Description

Picture this: fluffy rice, hearty ground beef, sweet corn, black beans, spicy tomatoes, and an ooey-gooey layer of melty cheese baked to bubbly perfection.
Mexican Rice Casserole is basically comfort food meets fiesta in a pan.
It’s hearty, filling, super customizable, and you probably already have most of the ingredients chillin’ in your pantry.
Plus, it’s one of those magical recipes that tastes even better the next day — aka the leftovers you’ll actually be excited about.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Casserole:

1 lb ground beef (or ground turkey)
1 small onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 (10 oz) can diced tomatoes with green chilies (like Rotel)
1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
1 cup frozen corn
1 cup cooked black beans (or one 15 oz can, drained and rinsed)
2 cups cooked rice (white or brown)
1 1/2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp paprika
Salt + pepper to taste

For Maximum Cheesiness:

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (or a Mexican blend)
Fresh cilantro, for topping (optional)
Sliced jalapeños, avocado, sour cream, for serving (optional but highly recommended)

Instructions

Step 1: Beef It Up

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and diced onion until beef is browned and onion is soft.
Drain any extra fat if needed.
Stir in the garlic, chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook for another minute.

Step 2: Mix It All Together

Add the diced tomatoes (with juices), tomato sauce, corn, black beans, and cooked rice into the skillet.
Stir everything together and let it heat up for a few minutes until bubbling gently.

Step 3: Casserole Time

Pour the beef and rice mixture into a greased 9×13″ baking dish.
Top it with all that glorious shredded cheese.
Bake uncovered for 15–20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Step 4: Garnish and Serve

Sprinkle with fresh cilantro if you’re feeling fancy.
Load up your plate with some jalapeños, avocado slices, and a dollop of sour cream.
Faceplant into cheesy happiness.

Serving Suggestions

Serve with tortilla chips for scooping like a dip. (Highly recommend.)
Add a simple green salad or some sautéed veggies on the side.
A cold cerveza or margarita wouldn’t hurt either. Just sayin’.

Notes

Make it Spicier: Add diced jalapeños or a few dashes of hot sauce into the beef mixture.
Veggie Version: Swap the beef for a can of chickpeas or some sautéed mushrooms.
Tex-Mex Vibes: Stir in a handful of sliced black olives or a little taco seasoning.
Add Greens: Toss in a handful of baby spinach when mixing everything together — it wilts down perfectly.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes

Nutrition

Calories: ~430 calories
Protein: ~24g