Description

This hearty Taco Rice Bake combines flavorful seasoned beef, ranch-style beans, Ro-tel tomatoes, and instant rice all baked under a blanket of melted cheddar cheese. In just 35 minutes, you get a satisfying Tex-Mex inspired casserole that’s perfect for a weeknight dinner. Topped with your favorite taco toppings, this dish is kid-friendly, crowd-pleasing, and easy to customize.

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

2 cups instant white rice
2 cups water
1 pound lean ground beef
1 (15-oz) can Ranch Style beans
1 (10-oz) can Ro-tel tomatoes
2 tsp dried minced onion flakes
1 (1-oz) package taco seasoning
1 (10.5-oz) can Unsalted Cream of Chicken Soup
½ cup water
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Preheat and prepare pan: Preheat oven to 350ºF. Lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking pan with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
Cook beef mixture: In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the lean ground beef until fully cooked. Drain off any excess fat. To the skillet, add Ranch Style beans, Ro-tel tomatoes, dried minced onion flakes, taco seasoning, the cream of chicken soup, and ½ cup water. Stir well to combine. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until the mixture is heated through and flavors meld, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
Prepare instant rice: In a separate pot, bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Stir in the instant white rice, cover, and remove from heat. Let it sit undisturbed for 5 minutes, allowing the rice to absorb all the water.
Combine rice and cheese with beef mixture: Stir the cooked rice and 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese into the beef mixture until evenly combined.
Assemble the bake: Pour the beef, bean, and rice mixture into the prepared 9×13-inch pan. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of cheddar cheese evenly over the top.
Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the cheese on top is melted and bubbly.
Serve: Remove from oven and top with your favorite taco toppings such as sour cream, salsa, chopped tomatoes, lettuce, or avocado, then serve immediately.

Notes

You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for the beef for a leaner option.
Use low-fat cheese or reduced-sodium soup to make this dish lighter and lower in sodium.
Instant rice cooks quickly but regular rice can be used; just adjust cooking time accordingly.
Add jalapeños or hot sauce for extra spice.
This casserole reheats well and can be made ahead and stored overnight in the fridge before baking.