Walking Taco Casserole

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Quick and delicious 30-minute meal.
• Easily customized to suit your family’s preferences.

Ingredients

This is meant to be a brief overview of the Walking Taco Casserole recipe. For step-by-step instructions and a full printable recipe card with ingredients, please scroll down to the teal box below.

• lean ground beef
• onion
• store-bought or homemade taco seasoning
• water
• salsa
• sour cream
• black beans
• corn
• Frito corn chips
• shredded cheese

Optional Toppings

Add your favorite taco toppings, such as sliced avocado, shredded lettuce, black olives, diced tomatoes, sliced jalapenos, chopped bell peppers, salsa, chopped cilantro, parsley, or green onions.

Instructions

This casserole can be made in an oven-safe skillet, or put into a 9×13 baking dish. If you are using a baking dish, I recommend lightly greasing the pan.

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Brown the ground beef in a large skillet with the onions.
3. Then, drain any excess grease from the beef mixture.
4. Next, stir in the taco seasoning and water.
5. Add the salsa and sour cream; mix well.
6. Stir in the black beans and corn.
7. Remove from the heat and top with shredded cheese.
8. Add a layer of corn chips to the top of the casserole.
9. Cover with aluminum foil.
10. Bake for 15 minutes until the cheesy is melted and the casserole is bubbly.
11. Uncover and cook for 5 minutes more.

Ang’s Tips

✔️ Use 90% lean ground beef, which has less saturated fat, for a slightly healthier option.

Storage

To Store: Cover with aluminum foil or transfer to an airtight container and store in the fridge for 2-3 days.

To Reheat: Microwave individual servings in 30 second intervals until warmed through.

To Freeze: Prepare the casserole without the chips. Wrap in 2 layers of heavy duty aluminum foil. Be sure to label! Freeze for 2-3 months.

To Thaw: Allow the casserole to thaw overnight in the fridge.

(These are my favorite airtight containers.)

Shortcut / Make Ahead

Make a big batch of Slow Cooker Ground Beef Taco Meat (I like to double or even triple this) and stick it in the freezer in 1lb freezer bags. Then you can just pull out what you need anytime and half your prep work is done!

You can also use leftover crockpot shredded beef taco meat instead of ground beef.

This casserole can be made up to 2 days ahead of time without the chips. Cover and refrigerate. When it’s time to bake it, add the chips on top and add about 5 additional minutes to the baking time.

Variations

The first time you try any new recipe we recommend that you make it just as it is written on the recipe card since that is how the taco bake recipe has been tested. However, the next time you make our recipe, you might want to try one of these ideas:

• Add a can of Ro-Tel diced tomatoes with green chiles for even more flavor.
• Substitute pinto beans instead of black beans.
• This casserole can be made with ground turkey or leftover chopped chicken instead of ground beef.
• Add 1 cup of cooked rice to the ground beef mixture.
• Instead of salsa, use enchilada sauce.
• For an even creamier version, add 2 tablespoons of cream cheese to the ground beef mixture.
• While I like corn chips, you can also use crumbled tortilla chips or Doritos if you like.

Slow Cooker Instructions

1. Brown the ground beef in a large skillet with the onions.
2. Then, drain any excess grease from the beef mixture.
3. Add the ground beef to the slow cooker.
4. Stir in the taco seasoning and water.
5. Add the salsa, sour cream, black beans, and corn.
6. Top with a layer of shredded cheese.
7. Cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 2-3 hours.
8. Add the corn chips and cook for 30 minutes more before serving.

Serving Suggestions

The great thing about this meal is that everyone can make their own plate just the way they want. There are so many different ways to enjoy this dish. Top individual servings with sour cream, avocado slices, extra cheese or Pico de Gallo.

Or, throw together a quick salad with chopped lettuce and diced tomatoes drizzled with some creamy and zesty ranch dressing on the side.

Here are some more Mexican favorites you’ll love that are perfect to serve alongside our incredible one-pot taco bake:

• Beef Queso Dip
• Simple Homemade Guacamole
• Homemade Salsa

Similar Recipes

Next time, try one of these delicious casserole recipes:

• Chicken Broccoli Pasta Bake – tender chicken, creamy cheesy sauce, and broccoli with spaghetti.
• Quick Cheesy Taco Shell Skillet – 20 minute pasta and taco meat skillet meal with lots of cheese.
• Ro-Tel Chicken Spaghetti – shredded chicken with diced tomatoes and green chilies baked in a creamy cheese sauce.
• Pasta with Sausage and Broccolini – a light and flavorful pasta dish that’s packed with scrumptious Italian sausage, good-for-you broccolini, and Parmesan cheese.
• Chicken Pasta Bake – the perfect dish to feed a hungry crowd, they’ll love the creamy pasta with loads of shredded chicken and cheese.
• Cheesy Hamburger Casserole – ditch the boxed stuff for this tastier version of Hamburger Helper.
• Chicken Stuffing Bake – made with simple ingredients that are probably in your pantry RIGHT NOW!
• Hamburger and Potato Casserole – this cheesy casserole is always a family favorite, and it’s ready in under one hour.