Gaucho Casserole

Total Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 small green pepper, chopped
• 1 (16 ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 (1 1/4 ounce) envelope low-sodium taco seasoning
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 1/3 cups uncooked instant rice
• 2 cups shredded reduced-fat mexican cheese blend

Recipe

• 1 crumble the beef and mix with onion and pepper in a microwave dish.
• 2 cover and microwave on high for 41/2 minutes or until meat is no longer pink, stirring every 2 minutes and drain.
• 3 stir in the beans, tomatoes, tomato sauce, water, taco seasoning and chili powder.
• 4 cover and microwave on high for 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 minutes or until bubbly, stirring every 2 minutes.
• 5 stir in rice.
• 6 transfer to a shallow dish coated with cooking spray.
• 7 cover and let stand for 6-8 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.
• 8 sprinkle with cheese.
• 9 cover and microwave on high for another minute or until cheese is melted.