Gaucho Casserole

By: Susan Proctor

This is a great dish and it is really easy to make.

8 servings

1 pound lean ground beef
1 med onion, chopped
1 small green pepper
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
¼ cup water
1 tsp. chili powder
1-1/3 cups uncooked instant rice
1 envelope reduced-sodium taco seasoning
1 can (16 ounces) kidney beans drained
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded reduced-fat Mexican cheese blend.

Crumble the beef into frying pan. .Add onions and green pepper; mix well. Cover and cook until is no longer pink. Stir in the beans, tomatoes, tomato sauce, water, taco seasoning, rice and chili powder. Put in a shallow 2-1/2 qt. baking dish coated with nonstick cooking spray. Cover and cook until rice is tender then and cheese