Walking Taco Casseroleis the perfect combination of a taco and “walking taco” baked into one delicious meal. This casserole starts with a bottom layer of seasoned ground beef, cream cheese, Rotel tomatoes, and beans, which is covered with crunchy Frito corn chips, and melty Mexican blend cheese. Then top with your favorite taco toppings such as lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream and jalapeños for an easy and crowd-pleasing meal. Excellent for weeknights or informal dinners, this dish is as simple to prepare as it is comforting!
Why You’re Going to Love This Walking Taco Casserole:
Family-Friendly: This dish is fun to eat and simple to personalize, so it’s a guaranteed winner with all ages.
Quick & Easy: This casserole comes together in less than an hour, thanks to pantry staples, so it makes for great weeknight cooking.
Great for Parties: Toppings to be built into their own “taco bowl,” so no fuss creating individual tacos.
Balanced Texture: Between the crunchy Fritos and creamy, cheesy ground beef and Rotel tomatoes, you get a very nice texture contrast.
Key Ingredients:
Ground Beef: Use a lean ground beef so that the casserole skips the grease while keeping all of the flavor. For a lighter option, swap in ground turkey or chicken.
Taco Seasoning: A packet of taco seasoning provides that classic taco flavor, though if you prefer, you can mix up your own blend of chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder and onion powder.
Cream Cheese: Provides a rich, creamy texture to the beef mixture, helping it all come together beautifully.
Rotel tomatoes: These tomatoes with green chilies provide a mild heat and another layer of flavor. Opt for the “mild” version if you want less heat, or you can replace with a can of diced tomatoes for a milder version.
Ranch-Style Beans: These beans add a smoky, seasoned flavor. If you cannot find these beans, use pinto or black beans instead with a sprinkle of your favorite seasoning for an extra kick.
Frito Corn Chips: You get a crunchy taste in every bite with Fritos. In a pinch, you can use tortilla chips, but the flavor of Fritos is really special and goes so nicely with the taco seasoning.
Mexican Blend Cheese: This blend of cheeses works really well when melted and gives the top layer a well balanced cheesy finish. If you’re in the mood, feel free to substitute cheddar or Monterey Jack.
Full ingredients list with quantities and method is in the recipe card below
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How To make Walking Taco Casserole:
Step 1: Prepare the Casserole
Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to heat at 375°F (190°C) so that the casserole has an even bake.
Prep the Casserole: To make serving and cleanup a breeze, spray a 2-quart casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray.
Step 2: Cook the Ground Beef
Brown the meat: Add 1 pound of lean ground beef to a large skillet over medium heat and cook and crumble until no longer pink, about 6-8 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
Season the Beef; Add 1 envelope of taco seasoning mix and stir to combine, making the beef taste rich, taco-inspired.
Step 3: Add to Beef Mixture
Stir in cubed cream cheese (2 ounces), Rotel tomatoes (1 (10-ounce) can), and Ranch-style beans (1 (15-ounce) can, drained). Stir until melted and well combined.
Step 4: Build the Casserole Layers
Layer the Casserole: Place the beef mixture evenly over the bottom of a prepared 2-quart casserole dish to create the base layer.
Add Frito Layer: Spread 3 cups of the Frito corn chips evenly over the beef mixture to create a crunchy layer.
Add Your Cheese: For your top layer, add 2 cups of Mexican blend cheese over top of the Fritos.
Step 5: Bake the Casserole
Bake: Transfer the casserole to the preheated oven and bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly, and golden on top, about 15 minutes.
Step 6: Garnish and Serve
To garnish: Once you remove the casserole from the oven, top with sliced jalapenos if you’d like.
Cater the Toppings: Provide toppings for things like shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sour cream, sliced green onions and black olives, and allow each family member to make their dinner their own. Enjoy!
Serving Suggestions:
This Walking Taco Casserole is a full meal on its own, but you could level up your offering with some sides and drinks that fit the Tex-Mex vibe.
Mexican Rice or Cilantro Lime Rice — Serve next to the casserole for a heartier meal.
Refried Beans or Black Beans: For a classic side, serve refried beans, or black beans seasoned with cumin and fresh lime juice.
Fresh Guacamole: This bowl of guacamole adds creaminess that pairs perfectly with the casserole.
Beverages: Serve with a lime agua fresca, made with sparkling water, still, or a sparkling mocktail for a festive touch.
Storage & Meal Prep Tips:
This casserole is a wonder for leftovers, and it can be prepared ahead of time and frozen, to be defrosted for an easy meal down the road.
Refrigerator: Leftover casserole can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or at 350°F in the oven until heated through.
To freeze: If making for the freezer, assemble the casserole without the Fritos and cheese on top. Seal tightly with foil and freeze for up to 2 months. When ready to bake, toss in the Fritos and cheese and cook from frozen at 375°F for 25-30 minutes.
Make-Ahead: The casserole can be fully assembled a day ahead (but not baked). Cover and refrigerate, then bake as directed when ready to eat.
Delicious Variations:
Want to make your Walking Taco Casserole your own? Here are a few ideas to customize it to your liking:
Chicken Walking Taco Casserole: Use shredded or diced cooked chicken breast in place of the ground beef, and ditch the taco seasoning packet for a ranch seasoning mix for a new twist on flavor.
Vegetarian Taco Casserole: Swap in plant-based crumbles for the ground beef, or sub in extra beans (black beans or kidney beans are good options). For an extra flavor pop, add some corn kernels.
Spicy Kick: Stir chopped jalapenos or a dash of crushed red pepper flakes into the beef mixture for extra heat.
Supreme Style: Add a layer of refried beans in between the beef mixture and the Fritos for a creamy variation.
Breakfast Walking Taco Casserole: Substitute the ground beef for breakfast sausage and add scrambled eggs to the mixture before piling on the Fritos and cheese. Perfect for a weekend brunch!
Conclusion:
This Walking Taco Casserole is the best fun, family-friendly meal. It’s simple to make, endlessly customizable and delivers that gratifying crunch in every bite from the Fritos. It is great for busy weeknights or when you have guests because everybody will want seconds!
Have fun creating this tasty take on a taco tradition!
Walking Taco Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 envelope taco seasoning mix
- 2 ounces cream cheese cubed
- 1 10-ounce can Rotel style tomatoes
- 1 15-ounce can Ranch style beans drained
- 3 cups Frito corn chips
- 2 cups Mexican blend cheese shredded
- 1 jalapeno pepper optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and spray a 2-quart casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook and crumble 1 pound of ground beef until no longer pink, about 6-8 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed, then add the taco seasoning mix and stir to combine.
- Stir in the cubed cream cheese, Rotel tomatoes, and drained Ranch-style beans. Stir until the cream cheese is melted and all ingredients are well combined.
- Spread the beef mixture evenly in the casserole dish. Add a layer of Frito corn chips over the beef, then sprinkle with the shredded Mexican blend cheese.
- Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Remove the casserole from the oven and garnish with sliced jalapenos if desired. Serve with additional toppings such as shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, sour cream, green onions, and black olives.