Simply The Best Tex Mex Casserole

Total Time: 30 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 lb ground chicken breast or 1 lb ground beef
• 1 (20 ounce) package shredded hash brown potatoes (simply potatoes brand southwestern flavor preferred)
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1/2 red onion, chopped
• 1 red pepper, chopped
• 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained
• 1 cup medium heat taco sauce or 1 (14 ounce) can stewed tomatoes or 1 (14 ounce) can fire-roasted tomatoes
• 1 cup frozen corn kernels
• salt
• 2 1/2 cups cheddar cheese or 2 1/2 cups monterey jack pepper cheese, shredded
• 2 green onions, finely chopped

Recipe

• 1 preheat the oven to 425 degrees f.
• 2 to cook the filling: preheat a large skillet over medium high heat.
• 3 add 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil - twice around the pan.
• 4 add chicken and season with chili powder, cumin, red pepper and red onion.
• 5 brown the meat, 5 minutes.
• 6 add taco sauce or stewed or fire roasted tomatoes.
• 7 add black beans and corn.
• 8 heat the mixture through, 2 to 3 minutes then season with salt, to your taste.
• 9 in a separate frying pan cook hash browns according to direction on package. this can be done while you are frying up the meat.
• 10 assemble casserole: spray a 9x13 pan with non stick stray.
• 11 layer half the cooked hash browns in the pan.
• 12 build casserole in layers of filling, ½ cheese and the rest of the hash browns, then cheese.
• 13 bake casserole 15 minutes until cheese is brown and bubbly.
• 14 top with the scallions.
• 15 *note* you can serve with salsa, sour cream and sliced avocado on the side as additional toppings.