Description
Crowd-pleasing walking taco bake brings Mexican-inspired comfort right to your dinner table. Layers of crispy corn chips, seasoned ground beef, and melted cheese create a crowd-pleasing casserole you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (1 lb) ground beef
- 1 bag Fritos corn chips
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Protein and Vegetable Additions:
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
- 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
Optional Toppings:
- Sour cream
- Salsa
- Guacamole
Instructions
- Prepare the oven by heating to 350F (175C), creating an ideal baking environment.
- Brown ground beef with diced onions in a skillet, ensuring meat is thoroughly cooked and no pink remains. Eliminate excess grease through careful draining.
- Introduce taco seasoning, diced tomatoes, and black beans to the meat mixture, allowing flavors to meld together during a gentle 5-minute simmer.
- Construct initial layer in a 9×13 inch baking dish by spreading a generous base of Fritos, creating a crunchy foundation.
- Distribute half of the seasoned meat mixture evenly across the Fritos, ensuring complete coverage.
- Sprinkle the first layer of shredded cheese, creating a melty blanket over the meat.
- Repeat layering process with remaining Fritos, meat mixture, and cheese, building a delectable casserole stack.
- Transfer baking dish to preheated oven and cook for 15 minutes, watching for complete cheese melting and edges becoming golden.
- Remove from oven and let rest momentarily to allow flavors to settle and cheese to set slightly.
- Garnish with preferred toppings like sour cream, chopped cilantro, sliced jalapeños, or diced green onions for added freshness and personalization.
Notes
- Customize taco seasoning intensity by adjusting the amount or choosing mild or spicy variants to suit different taste preferences.
- Replace ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for healthier or vegetarian alternatives that maintain the dish’s robust flavor profile.
- Layer ingredients strategically to ensure even distribution of cheese, meat, and Fritos, preventing dry spots and creating a balanced bite every time.
- Prep ingredients ahead of time and store separately to create a quick weeknight meal or make-ahead casserole that can be assembled quickly when needed.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 590
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg