Hello all and happy Monday!! Actually, is there such thing as a happy Monday? This week might mark a happy Monday for me though, because it is the last week of school! All I need to do is finish marking the exams, write all of the report cards and go to a couple of PD days at the end of the week. Easy peasy, right? Then it will be all relaxing and wedding planning from here on out.
BUT, meanwhile, I need a dinner that I can come home to and pop in the oven. And I have had my fair share of frozen pizzas this last month, so I want to switch things up a bit. This Taco Rice Casserole Freezer Meal really hit the spot.
I have made this Taco Rice Casserole Freezer Meal many times before, but I have never posted it because when I get home I am just SO HUNGRY. I don’t have time to take out my camera and let my dinner go cold. I want all the food RIGHT NOW.
But today, as things are finally starting to slow down and I can see the end of the school year, I have decided I will post the recipe. FINALLY.
And don’t worry. If you end up trying this, you will see that it was well worth the wait.
This Taco Rice Casserole Freezer Meal mixes some of my favourite things: corn, beans, onions and of course, rice.
Thinking back to my childhood dinners, I remember it being very rare when our dinners DIDN’T consist of rice. The default when I came home was to fill the rice cooker with rice and water and turn it on to get ready for dinner. It was even common to have rice for breakfast too.
But now that I am living on my own, I want to experiment with my dinners. Try some pasta, some salads, some chicken and potatoes. Or Kale, Rice and Vegetable Freezer Meals. Things that I didn’t typically eat in my youth.
But every once in a while, I want to go back to what I know. And maybe spice it up just a little.
My mom’s style of cooking was to put everything that needed using into a saucepan and cook it. Sometimes it turned out a disaster, but I want to say that more times than not it turned out into an amazingly unique creation.
And that was sort of my method of making this casserole. We had some leftover rice, some ground beef that needed using and a sad looking onion that needed using. Mix it all together and you get something really tasty!
I am also under a firm belief that if you top any dinner with cheese, it will be amazing. So far, my theory has yet to be wrong.
If you make this Taco Rice Casserole Freezer Meal recipe, let me know how you liked it! Rate it, leave a comment and tag me with #atasteofmadness on Instagram! I always love seeing what you are creating!
Taco Rice Casserole Freezer Meal
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 package hot and spicy taco seasoning
- 2 cups frozen corn
- 2 (19 oz) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 (15 oz) cans diced tomatoes
- 4-5 cups cooked rice
- 3 cup shredded cheese
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, cook the ground beef until no longer pink. Drain the excess grease. Add in onion and cook until soft. Stir in the taco seasoning.
- Add in the corn, black beans and tomatoes, and mix until fully combined.
- Spray two 9x13 foil pans with cooking spray. Spoon half of the rice into the bottom of each pan and press down evenly.
- Spoon the meat mixture evenly over the rice. Top with the shredded cheese.
- Cover with foil and label. Place in a large freezer bag, and freeze.
- When ready to use, thaw overnight. Bake in the oven at 350°F for 45 minutes with the foil on. Remove the foil, and continue to cook until cheese is melted.
Pin for Later
Can this be made a day in advance and then baked the next day?
Yes it can! Let me know if you give it a go!
This is a great dish to make for busy nights then freeze leftovers! I love always having a backup in the freezer for busy nights or lazy weekends.
Same here! Thanks Sharon!
This sounds like a great casserole. I don’t do a lot of freezer meals but it’s nice to have a few great recipes on hand!
You must try it! It is so good!
My kind of recipe. Love rice dish. This looks amazingly delicious. Saving it for later.
Thanks! Let me know if you give it a go!
I love having a good freezer meal or two on hand and this one looks very tasty. Nice and hearty too!
It’s the best, right? Thanks Jenni!
Oh I love freezer meals! Especially when things get so busy and I don’t have time to make dinner, it’s the perfect solution. And this is a great combination of flavors too. Definitely a keeper
Same here! Thanks Karyl!
Mmmm this sounds like such a delicious meal! Perfect Friday night family dinner too…definitely a keeper! 😀
It really is a life saver some nights. Thanks Tammy!
The taco seasoning is a must have on hand for busy days I think. I love adding them when I’m cooking in a haste. This sounds like a great recipe to make extra and have on hand. My kids would love this.
I buy taco seasoning specifically for this dish 😉 Thanks Veena!
I’m always on the lookout for gluten free meals that are freeze-able. This looks delicious!
Freezable meals save my butt on so many busy night! Thanks Linda!
I just love taco rice bowls!! What a great idea to make it into a casserole and freeze it! I was trying to think of freezer meal ideas when I was pregnant and I wish I had found this recipe! I’m bookmarking this. 🙂
Thanks Dominique! Let me know if you end up trying it out!
Taco rice casserole is such a great make-ahead meal! The whole family loves it!!!
I can’t get enough make-ahead meals. Thanks Kelly!
Such a delicious and comforting looking dish! I love how it can be made ahead and used as meal prep! And totally agree, any dinner is better when topped up with cheese!!!
When in doubt, put cheese! Thanks Anna!
Freezes well.. I would make so many batches.. a years worth hahaaha
That’s such a good idea! Hahah!
Topping most things with cheese is always going to be a good thing! Gonna give this a go with veggie mince I am sure it will turn out perfect.
That sounds like an awesome idea!! Let me know if you try it!
This looks like a very delicious meal! I love simple and tasty meals that are family friendly! We would all love to try this!!!
I hope you do! It is one of my favourite dinners