Description
Hearty Midwest Walking Taco Casserole brings classic comfort to dinner tables with bold Mexican-inspired flavors. Crispy Doritos, seasoned ground beef, and melted cheese create a crowd-pleasing dish you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (454 grams) lean ground beef
- 3 cups Frito corn chips
- 2 cups (227 grams) Mexican blend cheese (shredded)
- 1 15-ounce (425 grams) can ranch style beans (drained)
Seasoning and Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 envelope taco seasoning mix
- 2 ounces (57 grams) cream cheese (cubed)
- 1 10-ounce (283 grams) can rotel style tomatoes
Garnish:
- 1 jalapeno pepper (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the oven by heating to 375°F and coating a casserole dish with non-stick spray to prevent sticking.
- In a large skillet, thoroughly cook ground beef over medium heat, breaking it into small crumbles until no pink remains and the meat is evenly browned.
- Drain any excess fat from the beef, then integrate taco seasoning, ensuring the meat is completely coated with the spicy mixture.
- Incorporate cream cheese cubes, Rotel tomatoes, and drained Ranch-style beans into the seasoned beef, stirring until the cream cheese melts and creates a smooth, combined filling.
- Transfer the beef mixture to the prepared casserole dish, spreading it evenly across the bottom to create a uniform base layer.
- Crush Frito corn chips and distribute them generously over the beef mixture, creating a crunchy texture layer.
- Liberally sprinkle Mexican blend cheese over the chip layer, ensuring complete coverage for maximum cheesy goodness.
- Slide the casserole into the preheated oven and bake for approximately 15 minutes, watching for the cheese to melt completely and develop a golden, bubbly surface.
- Once baked, carefully remove the casserole from the oven and enhance with optional sliced jalapenos for an extra kick.
- Serve immediately, accompanied by classic taco toppings like shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, sour cream, green onions, and black olives to customize individual servings.
Notes
- Prep in advance: This casserole can be assembled earlier in the day and refrigerated, then baked just before serving for a quick weeknight meal.
- Customize toppings: Mix and match your favorite nacho or taco toppings to create a personalized flavor experience that suits your taste buds.
- Chip alternatives: Substitute Fritos with tortilla chips, corn chips, or even crushed tortilla strips for a different textural crunch.
- Spice control: Adjust the heat level by choosing mild or hot taco seasoning, and remove seeds from jalapeños to reduce spiciness.
- Make it lighter: Use lean ground turkey or ground chicken instead of beef to reduce calories and fat content while maintaining delicious flavor.
- Storage tip: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, though chips may lose some crispness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg