Bean Dip Recipe (Refried Bean Casserole)

Close-up of refried bean casserole in a bowl garnished with shredded cheese, lime, jalapeño slices, pico de gallo, and a tortilla chip

5 stars from 1 review

This Bean Dip Recipe is ready in 20 minutes on the stovetop, no oven needed. Seasoned ground beef makes it hearty enough to call dinner.

Author: Donna Elick

Servings:

Prep Time5

Cook Time15

Total Time20

Ingredients

3 pounds 88% lean ground beef
1 tablespoon kosher salt
2 tablespoons Mexican seasoning blend store-bought or homemade (blend recipe in Donna's Notes)
16 ounces spicy jalapeno refried beans (1 can, about 1 3/4 cups)
8 ounces shredded Mexican cheese blend (about 2 cups)

For Serving (optional)

1 cup pico de gallo store-bought or homemade
2 ounces queso fresco or cotija cheese, crumbled (about 1/2 cup)

Instructions

COOK THE BEEF: Set a 5-quart or larger Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add 3 pounds 88% lean ground beef and 1 tablespoon kosher salt. Cook for 10 to 12 minutes, breaking the beef into very small crumbles with a wooden spoon as it cooks. Small crumbles make the finished casserole easy to scoop with a chip and spread in a tortilla. This is taco meat, so cook it just until it is done and keep the crumbles soft. The salt pulls juice out of the beef, so the pot looks a little watery early on, and that is exactly right. It is done when every crumble is cooked through with no pink left. Tilt the pot, and if more than about 2 tablespoons of grease pool in the bottom, spoon the extra into a heatproof bowl.
STIR IN THE SEASONING AND BEANS: Sprinkle 2 tablespoons Mexican seasoning blend over the beef and stir for about 1 minute, until every crumble is coated in red and a warm chile and cumin aroma rises from the pot. Add 16 ounces spicy jalapeno refried beans (1 can, about 1 3/4 cups) and stir for 2 to 3 minutes. The thick beans soften and melt into the beef until the mixture looks even, with no pockets of plain beans left. Scrape the bottom of the pot as you stir so the beans stay creamy and the pot stays clean.
MELT IN THE CHEESE: Turn off the heat and slide the pot to a cool burner. Stir in 8 ounces shredded Mexican cheese blend (about 2 cups) for about 30 seconds, just until the cheese is streaked all through the beef. Stop when you see soft, gooey pockets of cheese throughout. Off the heat, the cheese melts just enough to leave those gooey pockets all through the casserole.
SERVE: Spoon the casserole into a large serving dish, such as a 9x13-inch baking dish. Top with 1 cup pico de gallo and 2 ounces queso fresco or cotija cheese, crumbled (about 1/2 cup). Serve it warm as a dip with tortilla chips, spooned into warm flour or corn tortillas, over white rice, or piled on chips as the base for nachos.

Notes

MEXICAN SEASONING BLEND: Stir together 1/4 cup New Mexico chile powder, 2 tablespoons ground cumin, 2 tablespoons smoked paprika, 1 tablespoon dried oregano leaves, 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 tablespoon onion powder, 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes, and 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper in a pint-size mason jar. Seal the jar and shake it for about 30 seconds, until the color is one even brick red with no pale streaks of garlic or onion powder. This makes about 3/4 cup, which is enough for 6 casseroles. Store it sealed in a cool, dark cabinet, where it tastes its boldest for about 6 months. This is a smaller batch of our Homemade Mexican Spice Blend.

STORAGE: Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours of cooking, either in a lidded casserole dish or spooned into airtight containers. Donna splits each batch between two lidded casserole dishes, one for the table and one straight into the refrigerator for the week. It tastes best within 3 days and is safe to eat for up to 4 days. A tight cover keeps the top soft and creamy.

REHEATING: Eat it cold straight from the refrigerator or warm it up. For single portions, microwave in a covered bowl for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring halfway. On the stovetop, warm it in a skillet over medium-low heat with a splash of water, stirring often. For a full dish, cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees F for 20 to 25 minutes, until hot in the center (165 degrees F).

FREEZING: Freeze cooled portions in airtight freezer containers. It is at its best within 1 month and safe to eat for up to 3 months, with the cheese turning a little grainy the longer it sits. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat.

INGREDIENT TIP: Donna uses Rosarita Spicy Jalapeno Refried Beans. For a milder casserole, use plain refried beans. A bag of shredded Mexican or fiesta blend cheese is the grab-and-go choice, and shredded cheddar or Colby works too. Any ground beef from 85 to 90% lean works, and 88% leaves just a little grease to spoon off. For a salty, briny bite, stir in a small can of sliced black olives, drained, along with the cheese. The pico de gallo can be chopped earlier in the day and kept in the refrigerator until serving.

SCALING: For a half batch, use 1 1/2 pounds 88% lean ground beef, 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, 1 tablespoon Mexican seasoning blend, 8 ounces spicy jalapeno refried beans (half a can), and 4 ounces shredded Mexican cheese blend (about 1 cup), and cook it in a large skillet. To feed a crowd, keep the recipe as written and add 1 more pound of ground beef, 4 more ounces of shredded Mexican cheese blend (about 1 cup), and about 2 1/4 teaspoons more seasoning blend. That stretches it to about 18 servings.

HOMEMADE OPTIONS: The blend in Donna's Notes is a smaller, modified batch of our Homemade Mexican Spice Blend

Top the casserole with our Homemade Pico de Gallo. Link to both in the post.

Nutrition