Description
Hearty Cheesy Taco Casserole brings Mexican-inspired comfort straight to dinner tables. Layers of seasoned ground beef, crisp tortillas, and melted cheese create a satisfying meal that delights families with bold southwestern flavors you’ll crave.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef (or ground turkey)
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 1 medium onion (diced)
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans (drained and rinsed)
- 1 can (10 oz) diced tomatoes with green chilies (undrained)
- 1.5 cups salsa
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1.5 cups crushed tortilla chips
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
- 1 cup diced tomatoes
- Sliced black olives
- Chopped cilantro or green onions
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350F (175C) and prepare a 9×13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray.
- Brown ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat, thoroughly draining excess fat.
- Incorporate taco seasoning and diced onion into the skillet, cooking until onions become translucent.
- Blend black beans, diced tomatoes with green chilies, and salsa into the meat mixture, simmering for 5 minutes to meld flavors.
- Create the first foundation layer by evenly spreading crushed tortilla chips across the bottom of the casserole dish.
- Carefully distribute the seasoned beef mixture over the chips, ensuring complete coverage.
- Generously sprinkle the first layer of shredded cheese across the meat mixture.
- Add a second layer of crushed tortilla chips atop the cheese, then crown with the remaining cheese.
- Slide the casserole into the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until cheese becomes golden and bubbling.
- After removing from oven, allow the casserole to rest for 3-5 minutes to set.
- Garnish with optional toppings: sour cream, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sliced olives, chopped cilantro, or green onions before serving.
Notes
- Swap ground beef with turkey or plant-based crumbles for a lighter, healthier alternative that still delivers incredible flavor.
- Customize heat levels by choosing mild or spicy taco seasoning and adjusting salsa intensity to suit personal preferences.
- Prepare casserole ahead of time by assembling layers and refrigerating, then bake when ready to serve for convenient meal planning.
- Use gluten-free tortilla chips and verify seasoning ingredients to transform this recipe into a completely gluten-free dish that everyone can enjoy.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 410 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg