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Home › Recipes
7 Comments

Cheesy Mexican Rice Casserole

Stacey Pirtle

by Stacey Updated: Oct 7, 2023

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Cheesy Mexican Rice Casserole is an easy, one-pot rice dinner recipe with all the flavors and feels of your favorite taco! Loaded with seasoned ground beef, black beans, corn and tomatoes, this hot & cheesy Tex Mex comfort meal is a guaranteed family favorite.

cheesy mexican rice casserole with ground beef, corn and beans


My family sometimes calls this one skillet gem Taco Rice. And I can see why. It is basically Mexican rice amped up into a complete, all-in-one taco meal! Tacos without the hassle of prepping all the separate parts… What could be better?! How about having all this cheesy rice & beef goodness on your table in 30 minutes or less!

RELATED RECIPES: Taco Hand Pies, Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes, Taco Pasta Salad

As the rice simmers with the spices and other ingredients, amazing flavor is created and sealed in with a layer of gooey Mexican cheeses. You’re going to love it with a dollop of sour cream and pile of tortilla chips!

easy mexican rice casserole is a one pot skillet meal perfect busy weeknights

Why We Love This Recipe

  • It has all the flavors of our favorite Taco Tuesday meal, but is so easy to throw together at the last minute.
  • One pot/skillet recipe means quick & easy clean up!
  • It is versatile and can be made with any of these substitutions to meet your family’s needs: Ground Turkey, Brown Rice, Frozen Corn, Canned Pinto Beans, Diced Jalapenos, Fire-Roasted Tomatoes.
ingredients for mexican rice casserole with ground beef, corn, black beans, tomatoes, cheese for all the taco goodness

Ingredients For Mexican Rice Casserole

  • lean ground beef
  • yellow onion
  • minced garlic
  • taco seasoning
  • instant rice
  • chicken broth
  • black beans
  • kernel corn
  • diced tomatoes & green chiles
  • salsa ( Use the linked fresh recipe or your favorite brand.)
  • diced green chiles
  • grated Mexican blend cheese
  • salt, olive oil
  • lime
how to make this taco rice casserole all in one skillet

How to Make Cheesy Mexican Rice Casserole

Prepare Ground Beef. In a large (10-12 inch) skillet or Dutch oven, heat olive. Add diced yellow onion and minced garlic. Sautee just until garlic begins to brown. Add lean ground beef and brown. Drain any excess liquid (I use 90/10, so there usually isn’t any). Return beef to hot skillet & stovetop.

Add in the Goodies. Add diced tomatoes, salsa, green chiles, taco seasoning and salt to beef. Mix well. Let simmer for 5 minutes until almost all the liquid is gone, then fold in the corn & beans.

Add Rice & Cheese! Stir in broth and instant rice. Cover with lid or aluminum foil and allow to simmer 5-8 minutes or until rice is tender and fluffy, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, uncover, squeeze half a lime over dish, fluff rice, add cheese, and then simply re-cover to create all that melted cheese goodness!

Mexican beef and rice casserole is an easy ground beef recipe

How To Serve This One Pot Mexican Casserole

We usually eat this easy rice recipe in a bowl loaded with our favorite taco toppings, but you can also serve it on a plate with a green salad. Either way, tortilla chips are a must. This casserole is a great dipper!

Topping Suggestions:

  • sliced avocado or guacamole
  • salsa
  • sour cream
  • black olives
  • green onions
  • cilantro
  • cherry tomatoes

Storing & Freezing Mexican Rice Casserole

If you happen to have leftovers (we never do), store them covered in the fridge for 3-4 days. To freeze, just place in an air tight freezer container and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight. Freshen up with more cheese and warm in the oven on 350 for 30-45 minutes.

Easy one pot Mexican casserole for tex mex taco flavor.

Other Mexican Casseroles You’ll Love

  • Layered Beef Enchilada Casserole
  • Green Chile Chicken Enchilada Casserole
  • Ultimate Shortcut Mexican Cornbread
  • Tex Mex Sour Cream Enchiladas

More Rice Dinner Recipes

  • Louisiana Dirty Rice
  • Beef & Mushroom Rice
  • Creamy Spinach Artichoke Chicken & Rice Casserole
  • Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole
  • Stuffed Eggplant with Sasuage & Rice
  • Chicken & Wild Rice Skillet Casserole

IF YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE, BE SURE TO LET ME KNOW!

