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Easy Mexican Casserole (Naturally Gluten Free)

Shirley Braden

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For affiliate links and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Mr. GFE and I both enjoy a good casserole, tortilla chips, cheese, and Mexican themed dishes. So when I saw a Mexican casserole made with beans and tortilla chips in a listing on All Free Casseroles Recipes, I had to take a look.

The original recipe was actually called My Mom’s Mexican Casserole. Aren’t Mom’s recipes usually the best?

 

I decided to give the recipe a go, creating my own simpler version—a gfe version made with simple pantry ingredients.

So I skipped the canned Ranch style beans and opted for plain pinto beans. I omitted the cream of chicken soup. (Although Pacific Foods makes gluten-free cream of chicken soup and there are lots of homemade gluten-free versions of “cream of” soups, again, I wanted to keep things simple and use what I already had in my pantry.)

I omitted the packaged taco seasoning mix (although there are plenty of gluten-free options, like this one) and I decided that I would use salsa as my liquid, binder, and main flavoring in the recipe instead of as an optional ingredient. Therefore, I knew that taco seasoning would not be needed.  I knew the salsa would do the job I wanted, because my Enchilada Casserole includes salsa for the very same reason and it’s delicious. (By the way, when I do need taco seasoning, I rely on this Four-Ingredient On-the-Spot Taco Seasoning.)

This Easy Mexican Casserole made with beans and tortilla chips (which are pantry staples here) is a perfect one-pot meal—my personal fave! My aunt and I enjoyed it for lunch when she was visiting. Mr. GFE and I enjoyed it for dinner two nights in a row.

This Easy Mexican Casserole made with beans and tortilla chips is naturally gluten free and loved by everyone who has tried it! It's a great addition to the one-dish meal category, which is a personal favorite of mine. From Gluten Free Easily. (photo)

I even ate some for breakfast and/or lunch a few days. It was good every single time! Enjoy!

Gluten-Free Easy Mexican Casserole from Gluten Free Easily

Easy Mexican Casserole … Cover the Tortilla Chip Edges if You Want them Soft

Other Gluten-Free Mexican Casserole Recipes For You

~ Cheesy Low-Carb Taco Casserole from Kayln’s Kitchen

Cheesy Low-Carb Taco Casserole from Kalyn's Kitchen.

~ Chicken Enchilada Casserole here on gfe

This gluten-free Chicken Enchilada Casserole is a delicious, easy-to-make main dish that will make the whole family happy. Can sub in turkey or ground beef. [from GlutenFreeEasily.com]

~ Freezer Burrito Casserole (use gluten-free options) from Lynn’s Kitchen Adventures

Freezer Burrito Casserole. From Lynn's Kitchen Adventures.

~ Green Chile Chicken Casserole here on gfe

Green Chile Chicken Casserole

~ Low-Carb Southwestern Egg Casserole from Kalyn’s Kitchen

Gluten-Free Low-Carb Southwest Breakfast Casserole. Recipe from Kalyn's Kitchen.

~ Mexican Casserole with Cornbread from Gluten-Free Homemaker

Gluten-Free Mexican Casserole with Cornbread. Recipe featured on gfe. [GlutenFreeEasily.com]

Easy Mexican Casserole Recipe

Easy Mexican Casserole

Easy Mexican Casserole … Ready to Eat

Yield:

John Wayne Mexican Casserole

gluten-free casserole recipes, gluten-free Mexican casserole, ground beef casserole recipes, ground turkey casserole recipes, venison casserole recipes, gluten free, recipes, gluten free easily

I'm not sure what the Duke would think, but we love this simple Mexican casserole. Great comfort food, and naturally gluten free.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound lean ground beef] (or [ground turkey; I used ground venison), cooked and drained
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 1 can pinto beans,drained
  • Most of a 10-12 ounce bag tortilla chips, mostly crushed (about 3 1/2 cups or so, if you wish to measure; see notes)
  • 1 can Ro-tel tomatoes, 10 ounces, drained (I used the one that included green chilies)
  • 2 cups of salsa (I used ready-made medium-flavored salsa, but homemade salsa would be great, too)
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
  • sour cream for serving (optional; we didn’t use sour cream)
  • guacamole for serving (optional; I would have used it if I had had some!)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. In a large skillet, brown meat with onions and drain off fat.
  3. Stir in beans, tomatoes, and salsa.
  4. Simmer over medium-low (or heat on medium heat stirring constantly) until everything is well combined and heated through. There will be some extra liquid; do not drain/discard. (The extra liquid will be absorbed by the tortilla chips and will soften them nicely.)
  5. Grease a 9×13 casserole dish.
  6. Put down a layer of crushed tortilla chips, followed by a layer of the meat/bean mixture (use half of the amount), then a layer of cheddar cheese (use half of the amount). Add one more layer of remaining ingredients.
  7. Cover with foil and bake for 20-30 minutes, or until bubbly.
  8. Let sit for 5-10 minutes before serving.
  9. Top with sour cream and/or guacamole, if desired. Enjoy!

