Description

A hearty, dairy-free weeknight casserole that combines seasoned ground beef, black beans, and tortilla chips with a creamy dairy-free cheese sauce. It offers the comfort of traditional tacos without the dairy, making it kid-approved and easy to clean up.

Ingredients

Scale

1 lb (450g) ground beef (80/20 fat content)
1 medium yellow onion, diced
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
2 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup (240ml) unsweetened vanilla almond milk or oat milk
1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
2 cups (200g) dairy-free cheddar shreds (block grated preferred)
2 cups (80g) tortilla chips, crushed into coarse pieces

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Crush tortilla chips into coarse chunks and set aside.
In a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef and diced onion, breaking meat into small crumbles. Drain excess grease, leaving about 1 tablespoon.
Reduce heat to medium. Add garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. Stir for 1 minute until fragrant.
Pour in the dairy-free milk and drained black beans. Simmer for 2 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
Spread half of the crushed tortilla chips into the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish.
Pour the beef and sauce mixture over the chips, spreading evenly to the edges.
Sprinkle half of the dairy-free cheese over the beef. Add the remaining tortilla chips on top, then sprinkle the rest of the cheese over the chips.
Bake for 12 minutes. Switch to broil for 2-3 minutes to melt cheese and golden spots. Watch closely to prevent burning.
Let rest for 5 minutes before cutting into squares.

Notes

For best melting results, grate your own dairy-free cheese block rather than using pre-shredded varieties which contain starch. Ensure black beans are thoroughly rinsed and drained to prevent a soupy casserole. A squeeze of fresh lime juice after baking can brighten the flavors.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 square
Calories: 420
Sodium: 680
Fat: 22
Carbohydrates: 35
Fiber: 6
Protein: 28

Keywords: dairy-free, ground beef casserole, taco night, easy weeknight dinner, gluten-free option, kid-friendly, meal prep