Description
Whip up this walking taco casserole faster than your family can set the table, combining all the zesty taco flavors in one simple, crowd-pleasing dish that’ll have everyone asking for seconds. Hearty ground beef, crispy chips, and melted cheese come together in a no-fuss meal perfect for those chaotic weeknight dinners when time is short and hunger is high.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Vegetables and Beans:
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 can 15 oz black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can 10 oz Rotel tomatoes with green chilies, drained
Base and Liquid:
- 3 cups corn chips
- ¾ cup water
Optional Toppings:
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup chopped lettuce
- 1 chopped tomato
- Sliced jalapenos
- Salsa
- Avocado
- Guacamole
Instructions
- Warm your oven to 375°F and coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Have your ingredients ready on the counter.
- Drop 1 pound ground beef and 1 small chopped onion into a skillet over medium heat. Cook for 6-8 minutes until meat browns and onions soften completely.
- Drain excess fat from the skillet. Pour 2 tablespoons taco seasoning and ¾ cup water into the meat. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until the mixture thickens.
- Add 1 can of black beans and 1 can of Rotel tomatoes to the meat mixture. Stir and cook for another 2 minutes to blend the flavors thoroughly.
- Crush 3 cups of corn chips and spread half across the bottom of your prepared baking dish. This creates a crunchy base for your casserole.
- Layer the entire meat mixture evenly over the first chip layer. Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese across the top.
- Add the remaining crushed chips as a second layer. Cover the chips with the final 1 cup of cheddar cheese.
- Slide the casserole into the 375°F oven. Bake uncovered for 15-20 minutes until cheese melts completely and edges turn golden.
- Remove from oven and let the casserole rest for 5 minutes. This helps the layers set and makes serving easier.
- Garnish with optional toppings like ½ cup sour cream, chopped lettuce, and sliced tomatoes just before serving.
Notes
- Keep corn chips crunchy by adding them just before baking to prevent sogginess.
- For a healthier version, substitute ground turkey or lean ground beef and use low-fat cheese.
- Vegetarian friends can replace meat with plant-based crumbles or extra black beans for protein.
- Meal prep tip: Assemble casserole ahead of time and refrigerate, then bake when ready to serve.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-33 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 488 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg