Description

Walking Taco Casserole is a tasty, satisfying dish that brings together the familiar flavors of a walking taco in a cozy baked casserole. With layers of seasoned ground beef, salsa, crushed tortilla chips, and gooey cheese, it forms a delicious meal that everyone will love. It’s ideal for dinner, potlucks, or parties and is incredibly simple to make.

Ingredients

Scale

1 lb ground beef

1 onion, chopped

1 packet taco seasoning

1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes, drained

1 can (4 oz) diced green chilies

1 cup salsa

1 bag (10 oz) tortilla chips, crushed

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup chopped green onions

1/2 cup sliced black olives (optional)

1/2 cup shredded lettuce (for garnish)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
Cook the beef: In a large skillet, brown the ground beef and chopped onion over medium heat until the beef is fully cooked and the onion is soft. Drain excess fat.
Add seasonings: Stir in the taco seasoning, diced tomatoes, green chilies, and salsa. Cook for another 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together. Remove from heat.
Assemble the casserole: In a 9×13 inch baking dish, spread a layer of crushed tortilla chips on the bottom. Top with the beef mixture, spreading it evenly over the chips.
Add cheese: Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the beef mixture.
Bake: Place the casserole in the oven and bake for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Serve: Once baked, remove from the oven and top with sour cream, green onions, black olives (if using), and shredded lettuce. Serve hot.

Notes

To make a lighter version, you can replace the ground beef with ground turkey or chicken.
To make it spicier, add sliced jalapeños or a few dashes of hot sauce to the beef mixture.
You can prepare this dish ahead of time by assembling it and refrigerating it before baking. Simply bake when ready to serve.
For a crunchier texture, set aside some crushed tortilla chips and sprinkle them on top of the casserole right before serving.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Main Dish
Method: Baked
Cuisine: American, Mexican

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 350
Sugar: 3g
Sodium: 800mg
Fat: 18g
Saturated Fat: 7g
Unsaturated Fat: 7g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 30g
Fiber: 4g
Protein: 20g
Cholesterol: 50mg