Here’s a fun and crowd-pleasing Walking Taco Casserole 🌮🧀 — all the flavors of walking tacos in an easy baked dish.
Walking Taco Casserole
Servings: 4–6
Time: ~35–40 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef or turkey
- 1 packet taco seasoning (or homemade: chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt)
- 1 cup salsa
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 cups tortilla chips, crushed (or Fritos)
- 1½ cups shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
- Optional toppings: sour cream, diced tomatoes, chopped lettuce, sliced jalapeños, guacamole, olives
Instructions
- Preheat oven
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cook meat
- In a skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef until browned. Drain excess fat.
- Add taco seasoning, black beans, and salsa. Simmer 5 minutes.
- Assemble casserole
- In a greased 8×8-inch baking dish, layer half of the crushed chips.
- Add meat mixture evenly on top.
- Top with remaining crushed chips and cheese.
- Bake
- Bake 15–20 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve
- Top with optional toppings like sour cream, lettuce, tomatoes, or guacamole. Serve warm.
Tips & Variations
- Extra cheesy: Mix some cheese into the meat layer before topping.
- Spicy: Add diced jalapeños or hot sauce to the meat mixture.
- Vegetarian: Swap meat for more beans or sautéed veggies.
- Crunchy topping: Add crushed tortilla chips on top after baking for extra crunch.
I can also give you a quick 20-minute skillet version where everything cooks on the stove without baking.
Do you want me to give that version?