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    Home » Recipes » Meat and Poultry

    Healthy Mexican Casserole

    Published: Mar 18, 2022 · Modified: Jun 8, 2022 by Lauren Kelly · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    This Healthy Mexican Casserole is my favorite, easy meal. It's gluten free, delicious and is ready in 30 minutes!

    This Healthy Mexican Casserole is simple to prepare, packed with lean protein, light and nutritious with all of your favorite flavors. It's also gluten free and will be ready in just 30 minutes!

    Picture of this healthy Mexican casserole in a white baking dish and a  close up of a fork filled with some of the casserole and the title of the recipe up top.

    This is one of my family's favorites and I have been making this for YEARS!

    We all have those recipes that we keep making. Maybe your mother used to make something similar or you once found the recipe in a magazine and you've just continued making it all the time?

    That is this Mexican Casserole for me.

    It was one of those recipes that I always threw together and never wrote down the ingredients and instructions until now.

    *EDITED TO ADD:

    I have since started a low carb diet and yes, I still make this casserole! You can omit the beans and corn altogether and added some cauliflower rice or broccoli rice instead.

    Also, you can add some more full fat shredded cheddar cheese and sliced avocado. Let me tell you I was in low carb heaven.

    This recipe is so customizable!

    If you are looking for some other easy healthy dinner recipes, you need to try this Eggplant Parmesan, Zucchini Ravioli, Cheesy Stuffed Chicken Breasts and this Slow Cooker Thai Chicken Soup. These would be even more yummy with some Spiked Apple Cider!

    Why You Should Make This Healthy Mexican Casserole

    This is super easy and healthy, and most importantly DELICIOUS!  It's also a great dish for entertaining because it's simple to prepare (you can easily make it ahead of time) and it's also very colorful.

    I like when food looks good too. It's always an added bonus.

    The best thing about this recipe is how versatile it is! You can wrap it up in a tortilla, eat it over a bed of greens, add avocado or sour cream, or crush tortilla chips on top (my kids love that!)

    Any way you eat it, it is delicious!

    Also, if you are lucky enough to have leftovers (which probably won't be very often) then they taste great the next day too.

    I love repurposing leftovers into lettuce wraps or even quesadillas. Sometimes I add a little more cheese when I reheat it, because....cheese....

    You can customize this to whatever you have in the house and whomever might be eating this that night. It's so easy to do and this way I don't have to make 5 different meals.

    Check out my video to show you just how easy it is to make...

     

    See? I told you it was ridiculously easy.

    Recipe Ingredients

    • Ground turkey - You can use whatever ground meat you'd like in this healthy Mexican casserole. I used extra lean ground turkey to lower the fat content.
    • Extra virgin olive oil - You must know by now the millions of reasons why I love my EVOO. Some of those benefits are that its anti-inflammatory, it may help prevent heart disease and diabetes and may even help to lower cholesterol levels.
    • Cumin - Might just be my favorite seasoning! It also contains some antioxidants and has been shown to help control blood sugar and may help fight bacteria.
    • Chili powder - Is a blend of ground dried Chile peppers and seasonings. It has also been shown to possibly increase fat burning and metabolism.
    • Red pepper flakes - Another one of my favorites, but I like hot and spicy foods. I used to leave this out when my kids were little and didn't like spicy foods.
    • Coriander - I feel like coriander is often forgotten. Did you know that cilantro is actually the leaves from a coriander plant? If you like cilantro, you will love coriander.
    • Black beans - Packed with fiber, protein and antioxidants, black beans are a wonderful addition to meals and have a soft, creamy texture.
    • Pinto beans - Also loaded with fiber, protein and antioxidants and have a creamy, nutty taste.
    • Tomatoes - Loaded with antioxidants and has been shown to reduce risk of heart disease and cancer.
    • Chili peppers - I told you I love the heat! They're packed with vitamins A, B, C and E. Some studies suggest they act as an antioxidant to protect your cells and prevent inflammation.
    • Corn - A little corn goes a long way in this casserole recipe. But this is customizable so if you want more or less, go for it!
    • Mexican cheese - You can use whatever cheese you'd like in this healthy Mexican casserole recipe. I used Mexican cheese which is a blend of Monterey Jack, Cheddar, Queso Quesadilla and Asadero cheeses.
    • Cilantro - What can I say, I love cilantro! I do know some people think it tastes like soap which if that's the case, you can absolutely leave it out.

    Recipe FAQ's and Expert Tips

    Can you make this healthy Mexican casserole ahead of time?

    Absolutely! Simply prepare everything up until you place in a baking dish, cover with aluminum foil and place in the refrigerator until ready to cook. Then, I just pop it in the oven for 20 minutes and it's done! It should be fine in the refrigerator for 1-3 days before cooking.

    I am vegetarian, can I leave out the ground turkey and replace with something else?

    Definitely! You can easily use another can of beans (whatever variety you choose) or you can use ¾ cup cooked quinoa in place of the ground turkey.

    What if I only have taco seasoning, can I use this instead of the seasonings in here?

    Yes! You can use 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning in here instead of the cumin, chili pepper and red pepper flakes.

    Overhead picture of cooked Mexican casserole in a white baking dish.

