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This black bean taco casserole is the type of weeknight dinner that will get everybody on the desk quick — layers of spiced black beans, rice, and veggies, topped with melty cheese and crunchy corn chips that bake up similar to nachos.
Soar to: ℹ️ Overview | 🛒 Substances | 📷 How To Make | 📹 Watch The Video | 👩🍳 Recipe Ideas | 🥗 Serving Recommendations | 📝Full Recipe Card | 🍽 Extra Bean Recipes
At A Look
- ⏱ Prepared In: 40 minutes
- 🍽 Serves: 6–8
- 🌱 Food plan: Vegetarian, gluten-free (verify corn chip label), nut-free
- 💪 Diet Highlights: Excessive in plant-based protein and fiber from black beans; good supply of nutritional vitamins C and A from the bell peppers
- 🥕 Major Substances: Black beans, rice, salsa, bell peppers, corn, Cheddar cheese, corn chips
- 🔥 Taste Profile: Smoky, warmly spiced, savory, tacky with a recent and zesty avocado salsa topping
- 🧊 Meal-Prep Pleasant: Retains 4 days within the fridge; filling could be made forward and assembled simply earlier than baking
- Greatest Served With: Recent avocado salsa, bitter cream, crumbled feta or queso fresco
This black bean taco casserole or bake is a type of vegetarian dinners I make after I need one thing that feels a bit enjoyable and indulgent however is definitely full of good things.
The filling is a deeply flavored mixture of sautéed onion and bell peppers, smoked paprika, cumin, garlic, tomato paste, salsa, cooked rice, black beans, and corn — mainly all of your taco evening favorites cooked down into one hearty, saucy base. Then it will get layered right into a baking dish between two rounds of corn chips and a beneficiant quantity of shredded cheddar, and baked till it’s bubbly, melty, and golden — truthfully, it seems to be like a large nachos scenario in the absolute best approach. The crispy chip topping is one thing I’m very smitten by.
High every portion with a recent, brilliant avocado salsa and a dollop of bitter cream, and also you’ve obtained an entire dinner that feels festive sufficient for a weekend however simple sufficient for a Tuesday. It’s an ideal one to deliver to a gathering or serve to a crowd, too — the 9×13 dish stretches simply to eight parts.
👩🍳 You may additionally like these Tex-Mex recipes: Mexican hen rice casserole, Mexican floor beef casserole, candy potato and black bean tacos, Mexican stuffed candy potatoes, Mexican salad with corn & black beans, arroz rojo (Mexican purple rice), or these finest bean recipes.
What You’ll Want
Here’s what you’ll want for this black bean taco casserole recipe. Discover the complete measurements within the recipe card under.
For the filling:
- Olive oil — for sautéing the greens; any impartial cooking oil works tremendous.
- Onion — diced giant; the candy base of the filling. White or brown each work.
- Pink and yellow or inexperienced bell peppers (capsicum) — these add coloration, sweetness, and texture. Any mixture of colours works; use what you’ve got.
- Garlic — provides savory depth to the spice base.
- Tomato paste — only a tablespoon, but it surely provides richness and a deep, barely candy tomato be aware.
- Salsa — use a light chunky store-bought selection for ease and taste. The chunkier the higher; it provides texture to the filling. You may go medium for those who’d like a bit extra warmth.
- Cooked rice — white or brown each work nicely. This can be a good approach to make use of up leftover rice from earlier within the week.
- Black beans — rinsed and drained from a can; these deliver plant-based protein and fiber, plus that traditional taco taste. You would swap for pinto beans in a pinch.
- Corn kernels — frozen corn defrosted in boiling water, or canned and drained. Both works completely right here.
- Spices: floor cumin, smoked paprika, floor coriander, dried oregano, and non-obligatory delicate chili powder or cayenne. This mix offers the filling its heat, smoky, Mexican-inspired depth — don’t skip the smoked paprika, it makes an actual distinction.
- Salt — season as you go at every stage.
For the topping:
- Corn chips — about 150 grams / 4–5 oz. They go in two layers: underneath the filling and over the cheese, in order that they get crispy on high like nachos. I normally crush a small handful to scatter on high for additional crunch.
- Shredded cheddar or Mexican mix cheese — use melting cheese. Mexican mix is very good right here if you’ll find it.
