Fajitas are one of the most popular choices at Mexican restaurants across the country. However, they take a bit of time and effort to make at them at home – marinating, grilling, slicing, etc. Recently, while reviewing an excellent new Amish cookbook, The Cherished Table, I saw a recipe for Deep Dish Taco Squares, and decided to adapt it to a fajita bake. It turned out to be yummy, and while not actually fajitas, has the flavors and crunchy onions and peppers that make fajitas especially good.


12 Servings

2 pounds ground beef
2 tablespoons fajita seasoning

1 large onion, sliced
1 green bell pepper, cored and sliced
1 red bell pepper, cored and sliced
3 to 6 jalapeno peppers, cored and sliced

1 cup sour cream
2/3 cup whipped salad dressing, (such as Miracle Whip)
3 cups shredded cheddar jack cheese, divided

Crust
2 1/2 cups basic master mix, (or commercial baking mix such as Bisquick)
1/2 cup cornmeal
3/4 cup water

sour cream, for garnish
guacamole, for garnish
salsa, for garnish
diced fresh tomato, for garnish

1. Preheat oven to 400°. Spray a 9" x 13" shallow glass baking dish with non-stick spray.
2. Filling: Brown the ground beef in a large skillet; drain well. Stir in the fajita seasoning, and sauté for a minute or two.
3. Add the onions and sauté for 5 minutes. Add the peppers and sauté until crisp tender. Turn off the skillet.
4. In a separate bowl, mix the sour cream, whipped salad dressing, and 2 cups of the cheese; set aside.
5. Crust: Mix the master mix and cornmeal. Stir in the water to make a soft dough. Press the dough over the bottom and halfway up the sides of the prepared baking dish.
6. Cover the crust with half of the ground beef mixture, then spread half of the sour cream mixture over. Spread the remaining ground beef mixture over and top with the remaining sour cream mixture. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup cheese.
7. Bake 25-30 minutes or until the cheese is browned and bubbly
8. Remove from the oven and let sit 10 minutes. Cut into squares topped with your choice of sour cream, guacamole, salsa, and chopped tomatoes.

Amount Per Serving
Calories 368 Calories from Fat 216
Percent Total Calories From: Fat 59% Protein 30% Carb. 12
Nutrient Amount per Serving
Total Fat 24 g
Saturated Fat 11 g
Cholesterol 101 mg
Sodium 1265 mg
Total Carbohydrate 11 g
Dietary Fiber 1 g
Sugars 0 g
Protein 27 g

Vitamin A 42% Vitamin C 82% Calcium 0% Iron 13%