    Related Recipes

    Mexican Quinoa Lasagna from Lauren Kelly Nutrition

    Healthy Mexican Rice from Dinners, Dishes & Desserts

    Chopped Mexican Kale Salad with Creamy Avocado Dressing

    Crock Pot Mexican Quinoa Tacos from Chelsea's Messy Apron

    Mexican Bean Salad from Lauren Kelly Nutrition

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    Healthy Mexican Casserole

    This Healthy Mexican Casserole is healthy, delicious and will be ready in 30 minutes!
    5 from 17 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: brunch, dinner, Main Course, main dish
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Diet: Gluten Free
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes
    Servings: 6 -8 servings
    Calories: 323kcal
    Author: Lauren Kelly

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound lean ground turkey
    • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
    • ¼ teaspoon cumin
    • ¼ teaspoon chili powder â…› tsp if you don’t like it too spicy
    • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
    • â…› teaspoon coriander
    • 1 15 ounce can organic black beans rinsed thoroughly and drained
    • 1 15 ounce can organic pinto beans rinsed thoroughly and drained
    • 4-5 plum tomatoes chopped and seeds removed
    • 1 teaspoon chopped chili peppers add more or like to your taste
    • ½ cup frozen corn
    • ¼ cup reduced fat mexican blend cheese
    • ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro for topping optional

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put ground turkey in large
      sauce pan
      with oil and cook until no longer pink.
    • Add cumin, chili powder, red pepper flakes, coriander and a little water until seasoned. Add pinto & black beans, diced tomatoes, thinly sliced chilis, corn and mix it all together in sauce pan.
    • Place in a 9 x 13 casserole dish and add ¼ cup of reduced fat mexican cheese blend on top. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes until cheese is melted.
    • For my kids, I crumble whole grain tortillas on top.
    • I like diced cilantro sprinkled on top. This is great the next for leftovers in a wrap too. ENJOY!

    Notes

    You can also customize the spiciness of this casserole too. I usually omit the chili powder for my one sone and take out the chili peppers.
    I promise it tastes just as delicious! And to the opposite end of that, if you like spice, go ahead and add more!
    Add some jalalpeno peppers (with the seeds) while you're at it!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 323kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 44mg | Sodium: 81mg | Potassium: 956mg | Fiber: 14g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 479IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 117mg | Iron: 4mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @lkellynutrition or tag #lkellynutrition!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Courtney

      October 21, 2021 at 9:33 am

      5 stars
      My family loved it! Adding it to our rotation of weeknight meals, thank you for this recipe!

      Reply
    2. Betsy

      October 21, 2021 at 8:49 am

      5 stars
      Easy and delicious! So healthy! Decided this was the perfect meal to serve up some sweet potato fries with and we were not disappointed! Topped the fries with some cojita cheese and cilantro and they perfectly complemented this incredibly delicious casserole! Love all the delicious low fat/high protein veggies and perfectly balanced seasonings! Perfect Taco Tuesday or Fiesta Friday meal!! <3 <3 🙂 Yum!!!

      Reply
    3. Matt Taylor

      February 05, 2021 at 9:55 am

      5 stars
      I love Mexican food. This recipe looks amazing and super easy to make, I can't wait to give it a try. 🙂

      Reply
    4. Beth

      February 05, 2021 at 9:36 am

      5 stars
      Yummy! My hubby is going to love this recipe! I can't wait to give this a try! So excited!

      Reply
    5. Jen

      February 05, 2021 at 9:27 am

      5 stars
      I love how filling and delicious this is! So easy to customize the spice level depending on if the kids are planning on eating it too.

      Reply
    6. Julie

      October 07, 2017 at 8:22 am

      Could you use canned diced tomatoes

      Reply
      • lauren.kelly

        October 07, 2017 at 9:06 am

        Absolutely Julie! I love making life easier 🙂 I hope you enjoy it!

        Reply
    7. Marla Meridith

      March 07, 2017 at 7:29 pm

      This casserole looks great!

      Reply
      • lauren.kelly

        March 07, 2017 at 7:38 pm

        Thanks Marla!

        Reply
    8. Megan @ MegUnprocessed

      March 07, 2017 at 1:55 pm

      Looks wonderfully flavorful!

      Reply
      • lauren.kelly

        March 07, 2017 at 7:38 pm

        Thank you!

        Reply
    9. Erin @ Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts

      March 06, 2017 at 3:55 pm

      This looks amazing, my family would love it! Thanks for including my rice!

      Reply
      • lauren.kelly

        March 07, 2017 at 7:39 pm

        My pleasure Erin! I can't wait to make that Mexican Rice!

        Reply
    10. Marilynn

      October 22, 2016 at 6:51 pm

      I can not find the PRINT option, either. I don't see a way to access the recipe box. ?? Thanks in advance.

      Reply
      • lauren.kelly

        October 22, 2016 at 7:04 pm

        Hi Marilynn! I just fixed that, you should be ready to print now 🙂

        Reply
    11. CiaoFlorentina

      December 24, 2015 at 4:57 am

      Tuesday night dinner is covered with this awesomeness. I 'm sure everyone will love it because duhh , look at that goodness!

      Reply
      • lauren.kelly

        December 24, 2015 at 12:04 pm

        Yes to the goodness 🙂

        Reply
    12. Serena | Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch

      December 23, 2015 at 10:11 pm

      Such a great dish! The whole family would love this!

      Reply
      • lauren.kelly

        December 23, 2015 at 11:49 pm

        Thank you Serena!

        Reply
    13. Julie

      December 23, 2015 at 10:37 pm

      I am making this!! Thanks!

      Reply
      • lauren.kelly

        December 23, 2015 at 11:49 pm

        I hope you all like it!

        Reply
    14. Amanda

      December 23, 2015 at 2:28 pm

      Such a great recipe! Thank you!!

      Reply
      • lauren.kelly

        December 23, 2015 at 9:38 pm

        Aw, thank YOU Amanda!! XO

        Reply
    15. Doris

      September 15, 2015 at 4:55 pm

      This looks like a wonderful supper meal later this week ...How can I print this recipe ??? Am I overlooking the 'print ' option??? Thanks so much !

      Reply
      • lauren.kelly

        September 15, 2015 at 8:37 pm

        hello again Doris! In the recipe box, the PRINT button is on the upper right hand corner 🙂

        Reply
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