Taco Casserole

This is from the back of the Ortega box of 12 taco shells and their website. I didn't have the taco sauce when I decided to make this so I found a recipe on how to make it and it ended up being perfect! I will give you the link to the taco sauce recipe in the recipe itself.


1 pound ground beef
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 cup water
1/2 cup ORTEGA Thick & Smooth Taco Sauce - Medium, or homemade taco sauce
4 ozs. ORTEGA Diced Green Chiles
1 can (2.25 oz.) sliced ripe olives, drained, divided
1 package ORTEGA Taco Seasoning Mix - Regular
1 package (4.5 oz) ORTEGA Taco Shells (12 ct), broken
2 cups shredded mild cheddar cheese, divided
1/4 cup chopped tomatoes (optional)
1/8 cup sliced green onions (optional)

Directions
PREHEAT oven to 375° F.

COOK beef, onion and garlic until beef is browned; drain. Stir in water, taco sauce, chiles, 1/4 cup olives and seasoning mix. Cook over low heat for 3 to 4 minutes.

LAYER half of broken taco shells on bottom of greased 12 x 8-inch baking dish. Cover with half of meat sauce; sprinkle with 1 cup cheese. Repeat with remaining shells, meat sauce and cheese. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until bubbly and cheese is melted.

Top with remaining olives, tomatoes and green onions.

I omitted the olives, tomatoes and green onion but I added shredded lettuce and sour cream on top of my bowl and it made it very YUMMY! Thanks Ortega!