Mexican Casserole with Orzo

By á-48

Great dinner casserole and super left overs (if you have any left!!)
Easy mexican dish and great flavors

Ingredients

• 1 cup dry orzo pasta
• 1 onion chopped & diced
• 1 red or green pepper chopped & diced
• 3 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 lb ground beef (lean as possible)
• 1/2 lb ground pork
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp oregano
• salt & pepper to taste
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1 (15 oz) can beans red or black
• 2 (8 oz) can tomatoe sauce
• 1 -1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 3 tomatoes thinly sliced
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Details

Preparation time 30mins
Cooking time 60mins

Preparation

Step 1

1. In sauce pan bring salted water to boil and add orzo; cook till al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. Chop & dice onion, pepper and garlic and set aside in bowl.
3. In skillet add olive oil and heat, add ground beef & pork and cook till browned. (drain liquid)
4. Return meat to skillet and adda additional 1 tsp olive oil and now add chopped vegetables along with smoked paprika, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, oregano, red pepper flakes and salt & pepper.
5. Cook 10 minutes.
6. Add orzo along with beans and tomatoe sauce (I drain most of the liquid from beans but add atleast 1/4 cup of the liquid to cooking dish).
7. Reseason to taste if needed.
8. Spray a 2-3 quart casserole dish.
9. Pour 1/2 of skillet mixture into dish and sprinkle with 1-1/2 cup of cheddar cheese.
10. Pour in remaining mixture.
11. Top with sliced tomatoes.
12. Sprinkle additional 2 cups cheddar cheese over tomatoe layer.
13. Spray a piece of aluminum foil to avoid cheese sticking and cover casserole dish.
14. Bake 30 minutes.
15. Uncover and cook additional 15 minutes.