What do you do when you're in the mood for burritos but you don't feel like dealing with the mess? You make the recipe below, of course! It has all the flavors you love about Mexican food, plus one of your favorite snack foods to add some crunch. Fritos are like the icing on top of this very savory cake. They add so much flavor and texture to this casserole, vaulting it from a standard, weeknight meal to something quite extraordinary.
If you're looking to avoid red meat, feel free to substitute in ground turkey instead. You could even use leftover shredded chicken, too, if you have that on hand. Just make sure to simmer the chicken with the seasoning mix to create that nice, saucy flavor.
How to make Beef and rice casserole with Fritos
6-8
10 minutes
40 minutes
50 minutes
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 (1 1/4-ounce) envelope taco seasoning
1/4 cup water
1 cup salsa, plus additional for garnish
1 (4-ounce) can diced green chilies
1 (16-ounce) can refried beans
2 cups cooked white rice
2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend, plus additional for garnish
1 (10 1/4-ounce) bag chili cheese Fritos
Sliced avocados, for garnish
Sour cream, for garnish
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x13 baking dish with nonstick spray and set aside.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef and cook until it is browned through, about 8 minutes.
Add the taco seasoning and water. Simmer until the mixture is slightly thickened, about 2 minutes.
Add the salsa, green chilies, refried beans, rice, and cheese. Stir until the mixture is well combined.
Place the beef mixture in the prepared baking dish and top it with the Fritos.
Bake for 30 minutes, until the mixture is bubbly and warmed through.
Top each serving with avocados, sour cream, and additional salsa and cheese (if using)