Description
Mexican-inspired walking taco casserole brings classic street fare into a comforting baked dish. Crispy chips, seasoned meat, and melted cheese create a crowd-pleasing meal perfect for family gatherings or casual dinners. You’ll savor each hearty bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) lean ground beef
- 3 cups Frito corn chips
- 2 cups (227 g) Mexican blend cheese, shredded
- 1 15 oz (425 g) can ranch style beans, drained
- 1 envelope taco seasoning mix
- 2 oz (57 g) cream cheese, cubed
- 1 10 oz (283 g) can rotel style tomatoes
- 1 jalapeno pepper (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Preparation: Warm the oven to 375°F and generously coat a casserole dish with non-stick spray to ensure easy release.
- Meat Preparation: Brown ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat, crumbling thoroughly until completely cooked, then drain excess fat and blend with taco seasoning for robust flavor.
- Filling Creation: Merge cream cheese, Rotel tomatoes, and Ranch-style beans into the seasoned beef, stirring until the mixture transforms into a creamy, harmonious filling.
- Layer Foundation: Spread the beef mixture evenly across the prepared casserole dish, creating a robust base layer for the subsequent ingredients.
- Crunchy Texture: Crush Frito corn chips and distribute generously over the beef mixture, establishing a crisp, textural foundation.
- Cheese Coverage: Sprinkle Mexican blend cheese comprehensively across the chip layer, ensuring complete and luxurious cheese coverage.
- Baking Process: Slide the casserole into the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes, monitoring until the cheese melts into a golden, bubbling surface.
- Final Touches: Remove from oven and optionally garnish with sliced jalapenos for an added flavor dimension.
- Serving Suggestion: Present immediately with classic taco accompaniments like shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, sour cream, green onions, and black olives for personalized enjoyment.
Notes
- Chip Selection Matters: Use fresh, crisp Fritos for maximum crunch and flavor; stale chips will compromise the texture of the entire casserole.
- Draining Technique: Thoroughly drain beef and beans to prevent excess liquid, ensuring a thick and rich consistency without making the dish watery.
- Cheese Melting Tip: Let cheese melt completely but watch closely to avoid burning; golden bubbles indicate perfect doneness without scorching.
- Spice Level Control: Adjust taco seasoning and jalapenos based on personal heat preference; can easily modify for family-friendly or spice-lover versions.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 497
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 1060 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg