Walking Taco Casserole
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If you're looking for a quick and easy meal that’s a real crowd-pleaser, Walking Taco Casserole is the perfect choice. It’s got all the cheesy flavor of a walking taco, but it's made in a cast iron skillet in just 30 minutes!
Quick and Easy Dinner!
- Simple Ingredients: a breeze to make, with simple ingredients and minimal prep.
- Comfort Food with a Twist: a hit with both kids and adults. The crunchy Fritos® chips, savory meat, and gooey cheese make it a favorite.
- Easy to Customize: load it up with tons of taco toppings ~ think sour cream, guac, salsa, and more. It's a taco bar in a casserole!
What's A Walking Taco?
A Walking Taco is like street food in a bag. You basically mix the ingredients of a taco inside of a small chip bag and eat it on the go.
This Walking Taco Casserole recipe takes that concept and turns it into an one-pan skillet dish that's great for weeknight meals. In just 30 minutes, dinner is served!
If you love Mexican-inspired dishes, you'll also like my easy Taco Pasta Salad or Cowboy Cornbread Casserole which is similar to a tamale pie. Be sure to try these Mexican Street Corn Fritters too!
Ingredient Notes
For quantities, please see the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Lean Ground Beef - I use a 90/10 blend, but you can use 85/15 if necessary
- Taco Seasoning- a store bought mix is great, but a homemade mix works too
- Black Beans - substitute pinto beans or kidney beans if preferred
- Salsa- I use Pace chunky salsa, but any brand or spice level will work
- Diced Green Chilies - leave out the chilies if you don't like spice
- Ground Cumin - this seasoning gives the recipe its earthy notes
- Garlic Powder - provides depth and flavor
- Smoked Paprika - adds smokiness and richness
- Corn Chips- I use Fritos® corn chips, but you can use Doritos or tortilla strips
- Colby Jack Cheese- substitute cheddar cheese, or a Mexican blend instead
- Optional Garnish - sour cream, tomatoes, cilantro and lettuce make great toppers!
Instructions
1 - Prep the Meat: In a 10-inch cast iron skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat. Drain excess fat if necessary.
2 - Add Seasoning: Add taco seasoning and water to the beef. Simmer for 5 minutes until water is mostly absorbed.
3 - Stir in Other Ingredients: Add drained black beans, salsa, diced green chilies, cumin, garlic powder, and smoked paprika. Simmer for 5 minutes.
4 - Add the Layers: Spread the beef mixture evenly in the skillet. Top with Fritos, then sprinkle cheese evenly over the top.
5 - Bake in 350ºF Oven: Bake for 15 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
6 - Garnish with Toppings: Remove casserole from oven and top with your choice of toppings.
Customize It!
- Load up on Toppings: Think sour cream, tomatoes, black olives, corn kernels, bell peppers, jalapeños, and pickled onions. Don’t forget the guacamole and hot sauce!
- BBQ Ranch Twist: Mix BBQ sauce and ranch dressing into your taco meat before layering it up. This combo gives the casserole a smoky, tangy flavor.
- Breakfast Entree: Who says tacos are just for dinner? Swap the taco meat for sausage, add some scrambled eggs, and top with tater tots and cheese.
What to Serve with Walking Taco Casserole
- Cornbread: A slice of southern cornbread adds a bit of comfort food and makes a great combo.
- Mexican Street Corn: Make this skillet street corn recipe that's slathered in mayo, chili powder, cheese, cilantro and lime juice.
- Margaritas: Finish it all off with a cold drink. A blueberry sriracha margarita will hit the spot and make dinner feel like a fiesta!
Tips for Success
1 - Crunch Control: Want to keep those chips nice and crispy? Hold off on adding the top layer of chips until the last 5 minutes of baking.
2 - Mix & Match Chips: Don’t be afraid to mix up the chips! A combo of Fritos and Doritos can add extra flavor and texture. Plus, it’s a great way to use up any half-empty bags hanging around.
3 - Prep Ahead: If you’re short on time, prep the casserole the night before. Just assemble everything except the top layer of chips, cover it, and pop it in the fridge. When it's time to bake, add the chips and cheese, and dinner’s ready in a flash!
Storing Leftovers
Got leftovers? Here’s how to store and enjoy your leftovers later:
- Cool It Down: Let the casserole cool down to room temp before you store it.
- Store in an Airtight Container: Transfer the leftovers to an airtight container or cover your casserole dish tightly with plastic wrap or foil.
- Fridge or Freezer:
- Fridge: Leftovers will keep in the fridge for about 3 days. Just reheat in the microwave or oven and dig in.
- Freezer: If you want to freeze the beef, make sure you wrap it in an airtight container to avoid freezer burn. It’ll last about 3 months in the freezer. When it's time to eat, thaw it in the fridge overnight and reheat.
- Bring Back the Crunch: When reheating, cover with foil to keep the moisture in, but if you miss that crispy chip topping, add a fresh handful of Fritos® chips on top for the last few minutes of baking to bring back that crunch.
Related Recipes
If you like this Walking Taco Casserole recipe, you're sure to love these other Mexican-inspired meals...
Recipe Card
Walking Taco Casserole
*See notes in blog post for detailed tips, photos and instructions.
Equipment
- cast iron skillet (or oven safe skillet)
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- ⅓ cup water
- 15 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup salsa
- 4 ounce can diced green chilies
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 cups Fritos corn chips
- 2 cups shredded Colby Jack cheese
- Optional Toppings: Chopped lettuce, diced tomatoes, sour cream, and additional Fritos.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a 10-inch cast iron skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat. Drain excess fat if necessary.
- Add taco seasoning and water to the beef. Simmer for 5 minutes until water is mostly absorbed.
- Stir in black beans, salsa, diced green chilies, cumin, garlic powder, and smoked paprika. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- Spread the beef mixture evenly in the skillet.
- Top with Fritos, then sprinkle cheese evenly over the top.
- Bake for 15 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Remove from oven and top with your choice of toppings.
Notes
- Mix & Match Chips: Don’t be afraid to mix up the chips! A combo of Fritos and Doritos can add extra flavor and texture. Plus, it’s a great way to use up any half-empty bags hanging around.
- Prep Ahead: If you’re short on time, prep the casserole the night before. Just assemble everything except the top layer of chips, cover it, and pop it in the fridge. When you’re ready to bake, add the chips and cheese, and dinner’s ready in a flash!
- Leftovers: Store components of this casserole in separate containers in the refrigerator if you are saving leftovers. They can stay in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is an auto generated estimate.
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Loved this quick and easy recipe — super easy and tasty! I had to use garbanzo beans instead of black beans and still came out great! Since my husband and son loved this dish, I will be adding it to our “favorites” list!
Thanks Lori! That's great to hear! I love it when folks add my recipes to their favorites. 🙂
I've always loved getting walking tacos at the ballgame concession stands. Love the idea of making dinner out of it.