Notes

For the crushed tortilla chips, I just grabbed a mostly full, already opened bag of tortilla chips that was clipped shut and used my hands to crush the chips (most of them anyway) while they were still in the bag. That was an easy way to do it. You want a mixture of larger pieces and smaller pieces, so don't go too crazy with your crushing. You really don’t want them pulverized. When you add the meat/bean mixture over the tortilla chip layer, be sure to cover the chips all the way to the edges if you want them soft rather than crispy. Either

When you add the meat/bean mixture over the tortilla chip layer, be sure to cover the chips all the way to the edges if you want them soft rather than crispy. Either way will work fine, but I preferred the softer version, although the crispier version is shown here.

© Shirley Braden

Originally published December 7, 2013; updated June 28, 2020.

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Filed Under: Beef and VenisonTagged With: Mexican28 Comments

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Comments

  1. Ina gawne says

    December 8, 2013 at 1:24 pm

    Shirley – sounds scrumptious – perfect comfort food. We love a great casserole in this household too – so this is a nice addition to the ones we usually have – thanks for sharing! 🙂

    Reply
    • Shirley says

      December 14, 2013 at 1:42 am

      Thanks, Ina. I confess that I love comfort food. 🙂 Enjoy!

      Shirley

      Reply
  2. Diane Eblin says

    December 8, 2013 at 7:45 pm

    Perfect for a party! I think the Duke would have loved this.

    Reply
    • Shirley says

      December 14, 2013 at 1:43 am

      Diane–This dish could even “compete” a bit with one of your dishes that you say is not spicy, but that really is spicy. 😉 Thanks!

      Shirley

      Reply
  3. Linda says

    December 10, 2013 at 11:12 am

    Looks delicious, Shirley! We love this kind of casserole.

    Reply
    • Shirley says

      December 14, 2013 at 1:44 am

      Thanks so much, Linda! These types of dishes always work well for us, too, and I love that they give me a breakfast/lunch option if needed.

      Shirley

      Reply
  4. Pat @ Elegantly, Gluten-Free says

    December 12, 2013 at 10:00 pm

    This looks so good — most of the people I cook for would like it!

    Reply
    • Shirley says

      December 14, 2013 at 1:45 am

      Hi Pat–Thank you! Hope you all enjoy it! 🙂
      Shirley

      Reply
  5. Kate @ Eat, Recycle, Repeat says

    December 17, 2013 at 8:56 pm

    Love this style and love the Duke too! Reminds me of my Mom and Grandpa

    Reply
    • Shirley says

      March 20, 2014 at 11:45 pm

      Not sure how I missed this comment from long ago, Kate! I love that this recipe reminds you of your loved ones. 🙂

      Shirley

      Reply
  6. Kathleen says

    March 20, 2014 at 3:34 pm

    Shirley, this looks great and easy. I’ll make it next Tues., when I have the 2 grand-kids for the day. Their parents join us for dinner when they come to pick up the kids. Sure need something easy on those fun but busy days. I am dairy free, too, and have a block of the Daiya cheddar to try for my portion. I’ll let you know how it turns out dairy-free.

    Reply
    • Shirley says

      March 20, 2014 at 11:44 pm

      Hi Kathleen–I hope you all love it! 🙂

      Shirley

      Reply
  7. Elizabeth says

    March 20, 2014 at 8:56 pm

    SOOOO tasty! Used lentils instead of beans and a mixture of hard, shredded cheeses. My girls gobbled it up! Thanks so much!

