Sometimes you want to pull a great meal together fast. This Tex-Mex tortilla casserole is my go-to quick, easy, one-pot dinner recipe. It’s vegetarian, gluten-free, totally delicious, and you probably have most, if not all, of the ingredients in house. Everyone needs a recipe like this in the repertoire.
Cooking has been an enjoyable creative outlet for as long as I can remember. Elaborate recipes with lots of ingredients are generally a fun adventure for me, with the promise of something great at the end. I hadn’t ever thought about the concept of quick and easy meals before I had kids. In fact, when my first son was born, I had every intention of making elaborate gourmet dinners every night. I can laugh now, looking back at myself singing and dancing around the kitchen with the baby strapped to my back, while trying to chop and sauté – Raffi songs blasting on the stereo. It was stressful and exhausting, and sometimes I would end up with an unhappy baby and a half-cooked dinner.
This Tex-Mex tortilla casserole was my first ever “quick, easy one-pot wonder” recipe. It was given to me 21 years ago by my neighbor Nava Atlas, who is a vegetarian cookbook author. I’ve made just a few tweaks, adding a bit more scallions and some additional spices. It’s a perfect weeknight dinner that can be on the table in half an hour, start to finish. Move over Rachel Ray!
HERE’S HOW TO MAKE THIS TEX-MEX TORTILLA CASSEROLE:
In a large bowl combine black beans, corn, tomatoes, green chilies, scallions and spices.
Line a casserole dish with corn tortillas, allowing them to overlap in the middle.
Scoop on half the bean mixture. Sprinkle half the cheese on top. Add another layer of tortillas; the rest of the bean mixture. The rest of the cheese.
Bake until the cheese is bubbling. Cut into squares and serve with your favorite salsa and sour cream or yogurt to spoon on top.
I’ve learned over the years that taking the easy way out doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a good tasty meal.
Here the recipe for Tex-Mex Tortilla Casserole. If you try this recipe I hope you’ll come back to leave a comment. I’d love to know what you think!
PrintTex-Mex Tortilla Casserole
Quick, easy, healthy and delicious vegetarian main course
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Total Time: 30 mins
- Yield: 6 1x
- Category: Quick and easy weeknight dinner
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Ingredients
- 1 15-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 14-ounce can stewed or diced tomatoes
- 1 4-ounce can chopped mild green chilies
- 2 cups frozen corn kernels, defrosted (10-ounce bag)
- I bunch scallions, chopped (set aside a handful to sprinkle on top)
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 12 corn tortillas
- 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese or Cheddar cheese
- Toppings: Salsa, Sour cream or yogurt, scallions
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400º F. Combine beans, tomatoes, chilies, corn, scallions, chili powder, cumin, oregano and salt in a large bowl.
- Lightly oil a 2-3 quart casserole dish. Line the bottom with 6 tortillas, allowing them to overlap in the middle. You can cut off some of the round edges so the tortillas fit against the edge of your casserole dish. Scoop on half the bean mixture. Sprinkle half the cheese on top. Add another layer of tortillas; the rest of the bean mixture. The rest of the cheese.
- Bake in the center of the oven for 12-15 minutes, until the cheese is bubbling.
- Cut into squares and serve with your favorite salsa and sour cream or yogurt to spoon on top.
Alyssa S
July 21, 2017 at 5:59 pmThis was amazing! I added a little rice into the mixture, and used a packet of taco seasoning instead of the recommended spices. So. Good. Will be making again. 😊
beth
May 11, 2016 at 10:09 amNew favorite for me, so easy and tasty. I added a half bag of frozen edamame last time I made this, was a nice additional texture/flavor. I’ve found this freezes well too; I make it on the weekend, slice up and freeze for quick lunch on the run at work.
★★★★★
nina mayer
November 11, 2015 at 9:58 amA family favorite!!! And sooo easy!
