Last Updated on November 4, 2023 by Allison Lancaster
Cheesy taco casserole is an ideal weeknight dinner for busy families. It’s so easy to put together and the whole family will love it. You can even put it together the night before, throw it in the fridge, and bake it the next day. Your entire family will beg you to make this layered taco casserole recipe for them weekly!
Making dinner for your family doesn’t have to be difficult or sacrifice flavor. Whether you want to whip up an effortless casserole dish on a soccer practice night or you’re hosting guests, this easy cheesy taco casserole is the perfect recipe for you.
Ground Beef Tortilla Casserole
Get your tortilla chips, shredded cheese, and beef ready because this simple and budget-friendly dish is going to blow your mind.
It’s so good and you can create even more delicious recipes with different variations like shredded chicken or pork instead of ground beef.
This easy recipe is great for using up leftover shredded meat you might have in the fridge.
You can also substitute flour tortillas for corn tortillas, or add corn to the beef mixture which adds an awesome flavor and texture in my book!
Read on to find out how you can make this taco cheese casserole in a short 25 minutes.
Why We Love This Cheesy Taco Bake
With two kids running around the house, working from home, and the other household duties that come with being a mom and wife- most weeknights are hectic. Like most other parents, I love a good, easy dinner recipe.
Josh and the kids love all things cheese and taco so this dish is always a win at our house. This cheesy taco casserole recipe is the perfect combination of both of their favorite flavors.
It’s also a great casserole option that doesn’t require pasta or heavy carbs.
This delicious new spin on tacos will probably stay at the top of your list of casserole recipes that the whole family enjoys.
There are so many different ways that you can prepare this delicious dish that you could have it weekly with a little variation and the entire family will still devour it!
Sides that Go With Cheesy Taco Casserole
There are so many ways to serve this dinner to make it your own. Pair it with a side of refried beans, Spanish rice, or Mexican rice for a complete Mexican-themed meal.
If you’re looking for something a little lighter, try serving it with a side of grilled vegetables or a chopped salad with lettuce, diced tomatoes, and cucumbers.
Serving Options
I love to top this dish with sour cream and a bit of salsa for the perfect mix of creaminess with a little bit of spice. Of course, you can add any toppings you want.
That’s the best thing about this recipe: it’s so diverse!
You could even add frozen or canned corn (drained) or black beans (rinsed & drained), or sliced black olives to kick up this casserole a notch!
Equipment for Taco Casserole
How to Make Taco Casserole with Corn Tortillas
How to Make Cheesy Taco Casserole
Ground beef (you could also use ground pork, chicken, or turkey for this recipe, a can of nacho cheese, canned diced tomatoes with chipotle or jalapeno peppers (you can use plain diced tomatoes if you are trying to tone down the heat), corn tortillas, shredded Mexican cheese, and taco seasoning.
This easy dinner casserole is made by layering the ingredients on top of each other.
Start by greasing the bottom of your skillet or casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray.
Tear your tortillas into pieces and put them on the bottom.
Place ½ of the ground beef on top of the tortillas, followed by ½ of the tomatoes, and ½ of the nacho cheese.
Use a spatula to spread the nacho cheese evenly over your casserole.
Repeat your layers starting with the tortillas, and for the very top of your casserole add your shredded Mexican cheese.
Now slide it into your oven and bake until the Mexican cheese on top is melted and bubbly.
Now you have a delicious new take on Taco Tuesday that is perfect for any night of the week!
Can I Use Homemade Taco Seasoning?
Yes, if you have your own recipe for homemade taco seasoning you can use that instead of the store-bought taco seasoning packet.
All you need to make taco seasoning at home is chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper.
Some people also like to add paprika, or oregano to it, but it is all up to your personal preferences.
How do I store Taco Casserole?
I personally place the casserole in our glass storage containers with airtight lids and place it in the fridge. If you don’t have a casserole dish with a lid, try wrapping it tightly in aluminum foil or plastic wrap.
The trick is to avoid as much air exposure as possible to prevent the casserole from drying out.
Can I make this Cheesy Taco Casserole ahead of time?
Yes! One of the best things about this dish is that you can make it ahead of time. Just follow the recipe all the way up until you would place it in the oven.
Instead, cover it tightly with tin foil or plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator.
The next day, remove it from the fridge 30 minutes prior to baking so the dish can come up to room temperature.
Can I Make Cheesy Taco Casserole with Fritos?
Absolutely! If that’s what you have available at home then you sure can use it to make this dish.
You can also make the dish without the tortillas and spoon the beef mixture over the corn chips when you serve it for an extra crunch
Low-Carb Cheesy Taco Casserole
To make this recipe low-carb, simply use a low-carb tortilla instead of corn tortillas. They taste great and you can find them at most grocery stores.
You can also leave the tortillas out completely and use plain Greek yogurt as a topping to add more protein.
You might also decide to serve this beefy taco mixture over riced cauliflower.
Additional Serving Variations
We mentioned above that the ground beef mixture from this recipe would be delicious served over corn chips. It would also be delicious served over tortilla chips, like a nacho platter!
If your family is not big on casseroles, you can leave the tortillas out of this recipe, and serve the ground beef mixture rolled up into flour or corn tortillas like a burrito.
Top it with lettuce, diced tomatoes, sour cream, and cheese just like you would a burrito or soft taco. As a matter of fact, this ground beef mixture would make an amazing filling for enchiladas too!
Spoon a couple of tablespoons into the tortillas and roll them up in a casserole dish, then spoon the rest of the mixture on top of the rolled enchiladas.
Top with the shredded Mexican cheese and bake until bubbly!
I’ve mentioned how versatile this recipe can be, don’t be afraid to add green pepper, red bell pepper, yellow onion, or red onion to your ground beef mixture when cooking it.
You could also top this easy weeknight dinner with homemade pico de gallo, green onions, crushed tortilla, or corn chips.
I hope you’ll enjoy making this delicious cheesy taco casserole baking dish at home for your family and friends!
Try it this Friday for an easy end-of-the-week dinner and let me know what your family thinks.
Do you love cheesy taco casserole as much as we do? Share your thoughts in the comments with me and let me know your favorite toppings!
Cheesy Taco Casserole
Cheesy taco casserole is an ideal weeknight dinner for busy families. It’s so easy to put together and the whole family will love it. You can even put it together the night before, throw it in the fridge and bake it the next day.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. lean ground beef
- 15 oz. can of Nacho Cheese
- 8 oz. can of diced tomatoes and chipotle peppers
- 6 small corn tortillas
- 2 cups of shredded Mexican cheese
- 1 package of taco seasoning
Instructions
- Brown your ground beef - you can use any meat you like or if you prefer, you could also use black beans in the place of meat. I also prefer to cook my meat in the slow cooker.
- Add taco seasoning to meat or beans.
- Place 3 corn tortillas, torn into small pieces, in the bottom of a greased 8" round pan.
- Add 1/2 ground beef mixture over tortillas.
- Add 1/2 can of diced tomatoes and peppers over beef.
- Add 1/2 can of Nacho cheese over beef/tomato mixture .
- Spread cheese out as much as possible over dish.
- Add 3 remaining corn tortilla, torn into small pieces, over mixture.
- Repeat beef/tomato/cheese layering.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes in 350 degree oven.
- Remove from oven, add shredded cheese to top of dish.
- Bake until cheese is melted.
- Enjoy!
Notes
You can used diced tomatoes without chipotle peppers, if you prefer a less spicy dish.
I hope you’ll enjoy making this delicious casserole baking dish at home! End your weeknights breezily with this recipe. Let me know how this goes for you.
