Description
This taco bake casserole layers seasoned meat, tortillas or tortilla chips, salsa, and melted cheese to capture all the flavor of tacos in one easy, hearty dish.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef or turkey
- 1 packet taco seasoning (or 2 tablespoons homemade equivalent)
- 6–8 small flour or corn tortillas, or 4 cups crushed tortilla chips
- 2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Mexican blend)
- 1 cup salsa
- Optional: 1 cup black beans
- Optional: 1 cup corn kernels
- Optional toppings: ½ cup sour cream, ½ cup diced tomatoes, ¼ cup chopped cilantro, ½ avocado sliced
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 °F (190 °C) and lightly grease a 9×13‑inch baking dish.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef or turkey until no pink remains. Drain excess grease. Stir in the taco seasoning and a splash of water, and simmer 2‑3 minutes.
- Spread a thin layer of salsa across the bottom of the prepared dish. Layer the tortillas or crushed chips over the salsa. Spoon half of the cooked meat mixture evenly over that layer, then sprinkle with about one‑half of the shredded cheese.
- Repeat with the remaining tortillas/chips, meat, and finish with the remaining shredded cheese on top.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake another 10–15 minutes until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden.
- Let the casserole rest for about 5 minutes before slicing. Serve with optional toppings such as sour cream, diced tomatoes, avocado slices, and chopped cilantro.
Notes
- Use tortilla chips or lightly toasted tortillas for extra crunch and to prevent sogginess. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
- This recipe is very flexible—see the variations section to swap proteins, go low‑carb, or make it ahead. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
- Brown the meat and simmer with seasoning so the flavor develops well before layering. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
- Prep ahead by cooking the meat in advance and assembling just before baking; the texture holds up well. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baked (Casserole)
- Cuisine: Tex‑Mex / American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: ≈ 450 kcal
- Cholesterol: undefined
