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Mexican White Trash Casserole Easy Cheesy Dinner
Emily

Mexican White Trash Casserole

A fun and comforting Tex-Mex style casserole made with layers of tortilla chips, seasoned beef, refried beans, salsa, and plenty of melted cheese. Perfect for an easy weeknight dinner or game day crowd-pleaser.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Casserole, Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 480
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 bag (9–10 oz) tortilla chips, lightly crushed
  • 1 pound ground beef or turkey
  • 1 packet (1 oz) taco seasoning
  • 1 cup salsa (your preferred heat level)
  • 1 can (15 oz) refried beans
  • 2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese, divided
  • optional toppings: sour cream, guacamole, diced tomatoes, black olives, green onions, fresh cilantro

Equipment

  • Large skillet
  • Mixing spoon
  • 9x13-inch baking dish
  • cooking spray or butter
  • oven mitts

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
  2. In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef until fully cooked, about 6–8 minutes. Drain excess grease. Stir in taco seasoning and salsa. Simmer 2–3 minutes.
  3. Spread half the crushed tortilla chips in the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
  4. Spoon the refried beans over the chips and spread evenly. Add half the beef mixture on top and spread it out.
  5. Sprinkle 1 cup shredded cheese over the beef layer.
  6. Add remaining tortilla chips, top with the rest of the beef mixture, and finish with the remaining cup of cheese.
  7. Bake uncovered for 20–25 minutes until cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden around edges.
  8. Cool 5 minutes, then add toppings like sour cream, guacamole, or cilantro before serving.

Notes

Serve with sour cream, guacamole, diced tomatoes, black olives, or fresh cilantro for extra flavor. For a lighter option, use ground turkey instead of beef. Great as leftovers and reheats well the next day.