It’s a real party with the Family Fiesta Bake! It features taco meat infused with a homemade taco seasoning blend, which makes it extra meaty and zesty! The casserole itself is loaded with tortillas, hearty black beans, vibrant tomatoes, crisp bell peppers, and melted cheese; in other words, all the Tex-Mex favorites! You can even top your Family Fiesta Bake with your most beloved taco toppings for even more fun! It’s time to start the festivities with the Family Fiesta Bake!
Ingredients
For the homemade taco seasoning:
- 1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 3/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoons oregano
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
For the bake:
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 1/2 onion, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
- 1 1/2 cups frozen corn, thawed
- 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 (15-ounce) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes, drained
- 1/4 cup water
- 18-20 corn tortillas, cut into halves
- 2 cups Cheddar-Jack cheese blend, shredded
Optional toppings:
- red onion, to taste, diced
- avocado, to taste, diced
- tomatoes, to taste, diced
- jalapeños, to taste, diced
- sour cream, to taste
- cilantro, to taste, chopped
- lime wedges, to taste
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Step 2 –Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
Step 3 –In a bowl, mix together the chili powder, the cumin, the garlic powder, the onion powder, the oregano, the paprika, the red chili flakes, 1 1/2 teaspoons of the salt, and 1 teaspoon of the pepper. Set the taco seasoning aside.
Step 4 –Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Step 5 –Add the onion, the red bell pepper, and the garlic and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes.
Step 6 –Add the ground beef and cook, while crumbling the meat, until browned, about 5-7 minutes.
Step 7 –Drain any excess fat from the skillet.
Step 8 –Add in the reserved homemade taco seasoning and combine well.
Step 9 –Taste the mixture for seasoning and add the salt and the pepper as needed.
Step 10 –Stir in the corn, the black beans, and the fire-roasted tomatoes and mix well.
Step 11 –Add in the water and cook for 15 minutes.
Step 12 –Layer 10-15 tortilla halves on the bottom of the prepared baking dish, covering as much of the bottom as possible.
Step 13 –Spoon 1/3 of the beef mixture over the tortilla layer, and spread it out evenly.
Step 14 –Spread 1/3 of the shredded cheese over the beef layer.
Step 15 –Repeat the layers twice.
Step 16 –Bake, uncovered, until the cheese is melted, about 20-25 minutes.
Step 17 –Let the casserole stand for 5 minutes.
Step 18 –Serve the bake with the red onion, the avocado, the tomatoes, the jalapeños, the sour cream, the cilantro, and the lime wedges.
