Texas Hash is an old-fashioned Tex-Mex casserole made with ground beef, rice, onions, green bell pepper, tomatoes, and mild chili seasoning.
After a brief start on the stovetop, it bakes until the rice is tender and has absorbed the savory tomato juices.
Like my easy ground beef enchiladas and crockpot chili, this humble dish gets satisfying flavor from simple, economical ingredients. It has been a favorite in my family since the 1950s, when neighbors regularly copied and shared practical recipes like this one.
With just one pound of ground beef, Texas Hash makes six hearty servings and can be seasoned mildly or given a little more heat. It's a comforting change from tacos and can be baked in one oven-safe pan or assembled in a 2-quart casserole dish.
🔍 Quick Look: Texas Hash Recipe
- Ready in: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Best Made: Same day
- Servings: 6
- Calories: 352 kcal
- Main Ingredients: Ground beef, long-grain rice, yellow onions, green bell pepper, canned tomatoes, and chili powder
- Flavor Profile: Savory • Hearty • Mild Tex-Mex
- Cooking Techniques: Sauté, Brown, and Bake
- Difficulty: Easy
- Why You'll Love It: This economical casserole stretches one pound of ground beef into six satisfying servings and can be made mild or spicy in one oven-safe pan.
- Perfect For: Taco Tuesdays, family suppers, and casual potlucks
Jump to:
A Family Favorite Since the 1950s
This is one of those recipes from my childhood that everyone in my neighborhood made regularly. The recipe was copied and passed around because it is easy to make, economical to feed a family, and very tasty.
My mom made it at least once a month, usually doubling the recipe and using her canned tomatoes. She cooked the vegetables and browned the meat in a large skillet, combined everything in a very large bowl, and then transferred it to a casserole dish for baking.
I still make Texas Hash the same way, but it can also be prepared in a 12-inch Everything Pan with a lid for a one-pan version.
As you read through the ingredients you may be tempted to adjust some quantities. Trust me and make it as written, then adjust it next time to your taste. You really will need 3 large onions, and yes, one pound of ground beef is enough, as is just a half cup of long grain rice.
The change I do make is to adjust the chili powder. There is just enough in this recipe to be pleasant, but sometimes I want a bolder flavor and will double it.
One last thing of note is slicing the onions. I peel the onions, quarter them, and slice them ¼" thick. This gives a wonderful texture to the casserole.
~ Jan
Ingredient Notes
Here's everything you'll need to make Texas Hash. Please see the recipe card for the exact quantities.
- Olive Oil - Any olive oil will work in this recipe. But you also can use a neutral flavored cooking oil.
- Yellow Onions - You will need 3 large, mild yellow onions that are simply quartered and sliced.
- Green Bell Pepper - You will need one large green bell pepper, diced ¼".
- Ground Beef - I prefer using 85% lean or leaner, but you can use any fat level of ground beef.
- Chili Powder - Use a chili powder you like. I prefer to use one without any salt or other seasonings.
- Lawry's Seasoned Salt - This blend adds more savory flavor than plain salt. If you don't have it, substitute regular table salt; the flavor will be slightly simpler.
- Black Pepper - A small amount adds background seasoning and may be omitted if desired.
- Long Grain White Rice - Use regular long-grain white rice for the fluffiest texture. Basmati or jasmine rice may also be used, but medium and short-grain rice will make the casserole softer and stickier.
- Canned or Cooked Tomatoes (with their Juices) - The original recipe called for a #303 can, which held about 2 cups. If using a modern 15-ounce can, add enough water or broth to make 2 cups total. Whole, sliced, or diced tomatoes all work well; cut up whole tomatoes before adding. I like the fire-roasted variety.
Substitutions & Variations
- Adjust the Chili Powder. Use more or less according to your taste.
- Add Black Beans. Black beans are an excellent way to extend the casserole for more servings. Add up to 1 cup.
- Add Corn. Whole-kernel corn adds a touch of sweetness and can also stretch the casserole for more servings. Add up to 1 cup.
- Add Fresh Garlic. If you love garlic, add a minced or pressed garlic clove when you cook the aromatics.
- Top with Cheese. Sprinkle the top with up to 1 cup of shredded cheese when you remove the lid and cook the casserole for the final 15 minutes. Cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack are great choices.
- Make it Spicier. If you love spicy heat, add a couple teaspoons of your favorite hot sauce when you add the tomatoes.
How to Make Texas Hash
♡ So, let's cook!
- Step 1 - Preheat and Prepare. Preheat oven to 350°F/177°C and grease a 2-quart casserole or baking dish, if not using an Everything Pan.
- Step 2 - Sauté Aromatics. In an Everything Pan or large 12" frypan, heat the olive oil over medium heat and add the sliced onions and bell pepper. Sauté and cook until the onions are transparent and peppers are soft. Transfer the onions and peppers to a large bowl and set aside.
- Step 3 - Brown the Meat. Add the ground beef to the pan, and using a large spoon, break up the meat as it browns. If needed, pour off any excess grease.
- Step 4 - Toast Seasonings and Add Rice. Sprinkle the meat mixture with the chili powder, seasoned salt, and black pepper and toast the spices with the meat while stirring. Add the white rice and continue stirring and cooking until everything is well distributed. Transfer the meat mixture to the bowl with the onions and peppers and mix well.
