Description
Hearty Mexican-inspired taco casserole brings layers of spicy ground beef, melted cheese, and crisp tortilla chips to your dinner table. Comfort meets flavor in this easy-to-make dish that satisfies hungry families with its zesty southwestern charm.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Protein:
- 1.5 pounds ground beef
- 2 ounces cream cheese
Seasonings and Sauces:
- 1 can green chilies
- 1 can enchilada sauce
- 16 ounces salsa
Toppings and Additional Ingredients:
- 1 bag fritos
- 1 bag shredded cheese
- 1/3 onion, chopped
- 3/4 cup lettuce, shredded
- 1/2 cup tomato, diced
- 8 ounces sour cream
Instructions
- Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and thoroughly cook ground beef with diced onions until meat is no longer pink and onions are translucent.
- Reduce heat and incorporate green chilies, enchilada sauce, and cream cheese into the beef mixture. Stir continuously until cream cheese melts completely and creates a uniform, creamy consistency.
- Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and prepare a 9×13 inch baking dish by creating an even base layer of crunchy Fritos corn chips.
- Spread the prepared beef and sauce mixture evenly over the Fritos, ensuring complete coverage of the chip layer.
- Generously sprinkle shredded cheese across the top of the beef layer, creating a complete cheese blanket.
- Transfer the assembled casserole to the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, watching for the cheese to melt thoroughly and develop a golden, bubbly surface.
- Remove from oven and garnish with fresh shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, dollops of salsa, and sour cream.
- Serve immediately while the casserole is hot and cheese is still melted.
Notes
- Customize the heat level by choosing mild or spicy green chilies based on personal preference.
- Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a leaner or vegetarian version.
- Crush Fritos slightly before layering to create a more integrated texture and better distribution of crunch.
- Make ahead and refrigerate the assembled casserole for up to 24 hours before baking, which allows flavors to meld and simplifies meal preparation.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 482 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 31 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg