Description
This Taco Rice-A-Roni Casserole is a comforting, flavorful dish combining seasoned ground beef, creamy soup, tangy salsa, black beans, and a cheesy Mexican rice base. Perfectly baked to golden, bubbly perfection, it’s an easy-to-make meal that serves a crowd and brings a delightful Tex-Mex twist to the dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
Rice Mixture
- 1 (6.8-oz) box Spanish rice Rice-A-Roni
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 2 cups water
- 1 (14.5-oz) can diced tomatoes
Taco Meat
- 1¼ lb ground beef
- 1 (1-oz) package taco seasoning
- ¼ cup water
- ½ cup salsa
Casserole Mix
- 1 (10.5-oz) can Unsalted Cream of Chicken Soup
- 1 (8-oz) container sour cream
- 1 (15-oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350ºF. Lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Cook the Rice Mixture: In a skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the Rice-A-Roni mixture and sauté, stirring frequently, until the rice turns golden brown, enhancing its flavor.
- Add Liquids and Simmer Rice: Slowly stir in 2 cups water, the seasoning packet from the rice box, and the diced tomatoes. Bring to a boil, then cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes until the rice is tender and has absorbed the liquids.
- Prepare the Taco Meat: While rice is cooking, brown the ground beef in a separate skillet over medium heat until fully cooked. Drain excess fat. Add taco seasoning, ¼ cup water, and salsa to the meat. Simmer for about 5 minutes until the liquid is mostly absorbed. Remove from heat.
- Combine Casserole Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked rice, seasoned taco meat, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, and rinsed black beans. Mix until everything is well incorporated.
- Assemble the Casserole: Spread the combined mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the shredded Mexican cheese blend evenly on top.
- Bake: Bake the casserole uncovered in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and slightly golden.
Notes
- For a spicier version, consider adding diced jalapeños or hot sauce to the taco meat mixture.
- Use low-fat sour cream to reduce calories without compromising creaminess.
- This casserole can be prepared a day ahead and refrigerated before baking to develop deeper flavors.
- Leftovers reheat well in the microwave or oven and often taste even better the next day.
- To make this recipe gluten-free, substitute the Rice-A-Roni for a gluten-free rice seasoning mix or plain rice with spices.
