Description

This Walking Taco Casserole brings all the fun flavors of a walking taco into a warm, comforting casserole. Featuring seasoned ground beef, black beans, diced tomatoes with green chiles, and layers of crunchy Fritos and melted Mexican cheese, it’s topped with classic taco fixings like sour cream, guacamole, salsa, and jalapenos for a festive and family-friendly meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat and Vegetables

1 pound ground beef
1 small onion, chopped finely

Seasoning and Mix-ins

1 package taco seasoning
½ cup water
1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (10 ounces) diced tomatoes with green chiles
½ cup sour cream

Base and Cheese

1 bag (9.25 ounces) Fritos corn chips
2 cups Mexican-style shredded cheese

Toppings

Green onions, sliced
Sour cream
Guacamole
Salsa
Jalapenos

Instructions

Preheat Oven and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly spray a 13×9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
Cook Beef and Onions: In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef until it is almost fully cooked. Add the chopped onions and continue cooking until the onions are soft and the beef is no longer pink.
Add Seasoning: Stir in the taco seasoning and water, bringing the mixture to a boil. This will infuse the beef with classic taco flavors.
Mix Beans and Tomatoes: Reduce the heat to low and stir in the black beans, diced tomatoes with green chiles, and sour cream. Simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, allowing the mixture to heat through and thicken slightly.
Layer the Casserole: Spread a single layer of Fritos corn chips on the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded cheese over the chips, then carefully spoon the beef mixture on top. Finish by sprinkling the remaining shredded cheese evenly over the casserole.
Bake Covered and Uncovered: Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 15 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly around the edges.
Add Toppings and Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven. Top with additional corn chips and your favorite toppings such as sliced green onions, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, and jalapenos before serving.

Notes

For a spicier casserole, include diced jalapenos in the beef mixture or add hot sauce to your toppings.
Use reduced-fat sour cream and cheese for a lighter version.
Black beans can be substituted with pinto beans if preferred.
For gluten-free option, double-check that Fritos corn chips and taco seasoning are gluten-free.
Leftover casserole can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Baking
Cuisine: Mexican-American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/6 casserole
Calories: 450
Sugar: 4g
Sodium: 700mg
Fat: 25g
Saturated Fat: 9g
Unsaturated Fat: 12g
Trans Fat: 0.5g
Carbohydrates: 36g
Fiber: 6g
Protein: 25g
Cholesterol: 75mg

Keywords: walking taco casserole, taco casserole, ground beef casserole, easy taco dinner, Mexican casserole, Fritos casserole, family dinner recipe