Healthy Lower Fat Mexican Casserole Recipes

MEXICAN CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Be sure to cook your rice if you haven't already (if you are just reading this and just now realized you don't have any cooked rice and don't want to wait, consider switching to quinoa, which cooks much more quickly than brown rice. Instant brown rice also works in a pinch).
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a large casserole dish (9x13 inch or similar) with nonstick spray and set aside.
• In a Dutch oven or large, deep skillet, heat the olive oil over medium high. Add the onion, green bell pepper, and red bell pepper. Sauté until slightly softened, about 5 minutes.
• Add the beef, chili powder, cumin, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Continue to sauté until the beef is cooked through and no longer pink, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook just until fragrant, about 1 additional minute.
• Remove from the heat. Stir in the rice and Greek yogurt until evenly combined. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.
• Assemble the casserole: Spread the beans into an even layer in the prepared baking dish.
• Sprinkle 1/4 cup cheddar cheese and 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese over the beans.
• Scatter the tomatoes with green chilis over the top.
• Spoon the rice and ground beef mixture on top of the tomatoes, spreading it into an even layer.
• Top with remaining 1/2 cup cheddar and 1/2 cupmozzarella.
• Bake the casserole, uncovered, until the cheese is melted and the casserole is hot, about 15 minutes.
• Turn the oven to broil, then continue cooking until the cheese is lightly browned, about 3 to 4 additional minutes, watching carefully so that the cheese does not burn.
• Let rest 5 minutes, sprinkle with chopped cilantro and green onions, and serve.

SKINNY MEXICAN CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly coat a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick spray. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add garlic, onion and bell peppers. Cook, stirring frequently, until tender, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in black beans, corn, chili powder and cumin until heated through, about 1-2 minutes; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Stir in green chiles and cilantro; set aside. Place tortillas evenly on the bottom of the baking dish. Spread refried beans evenly over the tortillas, followed by the onion mixture and enchilada sauce. Sprinkle with cheese. Place into oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until bubbly. Serve immediately, garnished with cilantro, if desired.

LOW-FAT MEXICAN TURKEY CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil; cook the rotini at a boil until tender yet firm to the bite, about 10 minutes; drain.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground turkey and break it up with a wooden spoon. Add chili powder, garlic, cumin, cayenne pepper, oregano, and black pepper; mix thoroughly. Cook and stir until turkey is browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Add corn, diced tomatoes and chiles, green bell pepper, onion, celery, and carrot; mix thoroughly.
• Place lid on skillet. Cook until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Add tomato sauce; let simmer until thickened, about 5 minutes. Transfer turkey mixture to a 9x13-inch casserole dish and add the cooked pasta. Mix everything together. Top with pepper Jack cheese.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted, about 10 minutes.