Walking Taco Casserole Recipe

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Taco casserole is a great dinner option for taco lovers! This comfort food dish has all the flavors of your favorite tacos and is sure to be a hit with the entire family. It’s perfect for hectic weeknights when you want something hearty and satisfying. This walking taco casserole features seasoned ground beef, beans, crunchy Doritos, and melted cheese. Top it off with taco favorites like chopped lettuce, fresh tomatoes, green onions, and sour cream for a complete and delicious meal!

Why You’ll Love this Casserole

If you like tacos, you’ll love this taco casserole recipe! I’ve been making walking tacos (tacos in a bag) for years and this is a similar concept just in casserole form. Plus, if you are anything like me, you also enjoy easy and hearty meals with hamburger, like hamburger hashbrown casserole or this Big Mac Casserole Recipe. Skip the tortillas and opt for something a little different whether you’re hosting taco night or looking for a quick weeknight dinner.  If you are hunting for ground beef recipes without pasta, this is one of my favorites!

Ingredients for Walking Taco Casserole

To make this delicious Walking Taco Casserole, you will need the following ingredients:

• Lean ground beef: The lean ground beef adds a hearty and flavorful base to the casserole. I used 85/15.
• Yellow onion: Yellow onions provide a delightful aroma and adds a subtle sweet and savory taste to the dish. You can easily substitute white onion.
• Taco seasoning: The taco seasoning brings a burst of Mexican-inspired flavors to the casserole, making it irresistible. You can purchase a taco seasoning packet or use two tablespoons of homemade taco seasoning.
• Rotel diced tomatoes and green chiles: This ingredient adds a hint of spiciness and tang to the casserole, enhancing its overall flavor. I opted for original but you can increase the spiciness by using the hot variety or tone it down with the mild Rotel variety.
• Chili beans: The chili beans contribute to the richness and heartiness of the dish.
• Black beans: Black beans not only add a delightful texture but also provide a good source of protein and fiber.
• Cream cheese: The cream cheese adds a creamy element to the ground beef mixture.
• Doritos or Fritos chips: These crunchy chips serve as a tasty topping and provide a satisfying texture to the casserole. What would a recipe for walking taco casserole be without tortilla chips or corn chips?
• Shredded cheese: The shredded cheese adds a gooey and melty layer of deliciousness. I shredded a block of cheddar but you can substitute your favorite cheese such as a Mexican blend, monterey jack, colby-jack or pepper jack.
• Taco toppings: If you like to put it on tacos, you’ll love it on this taco bake casserole. Some options include shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, green onion, sour cream, hot sauce, your favorite salsa or pico de gallo, guacamole, cilantro, sliced jalapeno, sliced black olives, etc.

You can skip the beans and tomatoes if you don’t like them, but they add a considerable amount of liquid, flavor and heartiness to this casserole. If you skip them, I recommend adding an additional taco seasoning packet and a bit of water. Taco casserole is a family favorite that can easily be customized to suit everyone’s taste buds.

How to Make Taco Casserole

Time to make this delicious taco casserole!

Step One: To start, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Brown your ground beef and diced onions in a large skillet over medium high heat until cooked through. (I like to add my onions halfway through cooking). Drain excess grease.

Step Two: Reduce heat to medium and add in taco seasoning, undrained Rotel diced tomatoes, undrained chili beans, drained and rinsed black beans, and cream cheese. Gently stir until completely combined and cream cheese is fully melted. Remove from heat.

Step Four: Spray a large 3 quart casserole dish or 9×13 inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Spread half of your Doritos, crushed, into the bottom of the baking pan. Top with half of ground beef mixture and half the shredded cheese.

Top with remaining ground beef mixture, the rest of the crushed Doritos (or Fritos or tortilla chips), and sprinkle the rest of your shredded cheese evenly over the top.

How Long to Cook Taco Bake?

Step Five: Once assembled, bake the casserole uncovered in a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for around 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Step Six: While your taco casserole with Doritos is cooking, it is a great time to prepare your toppings. Chop tomatoes, shred lettuce, slice green onion, etc.

Step Seven: Remove your casserole from the oven when the cheese is fully melted and the tortilla chips have started to brown. Pace on a trivet to cool a bit. Be careful, it will be very hot!

To serve, garnish with your favorite taco toppings such as sour cream, green onions, fresh tomatoes, guacamole or sliced bell peppers. The possibilities are endless!

I kept things simple with just shredded romaine lettuce, tomatoes, green onion and sour cream. While there is already plenty of cheese, it was tempting to add additional shredded cheese on the side, but it is optional. This family dinner is such a hit!!

What to Serve with Taco Casserole

When serving taco casserole, there are several delicious options to complement this comforting and flavorful dish. Here are five different things that work well served with taco casserole:

1. Cornbread: Sweet cornbread is the perfect accompaniment to a flavorful and hearty taco casserole. Its soft and crumbly texture adds a delightful contrast to the robust and savory flavors of the casserole.
2. Guacamole: The rich and creamy texture of guacamole pairs perfectly with the bold flavors of the taco casserole. Serve as a topping or with additional tortilla chips as a side dish.
3. Black Bean Corn Salsa: A fresh and zesty corn salsa brings a burst of flavor and adds a refreshing element to the taco casserole. Add it over the top of the taco casserole or serve with your favorite tortilla chips on the side.
4. Mexican Rice: A side of fluffy and flavorful Mexican rice complements the casserole, providing a balanced and satisfying meal.
5. Black Bean Salad: A vibrant and nutritious corn black bean salad with fresh ingredients adds a flavorful side dish.

Substitutions and Variations

Switch things up to suit different tastes and dietary preferences. Here are a few additional ideas to help you switch up this beloved comfort food:

• Ground Meat: Instead of using beef, try using ground turkey or ground chicken for a lighter option. Both will lend a unique flavor to the casserole.
• Beans: While black beans are traditional, you can substitute them with pinto beans, kidney beans, or even white beans for added creaminess.
• Vegetables: Add extra vegetables to boost the nutritional value. Saute diced bell peppers or jalapenos in with your ground beef and onion or add a small can of green chiles when you add in your beans.
• Seasoning: Rather than using pre-made taco seasoning, you can create your own homemade taco seasoning blend with chili powder, garlic powder, black pepper, and other preferred spices.

How to Store Taco Bake

When it comes to a hearty casserole like this taco bake, there’s a good chance you’ll have leftovers. Don’t let them go to waste! To store your taco casserole, first, let it cool completely. Then, transfer any leftover taco bake to an airtight container. This will help to maintain its freshness and prevent any lingering smells in the fridge.

In terms of how long you can store taco bake in the refrigerator, it is recommended to consume it within 3 to 4 days. The tortilla chips will become soft over time. We found this to be still delicious when we reheated in the microwave. But if you prefer to restore of some crispness, you can reheat individual portions covered with aluminum foil in a toaster oven or oven at a medium temperature until heated through.

Not only is this taco casserole easy to make, but it also heats up great for leftovers. So if you’re looking for a meal that you can enjoy for lunch the next day or on a busy weeknight, this casserole is perfect. Just reheat it in the oven or microwave and you’ll have a tasty meal ready to go.

More Great Mexican Recipes to Try:

Love Mexican inspired dishes? Here are some more great recipes to try:

• Taco Soup Recipe
• Creamy Chicken Enchilada Soup
• Taco Egg Rolls
• Taco Stuff Shells Recipe
• Mexican Chorizo Cornbread Casserole
• Easy Baked Chicken Chilaquiles