How to make taco casserole

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Taco nights and a feeling of mouth-watering anticipation often go hand-in-hand. There's something so alluring about the different flavors and textures on the dinner table for taco night, although the amount of preparation (and dishes to clean!) never ceases to end when opting for a traditional build-your-own taco meal. With this amazing Taco Casserole, you can now serve up a stunning taco dinner, and prepare it all in less than 10 minutes. And as you know, simple prep often equals simple clean-up! It's a win-win!
This casserole uses all of the traditional ingredients of a standard taco feast, although, in keeping with the essence of taco dinners, you can always add in your favorite taco ingredients if you don't see them below (black olives, for example). If the little ones don't care for jalapeños, feel free to leave these out during the cooking process, and instead use them as lovely punchy garnishes for the grown-up plates! However you choose to customize your taco casserole, this is a dish that is sure to make many appearances on the family dinner table.
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Taco Casserole
Prep time: 15 minutes
Total time: 35 minutes
Serves: 4-6
Ingredients
1 lb (450g) ground beef, browned
2 cups (114g) roughly broken tortilla chips
1 packet (1 oz) taco seasoning
1 bell pepper, diced
1 red onion, sliced thinly
1 16oz (450g) jar salsa
1 16oz (450g) can refried beans
1/4 cup pickled jalapeños
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
2 large tomatoes, finely chopped
3 scallions (spring onions) finely chopped
1/2 head of lettuce, shredded
(optional) sour cream
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). In a greased casserole dish, spread out the broken tortilla chips over the bottom. In a large bowl, combine the browned beef with the taco seasoning, diced pepper, white onion, salsa and refried beans. Pour the beef mixture over the tortilla chips and spread out evenly.
2. Sprinkle the pickled jalapeños over the top and cover the casserole with the shredded cheddar cheese. Place into the preheated oven, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Once removed from the oven, sprinkle the fresh tomatoes, scallions and any leftover crushed tortilla chips over the top. Serve with a spoonful of sour cream.
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TIP: For an added boost of flavor, add the onion and bell pepper in when browning the beef, this will give the whole casserole and added kick!
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