Description
This Walking Taco Casserole is a fun, easy, and delicious twist on classic walking tacos! It features layers of seasoned ground beef, crunchy Fritos or Doritos, melted cheese, and all your favorite taco toppings in a baked casserole. Perfect for busy weeknights, game days, or potlucks, this dish delivers all the flavors of a taco in a convenient and shareable form.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Casserole:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 packet (1 oz) taco seasoning
- ¾ cup water
- 1 can (10 oz) Rotel (diced tomatoes with green chilies), drained
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans or pinto beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 ½ cups shredded Mexican cheese blend
- 3 cups Fritos or Nacho Cheese Doritos, slightly crushed
For Toppings:
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
- 1 tomato, diced
- ½ cup black olives, sliced (optional)
- ¼ cup jalapeños, sliced (optional)
- ¼ cup green onions, chopped
- ¼ cup cilantro, chopped
- 1 avocado, diced (optional)
Instructions
Step 1: Preheat & Cook the Beef
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef and diced onion until browned (6-7 minutes). Drain any excess grease.
- Stir in the taco seasoning and water. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until thickened.
- Add the Rotel tomatoes and beans, stirring to combine. Remove from heat.
Step 2: Assemble the Casserole
- Spread half of the crushed Fritos or Doritos in the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Spoon the taco beef mixture evenly over the chips.
- Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded cheese over the meat.
- Add the remaining crushed Fritos/Doritos on top, followed by the last ½ cup of cheese.
Step 3: Bake & Serve
- Bake uncovered for 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes before adding toppings.
Step 4: Add Toppings & Enjoy!
- Top with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, jalapeños, olives, green onions, cilantro, and avocado as desired.
- Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- Make it Spicier: Use hot Rotel tomatoes or add a dash of hot sauce.
- Lighter Version: Swap ground beef for ground turkey and use baked tortilla chips.
- Gluten-Free Option: Use gluten-free tortilla chips and taco seasoning.
- Best Pairing: Serve with guacamole, salsa, or Mexican rice for a full meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Tex-Mex
- Cuisine: Main Dish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion (1/8 of casserole)
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
Keywords: Walking Taco Casserole