With Thanksgiving and Christmas around the corner, most families are looking for quick and easy recipes like soups and casseroles for family dinners so more time can be devoted to other holiday preparations. When hosting holiday dinners, you expect to be spending hours in the kitchen making the traditional turkey or ham and all the trimmings.
To offset all the work involved in planning and preparing those more time-consuming meals, it’s nice to have one-dish meals for everyday, giving yourself a break now and then. Mexican fare is always a popular choice and this recipe not only saves time but also makes a colorful, attractive and inviting dish. It’s also one your family will love.
TACO CASSEROLE
1 pound ground beef
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped green pepper
1 envelope taco seasoning
1/2 cup water
1 cup crushed tortilla chips
1 (16-ounce) can refried beans
1 (4-ounce) package shredded cheddar cheese
Toppings:
Chopped lettuce
Chopped tomatoes
Sliced ripe olives
Sour cream
Picante sauce
Extra shredded cheddar cheese
Directions:
In a skillet, cook beef, onion and green pepper over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in taco seasoning and water. Cook and stir until thickened, about 3 minutes; set aside.
Place chips in a greased 8-inch square baking dish. In a bowl, stir refried beans until smooth; spread over chips. Top with beef mixture and cheese. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes or until heated through.
Top with lettuce, tomatoes, shredded cheddar cheese and olives. Serve with sour cream and picante sauce. Use as much of each topping as your family likes. Makes 4 servings.
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