For the avocado salsa:
- Avocado — diced; provides creaminess and freshness to chop by way of the richness of the bake.
- Tomato — diced small; provides juiciness and a bit acidity.
- Pink onion — very finely diced; punchy and recent.
- Lime juice — brightens every little thing up and retains the avocado from browning.
- Recent cilantro (coriander) — provides herby freshness. In case you’re not a cilantro fan, flat-leaf parsley works as a substitute.
- Salt — to style.
- Non-obligatory for serving: bitter cream, crumbled feta or queso fresco, pickled jalapeños.
How To Make Black Bean Taco Casserole
Discover the complete recipe and dietary info under. Listed below are some helpful step-by-step photographs for the way to make this black bean taco bake.
- Warmth olive oil in a big skillet or pan over medium warmth. Add the diced onion and peppers with a bit salt, and cook dinner for five–7 minutes till softened and flippantly golden. Add the garlic and cook dinner for one more 30 seconds.
- Stir within the tomato paste and all of the spices, including the remaining salt. Prepare dinner for 30–60 seconds, stirring continually, till the combination smells aromatic and the paste darkens barely.
- Add the salsa, cooked rice, black beans, and corn. Stir every little thing collectively nicely and let it simmer for a few minutes so the filling thickens barely and absorbs all these flavors. Style and regulate salt or add a pinch of sugar if wanted. The combination ought to be moist however not watery.
- Preheat your oven to 180°C / 350°F. In a 9×13 baking dish, unfold half the corn chips throughout the underside. Spoon the filling over the chips and unfold evenly. Scatter about 1 cup of shredded cheese over the filling. Add the remaining corn chips as the subsequent layer, then high with the remainder of the cheese, letting it nestle between and over the chips. Crush a small handful of chips excessive for those who like additional crunch.
- Bake for 15–20 minutes till the cheese is melted and bubbly and the highest chips are golden and crisp like nachos. Relaxation for five minutes earlier than serving — this helps the casserole set a bit.
- Whereas it bakes, toss collectively the avocado salsa: mix the diced avocado, tomato, purple onion, lime juice, cilantro, and salt.
- Spoon the avocado salsa generously over every serving (or over the entire dish). High with bitter cream and crumbled feta if desired.
Watch The Video
Recipe Ideas
- Make it vegan: Use a dairy-free cheese various (many soften nicely lately) and swap the bitter cream for coconut yogurt or a vegan bitter cream.
- Make it spicier: Add extra cayenne to the spice mix, use medium salsa, or serve with pickled jalapeños or sizzling sauce on the aspect.
- Add extra protein: Stir a drained can of pinto beans or kidney beans into the filling together with the black beans, or add some cooked lentils.
- Leftover rice is ideal right here: This recipe was made for utilizing up day-old cooked rice. It absorbs the filling flavors fantastically and is a lot better than fresh-cooked rice straight from the pot. Simply make sure that the rice is not any older than 1 day!
- Filling could be made forward: Prepare dinner the filling as much as 2 days forward and refrigerate. Assemble with chips and cheese simply earlier than baking.
- Storage: Leftovers preserve nicely within the fridge for as much as 4 days. Reheat within the oven at 160°C / 325°F for finest outcomes so the chips crisp again up, or within the microwave (chips will soften). The filling by itself freezes nicely for as much as 3 months — freeze earlier than assembling with chips and cheese.
- Don’t assemble too far forward: As soon as the chips go in, they soften as they sit, so bake it comparatively quickly after assembling for the crispiest consequence.
- Cheese swap: Monterey Jack, pepper jack, or any good melting cheese works instead of cheddar.
- Gluten-free: This recipe is of course gluten-free so long as your corn chips are licensed gluten-free — simply verify the label.
Serving Recommendations
This black bean taco casserole is a full meal by itself, particularly when you’ve added the avocado salsa and a dollop of bitter cream. If you wish to stretch it to an even bigger crowd or spherical out the desk, a easy inexperienced salad or my Mexican Salad With Corn & Black Beans alongside it’s a pretty match. Arroz Rojo is one other nice possibility if you wish to serve it extra like a standard Tex-Mex unfold. For drinks, it’s nice with an iced lime agua fresca, a chilly beer, or glowing water with a wedge of lime.
