Description
Sizzling Easy Taco Casserole delivers Mexican-inspired comfort directly to dinner tables with layers of zesty ground beef, crispy Fritos, and melted cheese. Hearty, quick, and irresistible, this crowd-pleasing dish will become your new weeknight favorite for satisfying hungry families.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 ounce taco seasoning packet
Vegetables and Beans:
- 1 small onion
- 10 ounces Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies
- 15 ounces black beans
- 1 cup frozen corn
Cheese, Chips, and Sauce:
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 3 cups Fritos corn chips
- 10 ounces enchilada sauce
- 0.5 cups sour cream
Optional Garnishes:
- Green onions
- Diced tomatoes
- Cilantro
- Jalapeños
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 350°F, creating an ideal cooking environment for the casserole.
- Heat a large skillet and thoroughly cook ground beef until no pink remains, carefully draining accumulated fat.
- Incorporate taco seasoning, diced tomatoes, black beans, and tomato sauce into the beef, allowing flavors to meld during a 5-minute gentle simmer.
- Create a crunchy foundation by layering half the Fritos across the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cascade the savory beef mixture evenly over the Fritos, ensuring complete coverage.
- Generously blanket the beef layer with shredded cheddar cheese, promising a melty, gooey texture.
- Crown the casserole with the remaining Fritos, providing a crisp, golden topping.
- Transfer the dish to the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes until cheese transforms into a bubbling, golden landscape.
- Remove from oven and garnish with optional toppings like cool sour cream or creamy guacamole for added zest.
Notes
- Crush Fritos slightly before layering to create a more even, crunchy base that absorbs the juicy beef mixture better.
- Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a lighter, healthier alternative that maintains the dish’s rich flavor profile.
- Add diced jalapeños or green chiles for an extra kick of heat and complexity, perfect for spice lovers who want to elevate the casserole’s taste.
- Prepare the casserole ahead of time and refrigerate before baking, allowing flavors to meld and making weeknight dinner preparation super quick and convenient.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 538 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 750 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 39 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg