Taco Casserole
on Jun 23, 2023, Updated Jun 28, 2024
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Are you craving a mouthwatering, easy-to-make meal that combines the vibrant flavors of Mexican cuisine? Look no further than Taco Casserole! Packed with ground beef, spices, vegetables, beans, and gooey cheese, this hearty dish will satisfy your taste buds and leave you wanting more.
Taco Casserole is perfect for family dinners, potlucks, or casual gatherings with friends. Serve it with a side of guacamole, salsa, or a refreshing green salad to complete the meal.
Taco Casserole
Taco casserole typically combines the flavors of traditional tacos, such as seasoned ground beef, salsa, cheese, and various toppings. The combination of these ingredients creates a tasty and savory dish that many people enjoy.
This dish is super simple to make. It usually involves layering ingredients in a baking dish and baking it in the oven. This simplicity makes it a convenient choice for busy individuals or families who want a satisfying meal without spending too much time in the kitchen.
Ingredients
- Ground beef
- Cumin
- Garlic powder
- Chili powder
- Onion
- Bell pepper
- Salsa
- Corn
- Back beans
- Colby Jack Cheese
- Tortilla chips
Keep scrolling to find a full, printable recipe with a detailed ingredient list.
Recipe Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Brown and cook the ground beef in a large skillet.
- Add spices, onion, and bell pepper to the cooked meat. Cook for 5 minutes to soften.
- Reduce heat, then mix in salsa, corn, black beans, and half of the cheese until melted.
- Line a 9×13 inch baking dish with crushed tortilla chips. Pour the meat mixture over chips, top with remaining cheese and more crushed chips.
- Bake the casserole for 25 minutes.
- Serve and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
There are numerous toppings you can add to enhance the flavors of your taco casserole. Some popular options include diced tomatoes, sliced green onions, chopped cilantro, sliced jalapeños (if you like it spicy), sour cream, guacamole, or even a drizzle of hot sauce. Feel free to customize the toppings based on your preferences and dietary restrictions.
Taco casserole is a filling dish on its own, but you can serve it with complementary side dishes. Some options include a side salad with a tangy dressing, Mexican rice, refried beans, cornbread, or even tortilla chips with salsa or guacamole. These sides can add variety and additional textures to your meal.
Yes, taco casserole can be frozen for future use but it changes the texture a lot. The chips get soggy and taste more like soft corn tortillas. I personally don’t like it as much after it’s been frozen and don’t recommend it.
Make sure you drain the corn and black beans completely. If there is too much moisture in the casserole, it will be too runny, making it harder to serve and the chips soggy.
More Recipes
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Taco Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ white onion, diced (about 1 cup)
- 1 bell pepper, diced (about 1 cup)
- 1 cup salsa
- 15 ounce can corn, drained
- 15 ounce can black beans, drained
- 3 cups Colby Jack Cheese
- 1 bag tortilla chips, at least 12 ounces
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- In a large skillet, cook the ground beef until browned and cooked all the way through.
- Once the meat is finished cooking, add the spices, onion, and bell pepper. Continue cooking the mixture over medium heat for about 5 minutes to soften the onion and bell pepper.
- Reduce the heat to low and add the salsa, corn, black beans, and half of the cheese. Fold the ingredients into the meat mixture until the cheese is completely melted.
- Crush enough tortilla chips to line the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish. Pour the meat mixture over the tortilla chips and top with the remaining cheese and more crushed tortilla chips.
- Cook the casserole for 25 minutes.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- This casserole is great topped with some sour cream or guacamole.
- You can use any kind of tortilla chips in this recipe. We like to switch things up and use lime chips to add a little bit of zest to balance out the savoriness.
- Any leftover casserole can be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat your casserole in the microwave for about 1 minute.
- We typically use a green bell pepper, but any color bell pepper works just fine in this recipe.
- Make sure you drain the corn and black beans completely. If there is too much moisture in the casserole, it will be too runny, making it harder to serve.
Nutrition
Ground beef Taco Casserole brings the flavors of your favorite Mexican dish into a convenient and mouthwatering casserole form. With its simple preparation and irresistible taste, this recipe is a guaranteed hit.
I made this with chicken. We’ve been eating too much beef. This is such an easy recipe. I was confused about the salsa so I added some and saved some for snacking. That’s not a bad thing. It’s cooking now, and it smells great.