Description
Mexican-inspired walking taco casserole blends convenient comfort with zesty flavors for easy weeknight dinners. Layers of seasoned ground beef, crispy chips, and melted cheese create a crowd-pleasing meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1.5 pounds Ground Beef
- 16 ounces Salsa
Vegetables and Seasonings:
- 1/3 large Onion, chopped
- 1 can Green Chilies, small can
- 1/2 cup Tomato, fresh, diced
- 3/4 cup Lettuce, shredded
Dairy and Chips:
- 1 can Enchilada Sauce
- 2 ounces Cream Cheese
- 1 bag Shredded Cheese
- 8 ounces Sour Cream
- 1 bag Fritos Corn Chips
Instructions
- Sauté ground beef with diced onions in a large skillet over medium-high heat until meat is thoroughly cooked and onions are translucent, approximately 7-8 minutes.
- Incorporate green chilies, enchilada sauce, and cream cheese into the beef mixture, stirring until ingredients are fully integrated and cream cheese melts completely.
- Preheat oven to 350°F and prepare a 9×13-inch baking dish by creating a foundational layer of Fritos chips across the entire bottom surface.
- Spread the seasoned beef mixture evenly over the chip layer, ensuring complete coverage and consistent distribution.
- Generously sprinkle shredded cheese across the entire casserole surface, creating a uniform cheese blanket.
- Transfer the assembled casserole to the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, monitoring until cheese becomes golden and bubbling.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 3-5 minutes to allow flavors to settle and casserole to stabilize.
- Serve individual portions and customize with optional toppings like fresh chopped lettuce, diced tomatoes, zesty salsa, and creamy sour cream according to personal preference.
Notes
- Customize the meat by using ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a lighter, healthier version that’s just as delicious.
- Prep ahead by browning the beef and mixing ingredients the night before, making weeknight dinner a breeze.
- For a gluten-free option, ensure you use gluten-free Fritos and double-check all sauce ingredients to keep the dish celiac-friendly.
- Control the spice level by choosing mild green chilies or adding jalapeños for extra kick, letting everyone enjoy their perfect heat preference.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg