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This Taco Casserole is everything you love about taco night, baked into one cheesy dish. Layers of seasoned beef, beans, corn, crunchy tortilla chips, and melted cheese come together fast to fill everyone up without complaint.
If you love putting spins on classic tacos, be sure to bookmark Taco Pizza, Taco Soup, and Wonton Tacos to add to your dinner rotation next.
Kristen's Keys for Taco Casserole (Start Here)
While this is an easy and adaptable recipe, there are a few key things to keep in mind before you start cooking. These small details make a big difference and help ensure your taco casserole turns out just right.
- Drain the meat well before adding other ingredients. Extra fat can pool at the bottom of the dish and soften the tortilla chips too much. This step is especially important if you aren't using lean ground beef
- Tomato sauce and taco seasoning are the key players here. My go-to taco meat always starts with this combination, and this casserole is no different. The tomato sauce keeps the meat saucy and moist, while the taco seasoning does the heavy lifting on flavor. Salsa can work in place of the tomato sauce, but you need something saucy to bring the whole dish together.
- Don't over crush the tortilla chips. You want some texture left so they hold up under the beef and cheese.
How to Make Taco Casserole
This taco bake is designed for busy weeknights. A quick stovetop cook and a short bake get this family favorite on the table with minimal effort and maximum flavor.
Step One: Brown the Meat
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. If you are using extra-lean ground beef, ground turkey breast, or ground chicken, add a small amount of oil to the pan. Otherwise, skip the oil and add the ground meat directly to the skillet. Cook, breaking the meat into bite-sized pieces, until fully browned and cooked through. Remove the pan from the heat and drain off any excess grease if needed.
Step Two: Season & Simmer
Add the taco seasoning, water, tomato sauce, beans (pinto, black, or red beans all work well), and corn. Stir to coat everything evenly. Let the mixture simmer over medium heat for about 5 minutes to allow the flavors to come together and deepen slightly. The oven will finish the job.
Don't be afraid to change things up here. The beans and corn add flavor and bulk, but both are optional. You can omit one and increase the other, or omit both entirely. Just keep in mind that if you leave out both, you'll either want to increase the beef or reduce the taco seasoning slightly (and keep in mind you won't get as many servings). See the recipe modifications section for more guidance.
Step Three: Layer
Many taco casseroles call for repeating layers, but I go for a single-layer approach to allow for a shorter bake time and a better toppings-to-casserole ratio. Simply spread gently crushed tortilla chips evenly over the bottom of a lightly greased 2-quart baking dish. Spoon the beef and bean mixture over the chips, then top with shredded cheese.
Want extra crunch? Add a light layer of crushed tortilla chips over the beef mixture before topping with cheese.
Step Four: Bake
Bake for about 20 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and the casserole is warmed through.
Step Five: Serve
Just like tacos, this casserole is begging for toppings. Shredded lettuce, pico de gallo, sour cream, olives, tomatoes, jalapeños, avocado, or guacamole all work beautifully.
Recipe Modifications
When it comes to this taco casserole recipe, you have options to make it your own. Use the following tips to modify this recipe to make it fit your preferences.
- Swap the Protein: Replace the ground beef with ground turkey or ground chicken. You can also use 16 ounces of extra-firm tofu (sauté as directed) or omit the meat entirely and use three cans of beans instead.
- Omit the Corn: Replace it with an additional 15-ounce can of beans.
- Hate Beans? Use 2 pounds of ground beef and proceed with the recipe as written.
- Use Salsa instead of Tomato Sauce: Choose a smooth, mild or medium salsa. Omit the water and reduce the taco seasoning from 3 tablespoons to 2.
- Add Additional Veggies: Sauté diced onion, bell peppers, or zucchini along with the meat.
- Dairy-Free: Omit the cheese or use your favorite non-dairy alternative.
Storage & Yield Notes
This casserole doubles easily, but keep in mind that it is one of those dishes that tastes best fresh out of the oven. If you want to double it, double the ingredients, and use a 9x13 dish and increase bake time slightly, checking around 22-25 minutes.
If you happen to have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, skip the microwave, which can soften the chips. I recommend spreading on a sheet pan and heating under the broiler for a minute or two (watch closely) or warming in a dry skillet over medium heat.
To get a head start on dinner, prepare the beef and bean mixture up to 2 days in advance and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Wait to assemble the casserole until just before baking to keep the tortilla chips from getting soggy.
More Favorite Tex-Mex Inspired Dinner Recipes
Taco Casserole
Video
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil, + more for greasing pan
- 1½ pounds lean ground beef
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- ¼ cup water
- 3 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 2 cups frozen corn kernels
- 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 2 cups crushed tortilla chips
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, or Mexican blend
- black olives, tomatoes, sour cream, avocado, cilantro, shredded lettuce, etc, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly spray an 8x8-inch or 7x11-inch (2-quart) casserole dish with cooking spray or brush lightly with oil.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up as it browns, until fully cooked through. Drain off any excess grease.
- Return the skillet to the heat and reduce the heat to medium. Add the taco seasoning, water, tomato sauce, corn, and black beans. Stir to combine and cook for about 5 minutes, until everything is warmed through and well combined. Remove from the heat.
- Spread the crushed tortilla chips evenly over the bottom of the prepared casserole dish. Spoon the beef and bean mixture over the chips, then top evenly with the shredded cheese.
- Bake, uncovered, for 18-20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the casserole warmed through.
- Serve with your favorite taco toppings.
Equipment
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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