Description
Walking Taco Casserole is a fun and flavorful layered dish inspired by the popular handheld walking taco snack. This recipe combines seasoned ground beef, beans, diced tomatoes with chiles, and sour cream, layered with crunchy Fritos chips and melted Mexican-style cheese, then baked to bubbly perfection. Easily customizable with toppings like guacamole, salsa, and jalapenos, this casserole is a crowd-pleaser perfect for family dinners or game day.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat & Beans
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small onion, chopped finely
- 1 package taco seasoning (about 1 oz)
- ½ cup water
- 1 can black beans (15 ounces), drained and rinsed
- 1 can diced tomatoes with green chiles (10 ounces)
Dairy & Chips
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 bag Fritos corn chips (9.25 ounces)
- 2 cups Mexican-style shredded cheese (cheddar and Monterey Jack blend)
Toppings (Optional)
- Green onions, sliced
- Sour cream
- Guacamole
- Salsa
- Jalapenos
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius). Lightly coat a 13×9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Cook Ground Beef and Onions: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef until it’s almost fully cooked. Add the chopped onions and cook until they are soft and the beef is no longer pink, about 5 minutes.
- Add Seasoning: Stir in the taco seasoning packet and ½ cup water. Bring the mixture to a boil to dissolve the seasoning thoroughly.
- Simmer with Beans and Tomatoes: Reduce the heat to low, then stir in the drained black beans, diced tomatoes with green chiles, and ½ cup sour cream. Let this mixture simmer for 8-10 minutes until it’s heated through and slightly thickened.
- Assemble Casserole: In the prepared baking dish, spread a single layer of Fritos corn chips on the bottom. Sprinkle 1 cup of the shredded cheese evenly over the chips. Layer the seasoned beef mixture on top, then finish with the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheese evenly spread on top.
- Bake Covered: Cover the casserole tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, remove the foil and bake for an additional 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly around the edges.
- Add Toppings and Serve: Once out of the oven, sprinkle more Fritos chips on top and garnish with sliced green onions, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, and jalapenos to taste. Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- For a spicier casserole, add extra jalapenos or use spicy taco seasoning.
- To make this dish gluten free, confirm that your taco seasoning and Fritos chips are certified gluten free.
- You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for a leaner version.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- For extra crunch, add crushed Fritos chips on top just before serving rather than baking them all together.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking, Sautéing
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 810 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
Keywords: walking taco casserole, taco casserole, ground beef casserole, Tex-Mex casserole, easy dinner, layered casserole, Fritos taco bake
