Description
Hearty walking taco casserole combines layers of seasoned ground beef, crispy tortilla chips, and melted cheese for a crowd-pleasing meal. Comfort food meets Mexican-inspired flavors, satisfying hunger with each delicious bite you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lb ground beef
- 1 medium to large onion (finely chopped)
- 3 cups shredded Mexican-blend cheese
- 4 cups Frito corn chips
- 2 packets original taco seasoning
- 2 cans black beans (carefully rinsed and drained)
- 2 cans corn (thoroughly drained)
- 2 cups tomatillo salsa
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup water
- Fresh cilantro (finely chopped)
- Avocado (thinly sliced)
- Lettuce (shredded)
- Tomatoes (finely chopped)
- Jalapeños (sliced)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and lightly spray a 2-quart baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- In a skillet over medium heat, thoroughly brown the ground beef until no pink remains. Add diced onions and cook for 3-4 minutes until they become translucent and softened.
- Stir in taco seasoning and water, allowing the mixture to simmer and thicken for approximately 2-3 minutes, creating a rich, flavorful base.
- Incorporate tomatillo salsa and sour cream into the meat mixture, blending thoroughly. Gently fold in black beans and corn, ensuring even distribution throughout the mixture.
- Crush half of the Frito corn chips and spread them evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish, creating a crunchy foundation.
- Layer the seasoned meat mixture over the crushed chips, spreading it uniformly to ensure consistent flavor in each bite.
- Generously sprinkle Mexican-blend cheese over the meat layer, covering the entire surface.
- Top the casserole with remaining whole Frito corn chips, creating a crispy upper layer.
- Cover the dish and bake for 15-20 minutes until the mixture begins to bubble and the cheese melts completely.
- Remove the cover and bake for an additional 5 minutes to crisp the chip topping and enhance the golden color.
- Remove from the oven and let rest for 2-3 minutes. Optionally garnish with fresh toppings like chopped cilantro, diced tomatoes, or sliced jalapeños.
- Serve immediately with extra salsa and sour cream on the side for personalized finishing touches.
Notes
- Customize heat levels by adjusting taco seasoning or choosing mild/hot variants for different spice tolerances.
- Swap ground beef with ground turkey, chicken, or plant-based protein crumbles for lighter or vegetarian alternatives.
- Crush Fritos just before layering to maintain maximum crunchiness and prevent soggy texture during baking.
- Drain canned beans and corn thoroughly to prevent excess moisture that could make casserole watery.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 494 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 29 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg