Easy Beef Taco Casserole
This Beef Taco Casserole is an easy and delicious way to enjoy flavorful meals all week long! It’s cheesy, ooey-gooey, and filled with crispy chips and taco-flavored beef grounds. It’s the perfect one-pot dish for everyone in the family (even picky eaters!).
Servings: 4 people
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 1 10- ounce can diced tomatoes & green chilies
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 2-3 cups tortilla chips, Fritos, or Doritos
- 8 ounces pepper jack cheese, shredded*
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the ground beef and diced onion. Sauté until the beef is mostly browned and the onion is tender.1 pound lean ground beef, 1 yellow onion, diced
- Stir in the tomatoes and taco seasoning. Simmer the mixture until it thickens slightly, then turn off the heat.1 10- ounce can diced tomatoes & green chilies, 1 packet taco seasoning
- Spread the ground beef mixture into an even layer.
- Spread about half of the cheese over the meat mixture. Then, spread the tortilla chips evenly over the meat mixture. (Note: For crispier tortilla chips, do not add them before baking. Instead, layer all of the cheese on top of the beef mixture and sprinkle tortilla chips over each serving after plating.)8 ounces pepper jack cheese, shredded*, 2-3 cups tortilla chips, Fritos, or Doritos
- Finally, add the remaining cheese on top of the tortilla chips.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 5-10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Notes
- Leave the chips off until the end. I recommend adding this easy taco casserole recipe without chips for a crispier dish. This also allows you to enjoy the leftovers more, as the chips won’t be soggy later.
- Drain the ground beef grease. Once you've browned the meat for this beef taco casserole, I recommend draining the grease before adding the tomatoes. Otherwise, you'll have an overly oily layer in the prepared baking dish.
- Try different flavors of Doritos or Fritos on top – Don’t be afraid to experiment with this beef taco casserole recipe. You can use any type of Doritos, Fritos, or tortilla chips you wish to create a yummy topping.
- Use other taco meat – If you want a lighter casserole, consider using ground turkey or chicken instead of ground beef. Pork also works well in this recipe.
- Include rotisserie chicken - If you want to shave a few minutes off this recipe, you can use shredded rotisserie chicken instead of ground beef. Remember to remove the skin when using this swap.
- Add fresh veggies on top—For extra nutrients, try adding chopped veggies like lettuce, onions, and tomatoes.
Nutrition
Calories: 663kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 43g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 121mg | Sodium: 633mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g