Southwest Sausage Casserole

Bursting with bold flavors and packed with hearty ingredients, this Southwest Sausage Casserole is a deliciously satisfying one-dish meal perfect for busy weeknights or casual gatherings. Featuring savory ground breakfast sausage, vibrant bell peppers, aromatic spices like chili powder and cumin, and wholesome staples like black beans, rice, and diced tomatoes with green chilies, this casserole offers a Tex-Mex-inspired flavor profile that's sure to impress. Topped with melty cheddar cheese and optional fresh cilantro, this baked casserole comes together in just an hour, with minimal prep time and easy layering steps. Whether you're feeding a family of six or meal-prepping for the week, this comforting, cheesy dish is a crowd-pleasing favorite that seamlessly blends spice, texture, and heartiness.

Nutriscore Rating: 69/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:40 mins

Total Time:60 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground breakfast sausage
• 1 large yellow onion, finely diced
• 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
• 1 medium green bell pepper, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups cooked white or brown rice
• 1 15-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 10-ounce can diced tomatoes with green chilies (e.g., Rotel)
• 1 cup frozen corn kernels, thawed
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped (optional, for garnish)

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish and set aside.

Step 2

In a large skillet, cook the ground sausage over medium heat until browned and cooked through, about 7-8 minutes. Drain excess fat, if necessary, and transfer the cooked sausage to a large mixing bowl.

Step 3

In the same skillet, sauté the diced onion and bell peppers over medium heat for 5-6 minutes, until softened. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute. Transfer the sautéed vegetables to the mixing bowl with the sausage.

Step 4

Stir the cooked rice, black beans, diced tomatoes with green chilies, corn, chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and black pepper into the sausage and vegetable mixture. Mix until well combined.

Step 5

Spread half of the mixture evenly into the prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese over the top. Add the remaining sausage mixture, spreading it evenly, and top with the remaining 1 cup of cheese.

Step 6

Cover the casserole with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbling.

Step 7

Remove the casserole from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with chopped cilantro, if desired, and serve warm.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2452.0g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	3786.2

Total Fat 223.1g	0%
Saturated Fat 97.5g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat g
Cholesterol 560.5mg	0%
Sodium 8814.5mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 284.9g	0%
Dietary Fiber 45.1g	0%
Total Sugars 37.0g
Protein 162.2g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 2124.6mg	0%
Iron 22.2mg	0%
Potassium 4194.1mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 52.9%

Protein: 17.1%

Carbs: 30.0%