RATE IT, LEAVE A COMMENT OR SNAP A PHOTO.

Tag me on Instagram at #southerndiscourse
easy mexican rice casserole is a one pot skillet meal perfect busy weeknights

Cheesy Mexican Rice Casserole

Cheesy Mexican Rice Casserole is an easy, one-pot rice dinner recipe with all the flavors and feels of your favorite taco!
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Mexican
Keyword: Easy Recipe, family meal, TexMex
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
Servings: 4 people
Author: Stacey | SouthernDiscourse.com

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 packet (1 ounce) taco seasoning
  • 1 can (10 ounce) diced tomatoes & green chiles
  • 1.5 cup salsa
  • 1 can (4 ounce) diced green chiles
  • 1 can (15.25 ounce) kernel corn, drained
  • 1 can (15 ounce) black beans, drained & rinsed
  • 1.5 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup instant rice
  • 2 cup grated Mexican blend cheese
  • ½ medium lime

Toppings

  • cherry tomatoes, green onions, cilantro
Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a large (10-12 inch) skillet or Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium high heat. Add diced yellow onion and minced garlic. Sautee until garlic begins to brown.
  • Add lean ground beef and brown. Drain any excess liquid. Return beef to hot skillet.
  • Turn heat down to medium. Add diced tomatoes, salsa, green chiles, taco seasoning and salt. Mix well. Let simmer for 5 minutes until almost all liquid is gone. Mix in corn & beans.
  • Stir in broth and rice. Turn heat to low. Cover with lid or foil and allow to simmer 5-8 minutes or until rice is tender and fluffy, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, uncover, squeeze half a lime over dish, fluff rice, add cheese, re-cover to melt cheese.

Notes

Top with sour cream, cilantro and green onions.  Or see suggested listed of toppings for more ideas!
easy mexican rice casserole is a one pot skillet meal perfect busy weeknights
Did you make my Cheesy Mexican Rice Casserole?Show me how it went! Share on Instagram, tag @southerndiscourse, and use the hashtag #SouthernDiscourse!
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Cheesy Mexican Rice Casserole is an easy, one-pot rice dinner recipe with all the flavors and feels of your favorite taco!  Loaded with seasoned ground beef, black beans, corn and tomatoes, this hot & cheesy Tex Mex comfort meal is a guaranteed family favorite.

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Filed Under: Casseroles, Main Dishes, Recipes Tagged With: casseroles, comfort food

Meet Stacey

Southern Discourse is a place where you can find southern family dishes, along with special recipes & table settings. Bringing connection & friendship back to the table by wrapping everything in the faith & grace from which true hospitality springs! Read More

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Avatar photoKIM A FERGUSON

    August 6, 2022 at 7:55 am

    5 stars
    looks great!!

    Reply
    • Stacey Pirtlestacey

      August 8, 2022 at 11:04 am

      Thanks, Kim! It’s such an easy and delicious family meal. I hope you enjoy it!

      Reply
  2. Avatar photoFrancine

    September 20, 2023 at 1:24 pm

    5 stars
    Very good

    Reply
    • Stacey PirtleStacey

      October 2, 2023 at 9:06 am

      Hi, Francine!

      I am just tickled you made this Mexican Rice Casserole and enjoyed it! Thank you!

      Reply
  3. Avatar photoJane

    September 23, 2024 at 6:42 pm

    5 stars
    Awesome tasting!! Just enough heat and it made a huge batch so you know what’s for dinner tomorrow…leftovers!!😊
    I’ll certainly be adding this recipe to our book, thank you!!

    Reply
  4. Avatar photoVicki Radford

    March 18, 2025 at 5:14 pm

    5 stars
    Made this tonight and it’s fabulous!! Quick and easy. I used some chicken I had on hand.

    Reply
    • Stacey PirtleStacey

      March 21, 2025 at 1:13 pm

      Hi Vicki! Thanks so much! Chicken sounds delish!

      Reply

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Meet Stacey

Southern Discourse is a place where you can find southern family dishes, along with special recipes & table settings. Bringing connection & friendship back to the table by wrapping everything in the faith & grace from which true hospitality springs! Read More

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