Welcome to Sweet Emily, where we make baking simple for everyone! There’s nothing quite like a comforting, flavorful meal to bring the family together, especially on a busy weeknight. This incredible Taco Casserole delivers on all fronts: it’s packed with savory beef, gooey cheese, and a satisfying crunch from Doritos. You’ll love how easy it is to prepare this crowd-pleasing dish, making it a perfect addition to your recipe rotation.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Taco Casserole
Our simple Taco Casserole recipe is designed for ease and maximum flavor, making it a true family favorite.
- Effortless Weeknight Meal: You can have this hearty dish on the table in under an hour, perfect for busy evenings.
- Highly Customizable: Easily adapt it with your family’s favorite toppings and spice levels for a personalized touch.
- Picky-Eater Friendly: The familiar flavors of tacos, beef, and cheese appeal to even the most discerning palates.
- Budget-Conscious: Made with affordable, everyday ingredients that won’t break the bank.
- Bursting with Flavor: Each bite offers a delicious combination of seasoned ground beef, zesty salsa, and crispy chips.
Ingredients
Gather these simple ingredients to assemble this amazing Taco Casserole for your next dinner. This recipe serves 6-8 people generously.
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1/2 medium onion, chopped
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 cups crushed Doritos (Nacho Cheese flavor recommended)
- 1 (14 ounce) can black beans, drained & rinsed
- 1 (12 ounce) can corn, drained
- 1 (15.5 ounce) jar salsa (use your favorite kind)
- 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend (or use cheddar), divided
- Optional Toppings (to taste): diced tomatoes, fresh cilantro, sliced scallions, avocado, black olives, sour cream, shredded lettuce.
Notes & Substitutions
Feel free to customize this simple taco casserole to suit your family’s preferences. If you’re out of Doritos, regular tortilla chips or Fritos work wonderfully for the base. You can swap the individual spices for a packet of store-bought taco seasoning if preferred; just adjust the amount according to package directions. Black beans can be swapped for pinto or kidney beans.
For extra heat, choose a spicy salsa or add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the beef mixture. Enhance the veggie content by adding diced bell peppers or zucchini along with the onion. Any shredded cheese blend that melts well will work here.
Equipment
You’ll only need a few basic kitchen tools to create this delicious Taco Casserole.
- Large skillet (a cast iron skillet works well for even browning)
- 9×13 inch casserole dish
- Meat chopper (optional, but helpful for breaking up ground beef)
- Measuring cups and spoons
Instructions
Making this easy Taco Casserole starts with quick prep and ends with a bubbly, cheesy delight. Follow these clear steps for a perfect family meal.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and move the oven rack to the middle position. This ensures even cooking for your taco casserole.
- Add the olive oil and ground beef to a large skillet. Cook the beef over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes, breaking it up with a spoon or meat chopper as it browns.
- Stir in the chopped onion, chili powder, garlic powder, and ground cumin. Continue cooking for another 5 minutes, until the onion softens and the spices become fragrant.
- While the beef cooks, spread the crushed Doritos in an even layer across the bottom of a 9×13 inch (or similar size) casserole dish. This forms the crunchy base for your delicious Taco Casserole.
- If there’s a lot of excess fat in the skillet, carefully spoon most of it out. Then, stir in the drained and rinsed black beans, drained corn, salsa, and half of the shredded cheese.
- Heat the beef mixture for a few minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cheese melts and everything is warm and combined.
- Spoon the beef mixture evenly over the Doritos layer in the casserole dish. Spread it gently to cover the chips.
- Top the casserole with the remaining shredded cheese.
- Bake, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes, or until the casserole is hot, bubbly, and the cheese is beautifully melted and slightly golden.
- While the casserole bakes, prepare any desired fresh toppings like chopping tomatoes or cilantro.
- Serve this amazing taco casserole immediately with your favorite toppings.
Pro Tips & Troubleshooting
These tips ensure your Taco Casserole turns out perfectly every time, even for beginners.
- Cook Beef Thoroughly: Always ensure the ground beef is fully browned before adding other ingredients. This prevents any raw meat and enhances flavor. The USDA recommends cooking ground meat to a safe minimum internal temperature of 160°F to ensure food safety.
- Don’t Overcrowd Skillet: Cook beef in batches if your skillet is too small; overcrowding can steam the meat instead of browning it.
- Gentle Dorito Layer: Press the crushed Doritos layer gently to create a firm base, but avoid compacting them too much.
- Drain Excess Fat: Removing extra fat from the beef mixture prevents the casserole from becoming greasy.
- Fresh Shredded Cheese: For the best melt, use block cheese that you shred yourself. Pre-shredded varieties contain anti-caking agents that can hinder melting.
