Description
Walking Taco Bake stacks corn chips, seasoned beef, and melted cheese into a fun, hearty dish. It’s comfort food that feels playful and filling.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 3 cups corn chips
- 2 cups freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 medium yellow onion
- 1 can RO-TEL original (undrained)
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup salsa
Seasoning and Toppings:
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 jalapeno (optional)
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
- 8 cherry tomatoes
- 2 green onions
- 2 tablespoons diced cilantro
Instructions
- Heat your oven to a precise 375°F, preparing a clean baking surface for your walking taco adventure.
- Create a robust spice blend by thoroughly combining 1 tbsp chili powder, 1 ½ tsp cumin, 1 tsp salt, and other listed seasonings in a small mixing bowl.
- Grab a large oven-safe skillet and place it over medium heat. Crumble 1 lb ground beef and 1 diced yellow onion into the pan, cooking until the meat turns completely brown and loses its raw appearance.
- Drain any excess fat from your beef, ensuring a lean base for your casserole.
- Sprinkle your custom taco seasoning across the beef, then pour in ¼ cup water and 1 can of undrained RO-TEL tomatoes, stirring to distribute flavors evenly.
- Generously scatter 2 cups freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese over the meat mixture, creating a melty blanket.
- Transfer the skillet directly into the preheated 375°F oven and bake for exactly 10 minutes until cheese transforms into a bubbling, golden layer.
- Remove the skillet and immediately spread 3 cups of corn chips across the melted cheese surface.
- Decoratively arrange your chosen toppings: scatter 1 cup shredded lettuce, halve 8 cherry tomatoes, slice 2 green onions, sprinkle diced jalapenos, and dollop sour cream and salsa.
- Serve hot, directly from the skillet for maximum flavor and presentation.
Notes
- Use lean ground beef or turkey to reduce fat content and keep the dish lighter.
- For a gluten-free version, swap corn chips for gluten-free tortilla chips and check taco seasoning ingredients.
- Let the skillet cool slightly before adding cheese to prevent burning and ensure even melting.
- Customize toppings based on personal preferences, adding extras like black beans or diced avocado for more flavor and nutrition.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 439 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 577 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 29 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg