1 1/2Cshredded Mexican cheese blend(or cheddar/Monterey jack blend)
1small can sliced black olives (2 to 3 oz)drained (optional)
1/2Cpickled, sliced jalapeno peppers
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 11 x 7 or a 2-Quart baking dish with cooking spray.
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, stirring occasionally to break up the meat, until the beef is cooked through and browned. If there is a lot of fat, drain the ground beef on a plate covered with paper towels and return meat to the pan. Add the taco seasoning and water, stir in, and cook until it is fully incorporated into the meat and the water has evaporated. Taste to see if it needs salt or pepper (often not, as the taco seasoning can be very salty). Set aside.
Press the 2 packages of cream cheese into the bottom of the baking dish, pressing down firmly to flatten with your hands, covering the entire bottom of the dish. This creates the first layer. Top this layer with the black beans, spread evenly across the cream cheese. Top the beans with the ground beef mixture and spread evenly. Pour the salsa or picante sauce over the meat layer. Cover the sauce layer with the mexican cheese. Sprinkle the jalapeños and black olives (if using) across the top of the cheese layer.
Bake for 30 minutes until slightly browned and bubbly. Serve with good quality tortilla chips.