If you are trying to keep a hungry teenage boy satisfied like me, then you will appreciate this recipe for Cheesy Mexican Rice Casserole.
They say that necessity is the mother of invention, right? Well that is where this recipe comes from. The necessity of feeding my growing (and growing) teenage boy. And he loves this Cheesy Mexican Rice Casserole.
So my son is 13 years old. We have some height in the family genes. He is currently 5′ 11″ tall with a size 13 shoe that seems to be getting smaller. He is a swimmer, a baritone player in his 8th grade band, he goes on monthly camp outs with his Boy Scout troop and he plays flag football once per week. I feel like we have at least one or two more growth spurts in our future and I cannot keep him full!
The struggle is real, you guys. Whole boxes of cereal disappear within a day or two. He sits with us at dinner and eats two full helpings and says he’s still hungry! He is a strong, muscular, man-child. I feel like I am feeding two additional men in our house all of a sudden, when really, it’s just Caleb.
So that is where this recipe for Cheesy Mexican Rice Casserole came from. I need to fill my boy up! I just need to remember for myself to only eat about 1/4 of the portion that he does. Our family is in love with Mexican food. So any way that I can find to combine Mexican flavors on our dinner table is a win!
Tips for Cheesy Mexican Rice Casserole:
- Bake this casserole in a 9×11 dish like this one.
- This recipe re-heats really well and is perfect for packing in a lunch thermos.
- We like to top our servings with sour cream and black olives. Other topping ideas include, chopped avocado, lime wedges, salsa, hot sauce and lettuce.
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Cheesy Mexican Rice Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups water
- 1 1/2 cups rice
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 15 oz can nacho cheese sauce
- 1 lb ground turkey 99% fat free
- 1 envelope taco seasoning
- 1 cup salsa your favorite brand
- 1 15 oz can petite cut diced tomatoes
- 1 15 oz can black beans drained
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- 1/2 cup tortilla chips crushed
- sour cream and black olives for serving
Instructions
- Drain the tomatoes. Add the tomato juice to the water and salt. Bring to a boil Add in the rice. Stir to combine. Reduce the heat to the lowest setting. Put a lid on the pot. Cook for at least 15 minutes, or until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender. Turn off the heat.
- Meanwhile in a large skillet cook the turkey until no longer pink. Add the taco seasoning and salsa. Simmer for a few minutes. Turn off the heat.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Stir the nacho cheese into the cooked rice.
- Spread the cheesy rice into the bottom of a 9 x 13 casserole dish.
- Top the cheesy rice with the drained, diced tomatoes.
- Top the tomatoes with the black beans.
- Top the black beans with cooked turkey.
- Cover the dish with foil and bake at 350 for 20 minutes.
- Remove the casserole dish from the oven and remove the foil.
- Top the turkey with the shredded cheese and the crushed tortilla chips. Return the dish to the oven to bake for about 10 more minutes, until the cheese is melted.
- Serve the casserole topped with sour cream and black olives.
Tina says
I haven’t made a casserole in a long time. This looks delicious and easy. I’m going to have to give this one a try. Thanks for sharing!
foodtasticmom says
Great, thank you Tina!
Lisa Bynum says
I am the mom of two boys. They are not teenagers yet, but I am already getting a taste of what’s coming down the road. My four-year-old already eats more than I do! This will be a good recipe to have in my arsenal. It’s cheap to make and will fill them up!
foodtasticmom says
Exactly. I need to feed him healthy food too, but cheap and filling is on our menu a lot these days!
Jessica Formicola says
This is my kind of casserole! Saving this for our next Mexican night!
foodtasticmom says
Awesome. Enjoy!
Camilla Hawkins says
I am now craving this for dinner tonight so will have to pop it on the menu later this week:-)
foodtasticmom says
Glad to hear this. Enjoy!
Elaine Benoit says
This looks so delicious! I love a good cheesy rice casserole and love that you incorporated a nice Mexican flair to it!!
foodtasticmom says
Thanks Elaine!
Sonal says
Now that’s my kind of food for sure. Love Mexican flavors and this cheesy rice is super yum.
foodtasticmom says
Thank you Sonal!
Maggie Unzueta says
Oh my word! I need this in my life.
foodtasticmom says
Yes, you do!