Easy Taco Casserole
Published 8/6/2020
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This Easy Taco Casserole is a fan favorite, and a great way to jazz up taco night! It’s a one-pot meal the whole family will love.
One Pot Meals
This taco casserole is truly make completely in one pot! A cast iron skillet to be exact. Not only can you sauté the meat and veggies in it, then you can pop the whole darn thing in the oven and bake it to perfection.
When it comes to a casseroles, we love making it a well-rounded meal. That usually means pairing a source of protein with veggies and a grain (or in this recipe — tortilla chips!). And, of course, can’t forget the shredded cheese!
How to Make Taco Casserole
This easy taco casserole comes together in a few simple steps, and in under an hour you’ll be off to taco night perfection.
Saute Ground Beef
Place ground beef in a large cast-iron pan and sauté for 3-5 minutes to partially cook. Then, remove from heat and set aside.
Saute Onion and Bell Pepper
Next, in the grease from the beef, sauté minced yellow onion and diced red pepper for 3-4 minutes or until the onion is translucent.
Add it all back in + layer up!
Add the beef back in and then add green chiles, taco seasoning, and salsa. Sauté for 1-2 more minutes to bring the liquid to a bubble. Pro tip: use our homemade taco seasoning for the most delicious taco flavor ever 😀
Turn the burner off and layer on black beans, sweet corn, and tortilla chips. Then, sprinkle on shredded cheese.
Bake til cheese is melty
Bake casserole at 350ºF for 10 minutes or until cheese is fully melted.
What to Serve with Taco Casserole
This easy taco casserole is truly a meal in itself, but we love topping it with some of our taco night inspired faves:
- Greek yogurt
- Guacamole or sliced avocado
- Salsa
- Cilantro
- Squeeze of fresh lime
Easy Taco Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 lb. 85% ground beef
- 1/2 small yellow onion, minced
- 1 large red pepper, finely diced
- 1 4.5-oz. can green chiles
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 1/2 cup salsa
- 1 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and strained
- 1 15-oz. can sweet corn, rinsed and strained
- 2-4 cups tortilla chips
- 8 oz. Mexican shredded cheese
Instructions
- Place ground beef in a large cast iron pan and sauté for 3-5 minutes to partially cook. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Next, in the grease from the beef, sauté yellow onion and red pepper for 3-4 minutes or until the onion is translucent.
- Add the beef back in and then add green chiles, taco seasoning, and salsa. Sauté for 1-2 more minutes to bring the liquid to a bubble.
- Turn the burner off and layer on black beans, sweet corn, and tortilla chips. Then, sprinkle on shredded cheese.
- Bake casserole at 350ºF for 10 minutes or until cheese is fully melted.
Tips & Notes
- Casserole dish: option to build your taco casserole in a casserole dish if you don’t have a cast-iron pan. Simply follow the directions for cooking the meat, but once it’s cooked, transfer into your casserole dish and go from there.
- This recipe was updated on August 1, 2020.
Watch It
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Yah literally just throw stuff in a casserole dish and mix it all up. Throw some cheese on top and you’ve got yourself one hell of a casserole.
Found this recipe cross-posted over at MyFitnessPal. Wow! What a crowd pleaser! I made half without the seasoning or salsa, for my wife and daughter. My son and I both love hot food. So it was two pots instead of one, but I’m not complaining. Everybody loved it, and they want it again! I served it with soft corn tortillas. Maybe next time I’ll try shells.
YAY! So glad the entire family LOVED this recipe. It’s one of my favorites!
How well does this freeze?
Hey Sara! I have no idea because I haven’t tried! Would you be freezing before or after cooking?
I was thinking after cooking it
Can you make this with ground chicken??
Yes absolutely!
Oh my goodness, this looks delicious! I’m definitely making this! thanks for sharing!
A healthier option for a family favorite
Should you brown the ground beef first?
No! You cook everything raw!
I am not sure why, but I never thought to cook ground turkey in the oven!! I am making this tonight… pretty pumped! 🙂
This is such a great, weeknight family meal, love this!
Thanks MATT! Just pinned like your whole site. Ooops.
This looks amazing & so easy!!
Geebuz this is epic. You should see the number of bowls used when I had taco nights back in Melbourne…1 for guac, 1 for corn, 1 for beans, 1 for..you get it. Now I can make this, be like…. deal with it and have no mess.
Ice cream casserole? Gelato casserole?
Ice Cream Casserole?! Like baked in the oven kind of casserole?! #youcray
When I’ve read the recipe I had to think of “Mexican lasagna without noodles” 😀 I mean, it’s ground meat (salsa as sauce) and cheese in top. I love the simplicity of this! I think is make this with a while lot of veggies instead of beans and corn, like bell pepper, carrot, celery… Yum!
I’ve never had tacos though!! Mexican food is not that common and popular here. I have no idea what to make a casserole dish out of, I can be so uncreative! But first thing that comes to my mind right now: sushi casserole?? Haha!
Yes I wish I would have added sweet potato! Sushi casserole?!?!?!?!?! Okay now that’s a challenge.