Deliciously cheesy beef taquito casserole is loaded with great Tex-Mex flavor, make-ahead, & super easy! Use frozen beef taquitos, your favorite enchilada sauce, and plenty of cheese.
2cupspepper jack cheeseor monterey jack for milder version
4ouncesblack olivesdrained and sliced
4ouncesgreen chilesdrained and diced
½cuponions and bell peppersdiced - you can get the mix in the produce department or get the frozen ones.
5green onionssliced
2tablespoonsfresh cilantrochopped, optional
Instructions
Preheat oven to 425°F.
Spray baking dish with no stick cooking spray.
Arrange taquitos in a single layer in a 13-inch by 9-inch baking dish and cover evenly with enchilada sauce.
Add the olives, onions, bell peppers, and drained chiles.
Bake casserole for 15 minutes.
Remove from oven and sprinkle with the cheese.
Return to oven and bake 5 to 10 more minutes, or until the temperature is 165F when you stick an instant read thermometer in the center of the casserole.
Remove from oven.
Garnish green onions and cilantro.
Notes
Storage:Store any extras right in the casserole dish, sealed with plastic wrap. You can also spoon the taquitos into an airtight container to save room in the fridge.Refrigerate the leftovers for three to four days, warming them in the microwave until hot again. I don't recommend freezing leftovers, since the taquitos were frozen once already (Freezing food more than once tends to make it dry and yucky). However, according to the USDA it is safe to refreeze cooked food as long as it didn't sit at room temperature more than an hour or two.Tips:
Go ahead and use frozen taquitos straight from the freezer. This casserole is actually better if you don't let them thaw before baking.
If you're going to use the taquitos frozen make sure you put them in a freezer to oven-safe dish. If in doubt use aluminum instead of glass.
Place the taquitos in a single layer to promote nice, even cooking.
You can prepare taquitos casserole in advance. Cover the dish tightly and freeze until you're ready to bake. (Baking may take a few more minutes from frozen.) Just be sure to let a glass baking dish warm up before putting it into a hot oven.