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Photo of Mexican-style brown rice casserole by WW

Mexican-style brown rice casserole

8
Points®
Total Time
55 min
Prep
25 min
Cook
30 min
Serves
6
Difficulty
Easy
This easy, cheesy layered casserole packs an abundance of Mexican-inspired flavors. Smart and almost imperceptible substitutes like brown rice and reduced-fat Mexican-style cheese keep this casserole on the lighter side without sacrificing flavor. This also provides another use for leftover brown rice, which works well in this application. Like a burrito in a bowl, this dish is great for gatherings but easy enough for a weeknight dinner. Serve a big salad on the side to complete a meal. If you have leftovers, this casserole can make a great filling for tacos or burritos, especially if you top it with a dollop of salsa or slices of avocado.

Ingredients

Cooking spray

4 spray(s)

Cooked long grain brown rice

4 cup(s)

Salsa

1¼ cup(s)

Ground cumin

1 tsp

Traditional refried beans

15 oz

Frozen corn

10 oz, thawed

Canned diced green chiles

4 oz

Chili powder

1 Tbsp

Chopped frozen spinach

10 oz, or collard greens, thawed and set to drain in a strainer over a bowl

Shredded reduced fat Mexican-style cheese blend

¾ cup(s), divided

Cilantro

2 Tbsp, fresh, chopped (optional; for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375ºF. Coat a 2-quart rectangular, round, or oval baking dish with cooking spray
  2. In a large bowl, combine rice, salsa, and cumin. Spoon 2 cups of rice mixture into prepared baking dish and spread out to evenly cover bottom of dish.
  3. In another large bowl, combine refried beans, corn, chili peppers, and chili power. Using a rubber spatula, scrape bean mixture on top of rice layer and smooth out top.
  4. Squeeze out any excess water from spinach or collard greens and then spread on top of bean layer; sprinkle with 6 Tbsp cheese. Top with remaining rice mixture and smooth out top; sprinkle with remaining cheese.
  5. Place casserole on a large rimmed baking sheet to catch any spillage. Bake until heated through and cheese is browned and bubbling, about 30 minutes. Sprinkle with cilantro (if desired), cut into 6 pieces and serve.
  6. Serving size: 1 piece

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