Optional, for serving: fresh cilantro or parsley, sliced avocado, guacamole, sour cream, sliced olives, sliced green onion
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease a 2-quart baking dish; set aside.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add beef and onion; cook until the meat is no longer pink. Drain off the fat.
Reduce the heat to low; stir in the taco seasoning, tomato sauce and a pinch of sugar. Bring to a simmer and cook over low heat for about 5 minutes, or until slightly thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in corn and lime juice.
Transfer mixture to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with cheese and add the crushed tortilla chips on top. Bake, uncovered, for 8-10 minutes, or just until the cheese is melted.
Notes
Garnish the casserole with your favorite fresh taco toppings for the best flavor and texture. Good options include fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped green onions or minced red onion, sour cream, diced avocado, halved cherry tomatoes, or sliced black olives.
Keep a close eye on the casserole as it's baking. Since all of the ingredients are cooked through, it only needs about 10 minutes in the oven for the cheese to melt. The chips should be lightly toasted, but not burned. If the top starts to get too dark before the rest of the casserole is warmed through, just tent the top loosely with foil.
For an extracheesy casserole, feel free to add an extra ½ cup -1 cup of grated cheese into the beef filling. Extra cheese on top is always good, too!
A pinch of sugar in the filling balances the acidity in the tomato sauce and gives the dish a more complex flavor. You can omit this ingredient, but I think it's best when included!
Use just 1 lb. of ground beef and bulk up the dish with a can of drained, rinsed black beans or pinto beans.
Swap out the ground beef and use ground turkey or ground chicken instead.
Instead of corn, use a can of drained, rinsed beans.
Top the dish with your favorite chips. I use corn tortilla chips, but Fritos or Doritos are also great options.