Easy Southwest Skillet Bake
I just made this one from scratch, but it turned out really good. I hope you like it
I just made this one from scratch, but it turned out really good. I hope you like it
- Carbohydrate 25.6620631285654 g
- Cholesterol 17.3250000146457 mg
- Fat 9.76574125470903 g
- Fiber 3.26015624484557 g
- Protein 7.7628468793063 g
- Saturated Fat 4.0146662529582 g
- Serving Size 1 1 Serving (179g)
- Sodium 648.467750411234 mg
- Sugar 22.4019068837198 g
- Trans Fat 0.616538750233804 g
- Calories 212 calories
Step-by-step
- Cook ground beef, onions, and bell peppers, until the meat is brown and the vegetables are tender.
- Stir in the salsa, reserving 1 cup.
- Add the remaining ingredients, except the cheese and the tortilla chips.
- Cook 10 more minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Line the bottom of a baking pan with half the tortilla chips.
- Spread the meat mixture over the chips.
- Layer with the remaining salsa, the remaining chips, and the cheese.
- Top with the jalapeno peppers.
- Place in the oven and bake at 350 F, until cheese is melted, and the mixture is hot throughout.
The ingredient measurements listed on the page conceal a critical physical constraint: two pounds of ground beef combined with canned vegetables and salsa will quickly overflow a standard ten-inch skillet. Heavy-gauge cast iron or a deep twelve-inch braiser is mandatory to contain the raw volume before reduction. Drainage matters equally. Dumping canned corn and diced tomatoes straight into the pan without thorough straining introduces excess liquid that steams the beef instead of browning it.
Managing Moisture and Maillard Browning
Proper browning requires driving off surface water before fat rendering can fry the meat proteins. Dice the onions and bell peppers to a uniform quarter-inch size so they release their moisture at the same rate the beef browns. Maintain medium-high heat during this initial ten-minute phase, scraping the pan bottom frequently to prevent the chili powder from scorching against the metal. If the beef releases pools of pink liquid, siphon off the excess water with a baster rather than boiling it away, which overcooks the meat and toughens the texture.Layering and Structural Integrity
Crushed tortilla chips placed at the base of the baking pan absorb migrating grease during the final oven phase. Bake this casserole uncovered at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for precisely fifteen minutes, watching for the cheddar cheese to bubble and turn golden at the edges. Removing the dish immediately prevents the bottom layer of chips from dissolving into mush.
