What makes Healthy Taco Bake healthy? Well, it’s relatively low-carb, but don’t worry… that’s the only thing it’s “low” in. You’ll love just how much Tex-Mex flavor shines through the layers upon layers of crispy tortilla chips, spicy ground beef, and melty cheese in this bake. And to add even more nourishment to this captivating casserole, you’ve got to make sure you add all those fresh toppings for good measure. Eating well has two meanings, good for your body and good for your taste buds, and Healthy Taco Bake has a high dosage of them both!
Ingredients
For the bake:
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 2 red and/or yellow bell peppers, thinly sliced
- 1 yellow onion, thinly sliced
- 1 poblano pepper, stemmed and seeded, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 (1-ounce) packet taco seasoning
- 1 (10-ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chilies, drained
- 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup corn kernels, fresh or frozen
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 (13-ounce) bag round tortilla chips
- 1 (8-ounce) bag Mexican-style cheese blend, shredded
Optional toppings:
- tortilla chips, to taste
- lettuce, to taste, shredded
- pico de gallo, to taste, store-bought or homemade
- avocado, to taste, cubed or sliced
- cilantro, to taste, chopped
- sour cream, to taste
- black olives, to taste, sliced
- hot sauce, to taste
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Step 2 –Lightly grease a 13×9-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
Step 3 –In a large Dutch oven over medium heat, heat the oil.
Step 4 –Add the bell peppers, the onion, the poblano, and the garlic to the oil and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables have softened, about 10-12 minutes.
Step 5 –Add the ground beef and the taco seasoning to the veggie mixture and cook, while crumbling the meat, until the beef is no longer pink, about 6-8 minutes.
Step 6 –Add the canned tomatoes with green chilies, the black beans, the corn, and the salt to the beef mixture and cook, stirring occasionally, until well-combined, about 2 minutes. Transfer from the heat.
Step 7 –Arrange a single layer of the tortilla chips, slightly overlapping each chip, at the bottom of the prepared baking dish (you should use around 35 chips).
Step 8 –Evenly top the chips with 1/2 of the beef mixture.
Step 9 –Evenly sprinkle 1/2 of the cheese over the beef mixture.
Step 10 –Repeat the layers once, starting with the chips and using the remaining beef mixture and the remaining cheese.
Step 11 –Bake the taco bake until the cheese has melted and is beginning to brown on top, about 16-20 minutes.
Step 12 –Let the taco bake cool for 10 minutes.
Step 13 –Serve the taco bake with your preferred optional toppings.