- Step 5 - Add the Tomatoes. Stir the tomatoes into the cooked aromatics and seasoned meat-and-rice mixture until all is combined.
- Step 6 - Cover and Bake. Spoon the casserole mixture back into the Everything Pan and cover the pan with a lid. Bake the casserole for 30 minutes, remove the lid, stir, and bake for another 30 minutes or until all the liquid has been absorbed by the rice.
If using a casserole dish, transfer the mixture to the prepared dish, cover with a lid or aluminum foil, and bake as directed.
Remove from the oven and fluff the rice with a fork. Serve hot and enjoy!
What to Serve with Texas Hash
Here are some simple and delicious choices to serve with Texas Hash:
- Simple Guacamole: A delicious side dish or appetizer to eat while the casserole bakes.
- Green Salad with Vinaigrette: Tangy and fresh, it complements Texas Hash.
- Pina Colada Fluff: Cool, creamy, and fruity dessert for the whole family.
My Top Tips
♡ Don't reduce the three onions or increase the ½ cup of rice when making the recipe for the first time; these proportions are intentional.
♡ Although Texas Hash can be made in one pan and baked in it, I find it easier to combine the cooked ingredients in a large mixing bowl in stages, and then transfer it back to the pan or a prepared casserole dish.
♡ Do not bake this casserole in a cast iron pan. The acidity of the tomatoes can strip the seasoning from cast iron.
Make-Ahead, Storage, & Reheating Instructions
- Make-Ahead: Texas Hash can be made ahead and reheated as needed.
- Refrigeration: Store a made-ahead casserole in the refrigerator covered in aluminum foil and leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezing: Individual portions can be stored in airtight containers in the freezer for up to 1 month.
- Reheating: You can reheat Texas Hash in the oven or a microwave.
More Tex-Mex Recipes
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📖 Recipe
Texas Hash
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Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
- 3 Large Yellow Onions, Sliced
- 1 Large Green Bell Pepper, Diced Small
- 1 Pound Ground Beef
- 2 Teaspoons Chili Powder
- 2 Teaspoons Lawry's Seasoned Salt
- ⅛ Teaspoon Black Pepper
- ½ Cup Long Grain White Rice
- 2 Cups Canned or Cooked Tomatoes with Their Juices, cut, sliced, or diced (or one 15-ounce can plus enough water or broth to make 2 cups)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare. Preheat oven to 350°F/177°C and grease a 2-quart casserole or baking dish, if not using an Everything Pan.
- Sauté Aromatics. In an Everything Pan or large 12" frypan, heat the olive oil over medium heat and add the sliced onions and bell pepper. Sauté and cook until the onions are transparent and peppers are soft. Transfer the onions and peppers to a large bowl and set aside.3 Tablespoons Olive Oil, 3 Large Yellow Onions, 1 Large Green Bell Pepper
- Brown the Meat. Add the ground beef to the pan, and using a large spoon, break up the meat as it browns. If needed, pour off any excess grease.1 Pound Ground Beef
- Toast Seasonings & Add Rice. Sprinkle the meat mixture with the chili powder, seasoned salt, and black pepper and toast the spices with the meat while stirring. Add the white rice and continue stirring and cooking until everything is well distributed.Transfer the meat mixture to the bowl with the onions and peppers and mix well.2 Teaspoons Chili Powder, 2 Teaspoons Lawry's Seasoned Salt, ⅛ Teaspoon Black Pepper, ½ Cup Long Grain White Rice
- Add the Tomatoes. Stir the tomatoes into the cooked aromatics and the seasoned meat and rice mixture until all is combined.2 Cups Canned or Cooked Tomatoes with Their Juices
- Cover and Bake. Spoon the casserole mixture back into the Everything Pan and cover the pan with a lid. Bake the casserole for 30 minutes, remove the lid, stir, and bake for another 30 minutes or until all the liquid has been absorbed by the rice. If using a casserole dish, transfer the mixture to the prepared casserole dish, and cover with a lid or aluminum foil and bake as directed.Remove from the oven and fluff the rice with a fork. Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Per 1 serving. All nutritional information on this site is an estimate. Your results may vary.
Encharted Cook™ or Jan Nunes shall not be liable for adverse reactions or any other outcome resulting from the use of recipes or recommendations on this website or actions you take as a result.
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DL says
I've been looking for this recipe for years. When it was just my daughter & myself & times got tough, is make up a big batch Texas Hash. It was a filling easy dish that I could whip up between college courses & work. It would be much easier to follow along with your recipe if half the screen wasn't filled with ads that won't close.
Jan Nunes says
Hi DL,
Thank you for your comments. I'm glad you found a recipe on Encharted Cook that you've wanted for a long time. Texas Hash was an economical family favorite for us too and I still enjoy making it.
Thank you for kindly telling me about the ads that won't close. I thought this issue was fixed several months ago. So, I've checked and found some new ad types had been added this Holiday Season that I was not aware were running. I have made changes which should correct the issue and give you (and everyone) a smoother viewing experience.
Happy Holidays! ~Jan 😊
Kathy Brooks says
Can't wait to try it!!! Looks so tasty!!!
Jan Nunes says
Hi Kathy! I hope you enjoy it… I’ve got lots of delicious variations to try too.
Have a wonderful day! ~Jan