This Baked Walking Taco Casserole is the easiest one pot mexican dinner idea and it is loaded with flavor from the taco seasoning, green chiles, and enchilada sauce. And the best part is all of the fritos and melted cheese on top. SO good.
If you love Mexican comfort food, try my Easy Chicken Enchiladas with Green Sauce.
Looking for another one pot dinner with chicken? Try my cajun style creamy One Pot Chicken & Rice.
Table of Contents
Highlights
- Easy one pot hearty dinner
- Kid friendly
- Extra crunch from the fritos on top
- Upgraded take on a classic
- Turns 1 pound of meat into 6 servings (cost effective)
Ingredients
- Ground Beef: Substitute ground turkey or chicken.
- Taco Seasoning: My favorite kind is the mild taco seasoning by Simply Organic. It is sold at Whole Foods.
- Beef Broth: Substitute chicken broth.
- Fritos: Substitute tortilla chips.
- Colby Jack: Substitute monterey jack or cheddar.
Complete list of ingredients and amounts is located on the recipe card below.
Instructions
before you start
- Make sure you are using a skillet that is stove and oven safe. Some nonstick skillets are and most enameled cast iron is.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Step 1: In a large oven safe skillet with lid, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the ground beef and onion. Cook until beef is brown, stirring frequently.
Step 2: Reduce heat to medium. Stir in salt, taco seasoning, garlic, and paprika. Cook for 1-2 to minutes until fragrant.
Step 3: Add the enchilada sauce, broth, green chiles, and rice. Bring to a boil. Cover and cook on low for 15-20 minutes or until the rice has absorbed most of the liquid. Remove from heat and stir in the sour cream.
Step 4: Sprinkle about half of the cheese on top.
TIP – After you bring the liquid to a boil, be sure to turn down the heat to the lowest setting. You do not want the bottom to burn.
TIP – The rice does not need to have absorbed all of the liquid. It will continue to do so in the oven.
Step 5: Then add a layer of fritos and finish the top with the rest of the cheese.
Step 6: Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Garnish with lettuce, cilantro, tomato, and pickled jalapeños if desired.
Expert Tips
- If you are sensitive to heat, be sure the taco seasoning and enchilada sauce you buy is mild. This dish is not meant to be spicy.
- Make sure you are using a skillet that is stove and oven safe. Some nonstick skillets are and most enameled cast iron is.
- Whenever you reduce the heat to low and cover the rice and meat, be sure the burner is on the lowest setting. This ensures the bottom does not burn.
- Don’t forget about the garnish. I think adding some fresh veggies on top really brightens up this dish. At a minimum I recommend some crisp lettuce.
FAQs
Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. The fritos will get soggy so it is best served fresh. But I personally still think it is tasty leftover.
A walking taco is traditionally a taco made in a mini bag of fritos. So you open your individual size frito bag, add ground meat, and all the taco fixing. You eat it with a fork so it is perfect for on the go. Also known as frito pies
Yes, just be sure the corn chips are gluten free. Tortilla chips will also work.
If you garnish the dish with lettuce, tomatoes, cilantro, and jalapeños, I think the casserole is a complete meal on its own.
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Baked Walking Taco Casserole Recipe with Enchilada Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef*
- 1 onion diced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 packet taco seasoning*
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1 3/4 cup (15 ounces) red enchilada sauce
- 2 cups beef broth*
- 1 can (7 ounces) mild green chiles
- 1 cup white rice
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2-3 cups fritos*
- 8 ounces colby jack shredded*
Garnish
- lettuce cilantro, tomato, sour cream, or jalapeños
Instructions
- Review all recipe notes and instructions before beginning.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- In a large oven safe skillet with lid, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the ground beef and onion. Cook until beef is brown, stirring frequently.
- Reduce heat to medium. Stir in salt, taco seasoning, garlic, and paprika. Cook for 1-2 to minutes until fragrant.
- Add the enchilada sauce, broth, green chiles, and rice. Bring to a boil. Cover and cook on low for 15-20 minutes or until the rice has absorbed most of the liquid. Remove from heat and stir in the sour cream.
- Sprinkle about half of the cheese on top.
- Then add a layer of fritos and finish the top with the rest of the cheese.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Garnish with lettuce, cilantro, tomato, and pickled jalapeños if desired.
- After you bring the liquid to a boil, be sure to turn down the heat to the lowest setting. You do not want the bottom to burn.
- The rice does not need to have absorbed all of the liquid. It will continue to do so in the oven.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I think you left out when to add the rice. Making this now.
Thanks for mentioning that! I fixed the recipe. Enjoy!!
Made this tonight and the flavor is excellent. However, in the printed recipe it doesn’t say when to add the rice…only in your description beforehand. Also, when do you add the paprika and garlic. Is it used as a sprinkle on top or stirred into the enchilada mixture? It’s in the ingredients list, but the recipe doesn’t say when to add it. I left it out because I already had the skillet in the oven when I noticed it back up in the ingredient list..
Hello Mary! So sorry for the confusion. I updated the instructions. I typically stir it in with the other spices. I am glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Oh my word! I need this in my life.
Yes you do!
Perfect timing! We are having Taco Tuesday at home tonight, and this walking taco casserole is on the menu. Can’t wait to try it!
Awesome! Enjoy!!
Brilliant!! I’ll definitely be making this for Taco Tuesday!
Awesome!
Oh, my goodness, so delicious. I had just thawed some ground beef and wasn’t sure what to make with it. This turned out so good that I’m going to make it again this weekend too. I need to pick up some avocado for on the side. My mouth is watering already.
So happy to hear that you enjoyed it!
My kids loved this meal! They literally devoured it with not a crumb left! Thanks for the recipe!
Yay!!
I love tacos and this one pot recipe looks like it’s right up my alley. I love the idea and can’t wait to make this. Thanks for the recipe.
Hope you enjoy!
The bag walking tacos are very popular at my work (oil rig) since there are no lunch breaks. Definitely an easy eat while you work food. This recipe sounds a lot better than the quick ones we do (Fritos, meat, hot sauce). Can’t wait to try it and step up my taco game! Thanks so much for sharing!
This look like a great recipe for a busy weeknight. You can never have enough recipes for ground beef!
Definitely!
Honestly, it cannot get any better than this ?