Creamy High-Protein Taco Casserole Recipe Is a Dinner Winner (7 Ingredients, 35 Minutes) High Protein Recipes Casseroles Beef Mexican Recipes Dinner Budget Recipes Gluten-free Tex-Mex Recipes

Ground beef is always a good ingredient for a comforting, budget-friendly dinner. This high-protein ground beef taco casserole recipe is an easy, family-friendly meal that everyone loves, and it works on many levels! First, it's a one-pan dish for dinner. Who doesn't love that? Second, it's quick to put together and bakes in just 20 minutes. And last but not least, if your family likes tacos, they should like this taco casserole recipe, too! Oh, and I didn't add you get the health benefits of protein in every cheesy bite.

To make this easy taco casserole recipe you will need just a few simple ingredients. Here is your shopping list for this gluten-free recipe: ground beef, onion, frozen spinach, cream cheese, Mexican-style diced tomatoes, whole kernel corn and cheese. This Mexican-inspired casserole recipe is easily customizable to your taste preferences, even if you aren’t a whiz in the kitchen (like me!).

Cooking Tip: If you can, shred your own cheese. Freshly shredded cheese melts better than pre-shredded bagged cheese.

Variation: You can use different variations of canned tomatoes and cheeses to make this Mexican, Italian or Greek, etc.

Serve this ground beef Mexican casserole for dinner with your favorite side dishes or alone as a complete meal.

Cuisine: Mexican / American / Tex-Mex
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 16 ounces (1 bag) frozen, cut spinach, thawed and drained
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened (I prefer Philadelphia brand)
• 14 ounces (1 can) Mexican-style diced tomatoes, drained
• 1 cup whole kernel corn, drained
• 1/2 - 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar, Colby Jack and Monterey Jack work well)

Here's how to make it: 

1. Cook the beef in a large skillet until no longer pink. When almost done, add the onion and continue cooking until translucent. Drain. (Try the recipe with ground turkey instead of ground beef.)
2. Add the spinach to the meat mixture and cook for a few minutes more. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
3. Stir in the cream cheese, drained tomatoes and corn. 
4. Pour the mixture into a 2-quart casserole dish that's been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Sprinkle the shredded cheese on top.
5. Bake in a preheated 350-degree F oven for 20 minutes. Serve with tortilla chips, if desired. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and reheat in the microwave.

Recipe cooking times, nutritional information and servings are approximate and provided for your convenience. However, 30Seconds is not responsible for the outcome of any recipe, nor may you have the same results because of variations in ingredients, temperatures, altitude, errors, omissions or cooking/baking abilities. Any nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and it is up to the individual to ascertain accuracy. To ensure image quality, we may occasionally use stock photography.

Take 30 seconds and join the 30Seconds community, and follow us on Facebook to get recipes in your newsfeed daily. Food, fun, health, happiness.