Description
Deep Dish Taco Pie is a hearty, flavorful casserole that combines seasoned ground beef, taco rice, corn, and cheese baked within a crunchy pie crust. Topped with a savory egg and salsa mixture, this dish makes a perfect family-friendly Mexican-inspired meal ready in under an hour.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 2 (1-oz) packages taco seasoning
- 2 (5.6-oz) packages Knorr Taco Rice
- 1 (12-oz) package frozen corn kernels, thawed
- 1 cup salsa
- 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 3 eggs
- 1½ cups milk
- 1 (15-oz) package refrigerated pie crust (2-count)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400ºF (204ºC). Lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking and set it aside.
- Cook Ground Beef: In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef until it is no longer pink. Drain excess fat. Add the taco seasoning along with the water quantity called for on the seasoning package, then cook until all liquid is absorbed and the beef is well seasoned.
- Prepare Taco Rice: Cook both packages of Knorr Taco Rice according to the package instructions. Once cooked, allow the rice to cool slightly to make layering easier.
- Prepare Pie Crust: Lay the pie crusts into the prepared baking dish, covering the bottom and sides completely. Press seams and edges together firmly with your fingers to form one solid crust layer that holds the filling.
- Layer Ingredients: Spread the thawed corn kernels evenly over the pie crust. Next, layer the cooked taco rice over the corn. Then spread the seasoned taco meat on top of the rice. Finally, sprinkle 3 cups of shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the meat layer.
- Mix Egg Mixture: In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, and salsa until fully combined. Pour this mixture evenly over the layered ingredients in the baking dish. This will help bind the pie together and infuse it with extra flavor.
- Bake the Pie: Place the baking dish on the middle rack of the preheated oven. Bake for 30 minutes or until the top starts to turn golden brown and the egg mixture is set.
- Rest and Serve: Once baked, remove the pie from the oven and let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes. This resting period helps the pie set for easier slicing and serving.
Notes
- Make sure to drain excess grease from the cooked ground beef to avoid a soggy pie.
- You can substitute shredded Monterey Jack or Mexican blend cheese for cheddar if desired.
- Letting the pie rest after baking helps the layers firm up, making it easier to cut neat slices.
- Use fresh or canned corn kernels if frozen corn is not available; just drain well.
- The pie crust serves as both the base and the edge holder, so press seams tightly to prevent spills during baking.
