Cheesy taco casserole is the 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 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 hard or sacrifice taste. Whether you want to whip up an effortless casserole dish on soccer practice night or you’re hosting guests, this easy 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 instead of beef, substituting flour tortillas for corn, or adding corn which adds an awesome taste 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 toddlers 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 Levi 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.
What To Pair 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 and Spanish 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 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 bit of spicy. 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 the casserole a notch!
How to Make Taco Casserole with Corn Tortillas
What ingredients do you need?
1 lb. lean ground beef
1 15 oz. can of nacho cheese
1 8 oz. can of diced tomatoes and chipotle peppers- you can use diced tomatoes if you prefer a less spicy dish
6 small corn tortillas
2 cups of shredded Mexican cheese
1 package of taco seasoning
How Do I Cook Taco Casserole?
You can cook this dish either in the oven or on the stove. If cooking in the oven, preheat to 350 degrees and bake for 15-20 minutes.
It heats up well the next day for lunch or even dinner again!
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 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 tinfoil 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.
Cheesy Low Carb Taco Casserole
To make this recipe low carb, simply use a low carb tortilla instead of the 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.
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 tacos 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 meal for busy families.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. lean ground beef
- 1 15 oz. can of Nacho Cheese
- 1 8 oz. can of diced tomatoes and chipotle peppers you can just used diced tomatoes if you prefer a less spicy dish
- 6 small corn tortillas
- 2 cups of shredded Mexican cheese
- 1 package of taco seasoning
Instructions
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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.
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Add taco seasoning to meat or beans.
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Place 3 corn tortillas, torn into small pieces, in the bottom of a greased 8″ round pan
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Add 1/2 ground beef mixture over tortillas
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Add 1/2 can of diced tomatoes and peppers over beef
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Add 1/2 can of Nacho cheese over beef/tomato mixture
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Spread cheese out as much as possible over dish
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Add 3 remaining corn tortilla, torn into small pieces, over mixture
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Repeat beef/tomato/cheese layering
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Bake for 15-20 minutes in 350 degree oven
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Remove from oven, add shredded cheese to top of dish
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Bake until cheese is melted
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Enjoy!
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.
