Description
Comfort meets convenience in this Walking Taco Casserole, a crowd-pleasing dish that combines classic Mexican-inspired flavors with hearty Midwestern appeal. Layers of crispy chips, seasoned ground beef, and melted cheese create a delicious one-pan meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1.5 pounds (680 grams) ground beef
- 3 ounces (85 grams) cream cheese
Produce and Seasonings:
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 1 can green chilis
- 1 Roma tomato, chopped
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 1/2 cups shredded lettuce
Cheese and Chips:
- 1 cup shredded taco blend cheese
- 2/3 cups Fritos corn chips
Garnish:
- Salsa
- Sour cream
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350°F (175°C), preparing an oven-safe skillet for layering.
- Sauté ground beef and onions in the skillet over medium-high heat until meat is thoroughly browned and onions turn translucent.
- Incorporate taco seasoning, green chilis, and cream cheese into the meat mixture, stirring continuously until cream cheese melts completely and blends seamlessly.
- Evenly distribute Fritos corn chips across the beef mixture, creating a crunchy base layer.
- Sprinkle shredded taco blend cheese generously over the corn chips, ensuring full coverage.
- Transfer skillet directly into preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes, watching for cheese to melt and become golden and bubbly.
- Once baked, carefully remove skillet from oven and immediately garnish with fresh, crisp shredded lettuce and diced tomatoes.
- Complete the dish by adding dollops of salsa and sour cream on top, creating a vibrant and flavorful presentation ready to serve.
Notes
- Prep skillet selection matters for seamless oven-to-table transfer, ensuring a crispy chip layer and even cheese melting.
- Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for lighter, diet-friendly protein alternatives.
- Consider using low-fat cream cheese and reduced-fat cheese to create a healthier version without sacrificing flavor.
- Fresh ingredients like homemade salsa or diced cilantro can elevate the casserole’s taste and add vibrant color and texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 587
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 823 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 115 mg