Ground Beef Texas Trash
Ground Beef Texas Trash is a baked dish layered with seasoned beef and cheese, perfect as a dip or served over rice for an easy, quick meal!
A 40-Minute Dinner Recipe
This Ground Beef Texas Trash is based off the original Texas Trash Dip, but I’ve added ground beef to it so it can still be an appetizer, but it could also be used as a main dish. I served it over rice and it was delicious and so filling. Trust me. It may look like trash (hence the name, ha!), but, it is seriously so delicious!
Frequently Asked Questions:
If you don’t need as much, I think you could definitely cut it in half and just make in a smaller (8×8-inch or 9×9-inch) baking dish or make all of it and just separate into two pans and freeze one for later! It’s a fantastic freezer meal.
Shown here served over rice. It’s not a solid type casserole – it’s more loose – so it can be scooped up with tortilla chips or like we did here, served over Knorr Spanish rice.
I think this could easily be done in the crock pot. Layer everything (making sure to cook and season the ground beef first) then layer everything in the same order as this recipe. Cover and cook on high for 2 hours or low for 3-4 hours. Please note: I am just guessing on this and I have not personally tested it in a slow cooker.
Keep in the fridge for up to 3 days, freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat leftovers in the oven or microwave.
Ingredients Needed: (See Recipe Card Below For The Full Recipe)
- ground beef– I used 80/20 beef, but you can use whatever you have on hand. You can also switch it out for ground turkey, chicken or pork.
- taco seasoning– any brand of your favorite taco seasoning will work, but you can also use Homemade Taco Seasoning. I would definitely suggest low or no sodium options for those of you who are concerned about salt.
- garlic powder, onion powder and ground cumin – there is a good level of seasoning with the packets but I did add these additional seasonings and we all enjoyed the bump in flavor.
- water
- red enchilada sauce – you could also use a green enchilada sauce if you prefer. There are different levels of spice with enchilada sauce so go with what you can tolerate and will enjoy.
- refried beans
- block cream cheese– softened to room temperature so it’s easier to mix together. Use these Tips to Soften Cream Cheese Quickly if you need to.
- shredded colby jack cheese– For a little more kick, use pepper jack in place of Colby Jack.
- green onions
- green chiles – green chiles have different level of spice from mild to hot, so go with what you prefer and can enjoy.
How To Make Ground Beef Texas Trash
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 11×7-inch baking dish with cooking spray and set aside. In a large skillet over medium heat, add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up into crumbles, until no pink remains, 8-10 minutes. Drain well. Add 1 and ½ packets of the taco seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, and cumin. Stir well to combine, then cook for 2 minutes, until fragrant. Add the water and stir in. Allow to simmer until most of the liquid is absorbed, but it is still saucy, and set aside.
Pour half of the enchilada sauce into the prepared baking dish and coat the bottom. Add small dollops of the refried beans on top. Add the meat mixture on top of the beans.
In a large bowl, whip the cream cheese until smooth with an electric hand mixer. Add the remaining taco seasoning, remaining enchilada sauce, half of the Colby Jack cheese, green onions, and green chiles. Stir to combine.
Smooth the cream cheese mixture over the meat. Sprinkle the top evenly with the remaining Colby Jack. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly along the edges.
Serve immediately with chips for dipping or over rice.
Craving More Recipes?
Ground Beef Texas Trash
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 2 (1 ounce) packets taco seasoning (divided use, see notes below)
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 cups water
- 10 ounce can red enchilada sauce (divided use)
- 8 ounces refried beans (½ a 16 ounce can)
- 8 ounce block cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 3 cups shredded colby jack cheese (divided use)
- 4 green onions, thinly sliced
- 4 ounce can green chiles, undrained
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 11×7-inch baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, add 2 pounds ground beef and cook, breaking it up into crumbles, until no pink remains (about 8-10 minutes.) Drain excess grease and put back into the skillet.
- Add 1 and ½ packets of the taco seasoning, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, 2 teaspoon onion powder, and 1 teaspoon ground cumin. Stir well to combine, then cook for 2 minutes, until fragrant.
- Add 2 cups water and stir in. Allow to simmer until most of the liquid is absorbed, but it is still saucy, turn off heat and set aside.
- Pour half of the red enchilada sauce into the prepared baking dish and coat the bottom.
- Add small dollops of the 8 ounces refried beans on top.
- Add the meat mixture on top of the beans.
- In a large bowl, whip 8 ounce block cream cheese, softened to room temperature until smooth with an electric hand mixer.
- Add the remaining taco seasoning, remaining enchilada sauce, half of the Colby Jack cheese, 4 green onions, thinly sliced and 4 ounce can green chiles, undrained. Stir to combine.
- Smooth the cream cheese mixture over the meat.
- Sprinkle the top evenly with the remaining shredded Colby Jack.
- Bake uncovered on the middle oven rack for about 25-30 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly along the edges.
- Serve immediately with chips for dipping or over rice if serving as a meal.
Notes
- Please refer to my FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) and ingredient list above for other substitutions or for the answers to the most common questions.
- If you are concerned about salt, I would consider using low or no salt taco seasoning. Or make your own Homemade Taco Seasoning so you can control the salt levels.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
