Easy Taco Casserole
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
This taco casserole recipe is a super easy, flavorful Mexican-inspired dish with tender ground beef and all the best taco flavors, corn tortillas, and lots of cheese. It’s an ultimate, easy casserole for busy families in about 30 minutes.
If you love casseroles, try my Mexican Lasagna Skillet Casserole or Healthy Tamale Pie Mexican Casserole.
Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email, and we’ll send it to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get delicious new recipes from us every Friday!
Why this Taco Casserole Works!
This family-friendly taco casserole is tasty, delicious, and an easy recipe your people will love! It’s simple to make in about 30 minutes with only a handful of ingredients, and no chopping is needed.
Add your and their favorite toppings, and you’re good to go! Want to change up the ingredients? That’s easy, too!
Taco Casserole Ingredients
- Olive oil: For sauteing the ground meat
- Ground beef: I’m using lean ground beef, but feel free to substitute your favorite, like ground turkey or chicken.
- Corn tortillas: Use your favorite corn tortillas.
- Chili powder, garlic powder, ground cumin: Or you can substitute ready-made taco seasoning.
- Beans: I prefer black beans, but you could add a layer of refried beans or substitute your favorite bean instead!
- Corn: Both frozen and canned corn work equally well. If using canned corn, be sure to drain it before adding it to the casserole.
- Salsa – Use your favorite salsa (mild, medium, or spicy).
- Cheese – I love Mexican blend, but cheddar also works great.
Suggested toppings:
- Fresh halved cherry tomatoes
- Chopped cilantro and scallions
- Avocado or Guacamole
- Sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
How to Make Taco Casserole
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
Preheat the oven to 350. In a large skillet, saute the beef in the olive oil for about 5 minutes. Stir in the spices and cook for another 5 minutes. Stir in the corn, salsa, beans, and half the cheese. Continue to cook until the cheese melts.
Sauteed ground beef with spices.- Taco casserole filling ready for the casserole dish.
Place an even layer of torn corn tortillas in a 9 × 13 baking dish. Spoon the beef mixture over the top. Top the casserole with the remaining cheese, and then bake uncovered for about 15-20 minutes or until hot and melty! Serve as-is or with toppings of your choice.
Can taco casserole be made ahead?
Absolutely! Simply saute the beef and spices ahead of time and assemble the layers in the casserole dish. Let it cool completely, cover tightly, and refrigerate for 1-2 days. Because the casserole is cold, baking takes a few extra minutes.
What ingredient substitutions can I make?
- Corn Tortillas: Instead of corn tortillas, you can crush tortilla chips, like Doritos or Fritos, in this taco bake.
- Spices: You can use a ready-made taco seasoning blend instead of the spices.
- Vegetables: Because I wanted to make this recipe super easy, I opted not to add additional vegetables. If you prefer, add chopped peppers (mild or spicy) and a chopped onion.
How long will taco casserole keep?
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator in a covered container for up to 3 days.
- Reheat in the oven for the best results, but you can also microwave individual portions too.
- Freezing leftovers is a great option for future meals. Portion into individual sizes and freeze for quick meals.
More Southwestern recipes you’ll also love
- Chicken Tamale Casserole (Mexican Chicken Casserole)
- Mexican Shrimp Cocktail
- Easy Mexican Street Corn Dip
- Southwestern Chicken Quinoa Bake with Spinach
SAVE THIS AND PIN IT FOR LATER!
If you are not already, you can follow me on Pinterest and keep up with me on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. If you make this recipe, I would love it if you would tag me in your photos and leave a star rating below!
To be notified of new recipes, subscribe to my e-mail list. It’s free, and you’ll also receive a free e-book of our reader’s favorite recipes.
Easy Mexican Casserole
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste– salsa can be salty, so you may not need extra salt)
- 10 corn tortillas torn
- 1 14 ounce can black beans drained and rinsed
- 2 cups frozen corn (or canned corned drained)
- 1 16 ounce jar salsa (2 cups of salsa)
- 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend or use cheddar divided
- Toppings optional: tomatoes, cilantro, scallions, avocado, black olives, sour cream, lettuce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F and set the rack to the middle position.
- Add oil and ground beef to a large skillet and cook for about 5 minutes, breaking up the meat as it cooks. Stir in the chili powder, cumin, salt (if using), and garlic powder, and cook for another 5 minutes.
- Then, stir in the beans, corn, salsa, and half of the cheese. Cook for another minute or until the cheese melts.
- In a casserole dish, layer the torn pieces of corn tortillas in the bottom.
- Spoon the beef mixture evenly over the tortillas. Top with remaining cheese and bake, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes. While the casserole is baking, prep the toppings.
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.