tuna casserole =)
Deb coy says
Don’t peek chicken
Ellen Casper says
I like tuna casserole.
Hannah A. says
Love cheesy hashbrown potatoes!
Tina W says
I love a version of Hash Brown Casserole that my family calls Party Potatoes. The crumbled corn flake topping is what puts it over the top for me.
Dan says
Fave casserole? Does lasagna count? The cheesier, the better!
Nicole Burkholder says
Yes, yes it does!
Diane says
An old family favorite we call Stuff.
Nicole Burkholder says
I’m very curious to know what exactly “Stuff” is made of! 🙂
Janelle@The Peaceful Haven says
All I have to say is YUM,,, well maybe thank you too!
Michelle @ The Complete Savorist says
Hmm, favorite casserole…either lasagna or this so not healthy concoction my sister and I made up once involving veggies, chicken, cheese, and rice.
jamie says
omg, I love that dish you are giving away!
Nicole Burkholder says
I know, isn’t it gorgeous?!?
Cathy says
My grandma’s cheesy potato recipe is my favorite casserole!
Carlee says
I love any kind of baked pasta!
reesa lewandowski says
Tuna cassarole!
Melanie says
I currently do not have a favorite!
Rachel says
I love nacho cheese beef bake…its like a homemade hamburger helper and my friends chicken casserole
http://achocoholicsdiary.blogspot.kr/2011/09/stash-busting-monday-5-nacho-cheese.html
Emily says
I love a good baked mac and cheese. This dish is gorgeous too!!
Lucy says
I love any casserole with cheese but cheese doesn’t always love me. I’m going to have to try out Crystal Farms!
keshakeke says
I love a good lasagna
Sharon Lynn says
My favorite is Chicken Casserole 🙂
Thank you for the opportunity and God Bless You 🙂
AmyBednarczyk says
My favorite casserole is probably tuna noodle with peas.
Abby Kraynick says
Bread Pudding and Mac & Cheese are both family favorites. Quick and easy plus you can make them to please everyone
Mia B says
cheesy potato
Abby Kraynick says
Bread Pudding is a family favorite or Mac & Cheese.
Catherine says
Dear Nicole, what a wonderful casserole…I just love this idea. And what a beautiful baking dish. Thank you for hosting this giveaway. xo, Catherine
Melissa | Persnickety Plates says
Honestly, my favorite is probably cheesy potato casserole but I only make it at Thanksgiving b/c it’s not the healthiest dish 😉
I had no idea Crystal Farms was lactose tolerant – my husband will be excited.