- Adjust Baking Time: Keep an eye on the casserole; baking time can vary slightly depending on your oven.
- Season to Taste: Taste the beef mixture before adding it to the dish and adjust salt or spices if needed.
Serving, Storage, & Variations
This versatile Taco Casserole offers many options for serving, storage, and customization.
Serving Suggestions
- Enhance each serving with a colorful array of fresh toppings like crisp lettuce, diced tomatoes, or a dollop of sour cream.
- Serve this hearty dish alongside a simple green salad for a balanced meal.
- Offer extra tortilla chips and a bowl of fresh guacamole for dipping.
- Pair it with a side of Mexican rice or warm tortillas for a more substantial dinner.
Storage & Make Ahead
- Refrigerate: Store any leftover taco casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
- Freeze: Once completely cooled, freeze individual portions or the entire casserole in a freezer-safe container for up to 1 month. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
- Make Ahead: Assemble the casserole completely without baking, cover it tightly, and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Add a few extra minutes to the baking time if baking from cold.
- Reheat: Warm leftovers in the oven (covered with foil then uncovered for the last few minutes) at 300°F until heated through, or microwave individual portions.
Variations
- Crunch Factor: For an extra crispy top, sprinkle more crushed chips over the cheese layer during the last few minutes of baking.
- Protein Swap: Easily substitute the ground beef with ground turkey or ground chicken for a lighter version of this taco casserole.
- Vegetable Boost: Incorporate extra vegetables such as diced bell peppers, zucchini, or chopped spinach into the beef mixture.
- Creamier Texture: Stir in a few tablespoons of cream cheese or sour cream with the beef mixture for a richer, creamier consistency.
- Heat Level: Tailor the spice by choosing mild, medium, or hot salsa, or add a dash of your favorite hot sauce.
Nutrition
Enjoying a comforting meal doesn’t mean sacrificing nutritional awareness. This Taco Casserole offers a good balance of macronutrients. Please remember that these values are approximations and can vary based on specific brands and ingredient preparations.
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 441 kcal |
| Carbohydrates | 38 g |
| Protein | 27 g |
| Fat | 20 g |
| Saturated Fat | 7 g |
| Trans Fat | 1 g |
| Cholesterol | 62 mg |
| Sodium | 860 mg |
| Fiber | 7 g |
| Sugar | 4 g |
| Unsaturated Fat | 12 g |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 5 g |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 7 g |
| Potassium | 695 mg |
| Vitamin A | 749 IU |
| Vitamin C | 2 mg |
| Calcium | 264 mg |
| Iron | 3 mg |
Per 1 serving. Values are approximate and may vary.
FAQ
What kind of ground beef is best?
Lean ground beef (85-90%) is recommended. It provides great flavor without excessive grease.
Can I use other chips besides Doritos?
Absolutely! Tortilla chips or Fritos are excellent alternatives and will give the casserole a slightly different, but still delicious, flavor.
How do I prevent the chips from getting soggy?
To maintain crunch, bake uncovered and serve the Taco Casserole immediately after it comes out of the oven.
Conclusion
This Ultimate Weeknight Taco Casserole truly embodies everything Sweet Emily stands for: it’s incredibly easy to make, bursting with familiar flavors, and perfectly customizable for any family. It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that simplifies dinner time without compromising on deliciousness.
Whip up this delightful casserole tonight and watch it become a cherished recipe in your home. Don’t forget to leave a comment below to tell us how much you loved it!
Ultimate Weeknight Taco Casserole: Easy & Delicious!
Equipment
- Skillet
- 9×13 inch casserole dish
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1/2 medium onion chopped
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 cups crushed Doritos Nacho Cheese flavor
- 1 can (14 ounce) black beans drained & rinsed
- 1 can (12 ounce) corn drained
- 1 jar (15.5 ounce) salsa use your favorite kind
- 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend divided (or use cheddar)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and position the rack in the middle.
- Brown the ground beef with olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat for 5 minutes, breaking it up as it cooks.
- Add the chopped onion and spices (chili powder, garlic powder, cumin), then cook for an additional 5 minutes.
- While the beef cooks, spread the crushed Doritos in an even layer at the bottom of a 9×13 inch casserole dish.
- Drain excess fat from the skillet, then stir in the drained black beans, corn, salsa, and half of the shredded cheese until warmed through and the cheese melts.
- Evenly spoon the beef mixture over the Dorito crust in the casserole dish.
- Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the casserole and bake uncovered for 15-20 minutes, or until bubbly and golden. Prepare your desired toppings during this time.
- Serve the casserole hot, either plain or garnished with your favorite toppings.