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A hearty, tacky black bean taco bake loaded with spiced black beans, rice, corn, and bell peppers, topped with crunchy corn chips and melted cheese. Vegetarian, crowd-pleasing, and prepared in 40 minutes. Discover step-by-step photographs and extra recipe suggestions above.
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Warmth the olive oil in a big skillet or frying pan over medium warmth. Add the diced onion and bell peppers with ½ teaspoon salt. Prepare dinner for five–7 minutes, stirring often, till softened and flippantly golden. Add the garlic and cook dinner for 30 seconds extra.
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Stir within the tomato paste, all of the spices, and the remaining ½ teaspoon salt. Prepare dinner for 30–60 seconds, stirring continually, till the paste darkens and the spices scent aromatic.
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Add the salsa, cooked rice, black beans, and corn. Stir nicely to mix and simmer for two–3 minutes till every little thing is coated and the combination has thickened barely. It ought to be moist however not watery. Style and regulate seasoning — add extra salt or a small pinch of sugar if wanted.
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Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F). In a 9×13-inch (23x33cm) baking dish, unfold half the corn chips throughout the underside in an excellent layer.
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Spoon the filling evenly over the chips. Scatter about 1 cup of shredded cheese over the filling. Add the remaining corn chips on high of the cheese layer, then end with the remainder of the cheese, spreading it over and between the chips. For additional crunch, crush a small handful of chips and scatter excessive.
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Bake for 15–20 minutes till the cheese is melted and effervescent and the highest chips are golden and crispy. Relaxation for five minutes earlier than serving.
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Whereas the casserole bakes, make the avocado salsa: mix the diced avocado, tomato, purple onion, lime juice, cilantro, and salt. Toss gently to mix.
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Serve parts topped generously with avocado salsa, bitter cream, and crumbled feta if desired.
Key Recipe Ideas: Don’t skip resting the casserole for five minutes after baking — this helps it set so parts maintain collectively higher. If you need a most crunch on the chips, assemble and bake immediately relatively than letting it sit. You may crush a handful of chips to scatter on high for additional texture.
Storage Ideas: Leftovers preserve nicely within the fridge in an hermetic container for as much as 4 days. Reheat within the oven at 160°C (325°F) for about 10 minutes for crispier chips, or microwave (chips will soften but it surely nonetheless tastes nice).
Make-Forward Ideas: The filling could be made as much as 2 days forward and saved within the fridge. When able to eat, assemble with the corn chips and cheese and bake immediately. The filling additionally freezes nicely (with out the chips and cheese) for as much as 3 months — thaw in a single day within the fridge, then assemble and bake.
FAQs:
Can I take advantage of canned salsa as a substitute of home made? Sure, completely — this recipe is designed for high quality store-bought chunky delicate salsa. It saves time and provides nice taste.
Can I make this forward of time? You may make the filling as much as 2 days forward and refrigerate it. Assemble the casserole with the chips and cheese simply earlier than baking for the very best texture and crunchiest topping.
Can I freeze this casserole? The filling freezes fantastically by itself for as much as 3 months. We don’t advocate freezing the absolutely assembled bake because the chips received’t maintain up nicely after thawing. Freeze the filling solely, then assemble recent while you’re able to bake.
Can I add meat to this? Sure — cooked and seasoned floor beef or floor hen stirred into the filling would work nicely. You would additionally add shredded rotisserie hen.
Is that this recipe gluten-free? It may be — make sure that your corn chips are licensed gluten-free, as some manufacturers course of them in shared services.
Can I take advantage of a unique kind of bean? Pinto beans, kidney beans, and even chickpeas (for a barely completely different taste) would all work nicely instead of black beans.
What if I don’t have cooked rice? You want pre-cooked rice for this recipe. You should use a microwave rice pouch, day-old rice, or just cook dinner a batch forward of time and let it cool earlier than including.
Energy: 620kcal | Carbohydrates: 60g | Protein: 22g | Fats: 35g | Saturated Fats: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 5g | Monounsaturated Fats: 12g | Trans Fats: 0.1g | Ldl cholesterol: 54mg | Sodium: 1384mg | Potassium: 878mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 2358IU | Vitamin C: 87mg | Calcium: 444mg | Iron: 3mg