    Reply
    • Shirley says

      March 20, 2014 at 11:18 pm

      Hi Elizabeth–Yay!! Thanks so much for sharing your feedback. I’m so happy a lentil version was a hit with your family. 🙂

      Shirley

      Reply
  8. Yvonne says

    April 27, 2014 at 10:34 pm

    How can this be gluten free with tortilla chips?
    I am just starting the gluten free eating and find all chips contain gluten – they are made with wheat, corn, rye, barley, etc.

    Reply
    • Shirley says

      April 27, 2014 at 10:47 pm

      Hi Yvonne–Welcome to gfe. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley, as well as oats that are not certified gluten free (otherwise, oats contain gluten from cross contact with gluten-full grains in fields, on harvesting equipment, and in processing facilities). There is no gluten in corn, but as with any other ingredients, if corn products are processed with gluten ingredients there can be cross contact. But there are gluten-free tortilla chips. Read labels and do your research. Here’s an article on this topic from About.com that you might find helpful.

      Shirley

      Reply
    • MaryAnn Williams says

      August 16, 2017 at 10:12 am

      I found GF tortilla chips….the brand is SIETE Grain Free Tortilla Chips and they come in several varieties at Basic Foods.

      Reply
      • Shirley Braden says

        August 16, 2017 at 5:42 pm

        Thanks for sharing, MaryAnn! There are actually quite a few gluten-free tortilla chips, but very few grain-free tortilla chips. Enjoy this casserole and thanks again!

        Shirley

        Reply
  9. kathie says

    July 31, 2014 at 9:20 pm

    This is a great pot luck recipe. I always have a hard time finding something to bring to pot lucks that are GF and I know I can eat. This fits the bill easily. It was a BIG hit with everyone also.

    Thank you for putting the EASY in GFE.

    Reply
    • Shirley says

      July 31, 2014 at 11:03 pm

      Kathie–Thanks so much for taking the time to leave this wonderful comment and let me and all of us know how much you and everyone else enjoyed this recipe! That news makes my day, dear! And I love that you emphasized the “Easily” part of gfe! 🙂

      Have a great weekend, dear!
      Shirley

      Reply
  10. April J Harris says

    January 16, 2016 at 8:16 am

    I must admit, I did find the name of this casserole intriguing, Shirley! It definitely sounds like something my family will love- nice and hearty with lots of lovely spicy flavours. Thank you so much for bringing this recipe to the Hearth and Soul Hop – sharing!

    Reply
    • Shirley Braden says

      January 16, 2016 at 6:05 pm

      Everybody knows John Wayne, right? 😉 This casserole has become a family favorite for many readers; I hope that yours will love it as well. 🙂

      As always, I greatly appreciate Hearth and Soul Blog Hop and your sharing!
      Shirley

      Reply
  11. Greg says

    June 27, 2016 at 11:15 am

    Re: gluten free corn chips.. There are tons of brands in every supermarket that are labeled gluten free…

    This dish kicked butt. Made it last night.. The chips stayed super crunchy, added some green chilies on one half and diced black olives on the other. A true winner and is now in my permanent recipe file. Really sensational stuff.

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Shirley Braden says

      June 27, 2016 at 2:00 pm

      Hi Greg–Welcome to gfe! I’m thrilled by your very positive review and love your changes to the recipe. I’m sure others will enjoy making those modifications as well. 😉

      You’re right on the current availability of gluten-free corn chips/tortilla chips. When I wrote this post, the “gluten-free” labeling regulations were not in effect. Since then many more manufacturers now know the rules are following them, and are saying their chips are less than 20 ppm gluten. It’s nice to have so many safe options now!

      Thanks again for taking the time to leave this great comment!
      Shirley

      Reply
  12. Chanda Dixon says

    February 13, 2017 at 5:01 pm

    I forgot my foil can I leave it uncovered

    Reply
    • Shirley Braden says

      February 13, 2017 at 5:39 pm

      Hi Chanda–Welcome to gfe! 🙂 Leaving it uncovered will probably mean that it will take longer to bake and will be a bit drier, but it still should be okay. If you find it a bit dry with your first bite, you can sprinkle some grated cheese on top to compensate.

      Enjoy!
      Shirley

      Reply
  13. Emily says

    February 15, 2017 at 2:22 pm

    Hi.
    Can you make ahead and freeze?

    Reply
    • Shirley Braden says

      February 15, 2017 at 2:58 pm

      Hi Emily–Welcome to gfe! I haven’t tried freezing this casserole yet, but if you do, please let us know your results.

      Thanks,
      Shirley

      Reply

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