★★★★★
Elaine
June 30, 2015 at 8:25 amThis was such a hit in my house. I was fortunate enough to find local early fresh corn at my farm market so used kernels from two ears of corn that had been lightly grilled – awesome! I also assembled this the night before, kept in the refrigerator until i got home from work and then popped into the oven. Came out perfect! Great make ahead dish. I think I would increase the seasonings next time though just to give it more oomph. Super delicious recipe – thanks so much!
Lisa Goldfinger
June 30, 2015 at 9:10 amSo glad! Thanks Elaine.
Elen
March 16, 2015 at 1:47 pmCan you use flour tortillas?
Laura P.
March 16, 2015 at 2:06 pmEllen, I think if you use flour tortillas, you might want to put a layer of cheese on top of the tortillas before adding the bean mixture…maybe that would prevent the flour tortillas from getting too soggy? The corn tortillas are a little more sturdy! Let us know how it turns out. This is one of my favorite recipes!
Lisa Goldfinger
March 16, 2015 at 2:14 pmHi Elen, Interesting question. I’ve never tried to use flour tortillas. Laura is right – the flour tortillas might get soggy, whereas the corn tortillas just get soft and are a perfect consistency for this dish. I’m thinking the casserole might work really well with lasagna noodles, if you’re not concerned with it being gluten free. It sort of is like a lasagna, with the layers and the cheese. I bet that would be really good! If you try it with flour tortillas or lasagna noodles, I’d love to know the results!
Elen
December 15, 2014 at 8:11 pmCan you use chicken? Do you have nutrition facts on it? Thanks..
sara
May 3, 2014 at 7:08 pmstumbled opon this. making it tonight. sounds way easy and i am a fan of easy cooking.
Laura P.
June 24, 2013 at 3:59 pmHi Lisa,
Thank you for sharing this recipe! My sister asked me to make a vegetarian entree for her son’s high school graduation party this weekend. Originally she asked for a half pan, but once I showed her your recipe she said, “we’re going to need a full pan of that!”. Within minutes she came to me and said it was gone and her guests were literally scraping the pan, even though she also had over 25 lbs of Utica Riggies (a regional dish) and 42 lbs of amazing slow roasted pulled pork with lots of sides. I made it exactly as you described, only multiplied the ingredients to feed a crowd. Ran to the market the next day to buy ingredients for a family get-together and again it was gone in minutes. Thanks for an easy and delicious dish for a crowd!
Lisa Goldfinger
June 27, 2013 at 7:33 amThanks Laura! I’m so glad your guest enjoyed it. I’ve never heard of Utica Riggies. Is that a recipe I should try? Lisa
Laura P.
June 27, 2013 at 9:58 amHi Lisa,
Yes! Try the Utica Riggies…I had never heard of them either until I visited my sister in upstate NY. It is a chicken and rigatoni dish with spices and a vodka-like sauce, minus the vodka! If you google it you will see that there are cook-off competitions and restaurants have their own recipes. Let us know if you try the Riggies!
Tina
May 16, 2013 at 2:27 pmCan this tex mex recipe be frozen?
Lisa Goldfinger
May 16, 2013 at 2:38 pmHi Tina. I’ve frozen leftovers with good success. Best if you transfer it to an airtight container. Lisa
Natalie Slack
April 20, 2013 at 7:00 pmI made this last night for my friends and it was so delicious! It’s the perfect recipe for a college student just learning how to cook. 🙂
Lisa Goldfinger
April 21, 2013 at 7:59 amHi Natalie. I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for letting me know. :)Lisa
Jared
March 13, 2013 at 10:30 pmThis looks bombbbb, im going to the store to buy the supplies now!!
Barbara Joseph
March 11, 2013 at 1:04 pmPerfect timing – Tonight I was going to making my old reliable black beans and rice enchiladas but this will be much more interesting! Thanks for sharing…
Alina
March 10, 2013 at 8:49 pmLisa,
I use to have to engage Brandon to cook with me or else I wouldn’t get anything done without his acting out.
Our favorite was homemade chicken nuggets.
I make a version of this tex mex with more layers, but yours is definitely simple and worth trying.