Description
A fun, family‑friendly casserole that brings all the flavors of walking tacos into an easy one‑dish meal with seasoned ground beef, beans (optional), crunchy corn chips and melted cheese.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons canola or neutral oil
- 1 large white or yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound ground beef (80/20 or lean)
- 1 packet (1 oz) taco seasoning
- 1 (15‑ounce) can pinto or black beans, drained and rinsed (optional)
- 1 (10‑ounce) can RO*TEL Original Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies
- 1 cup thick chunky salsa
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 ½–2 cups shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
- 1 (9–9.25 ounce) bag corn chips such as Fritos
- Optional toppings: sour cream, pickled jalapeños, scallions, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C).
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat; sauté onion until soft, about 5–6 minutes, then add garlic and cook 1 minute.
- Add ground beef; cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon, about 6–8 minutes.
- Stir in taco seasoning, beans (if using), RO*TEL and salsa; simmer 8–10 minutes to blend flavors. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Transfer mixture to a 9×13‑inch casserole dish and spread evenly.
- Sprinkle with cheese and press corn chips gently over the top.
- Bake 10–15 minutes until cheese is melted and casserole is hot.
- Top with optional sour cream, jalapeños, scallions, lettuce or tomatoes, then serve.
Notes
- Use black beans instead of pintos if preferred and check bean seasoning for added salt.
- For a lighter version, substitute ground turkey or chicken.
- Add extra toppings like diced tomatoes, cilantro, or guacamole for extra flavor.
- To make ahead, prepare the meat mixture up to 2 days ahead and refrigerate; add chips and bake when ready.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 of 6 servings
- Calories: 629 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 1303 mg
- Fat: 39 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: —
- Trans Fat: —
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 29 g
- Cholesterol: 81 mg
