This walking taco casserole combines the best of two worlds, the taco and the casserole. Layered with seasoned ground beef, melted Mexican cheese and crunchy Fritos corn chips, this easy recipe is perfect for Taco Tuesday, Cinco de Mayo or any busy weeknight.
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Why You Will Love This Recipe:
- It takes less than 30 minutes to prepare.
- This recipe is easily customizable with many options for toppings.
- This meal can be made ahead of time.
Watch How To Make This Recipe Here!
Q&A:
A walking taco casserole is a taco bake that includes ground beef, Mexican spices and cheese. It is a spin off of the walking taco in which you open a snacked sized Fritos or Doritos chip bag and fill it with taco meat and toppings. The walking taco is a very popular party food, especially here in the Midwest.
Equipment Needed:
- 9x13 Casserole Baking Dish
- A Large Skillet
- Stirring Spoon or Spatula
Ingredients:
- Olive Oil
- Ground Beef
- Yellow Onion - you can also use white, sweet or red
- Taco Seasoning - 1oz package of your favorite store bought taco seasoning
- Restaurant Style Salsa
- Cream Cheese
- Black Beans
- Corn
- Fritos Corn Chips - you can also use Doritos, Chili Cheese Fritos or tortilla chips
- Shredded Cheese
- Shredded Lettuce
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Sour Cream
- Black Olives
- Scallions
Pro Tips
- Soften the cream cheese before mixing it into the ground beef. Cold cream cheese does not blend well. I soften my cream cheese in the microwave. To do this, be sure to remove all packaging from the cream cheese, place it on a microwave safe dish, and microwave it for 10 seconds . You can also soften the cream cheese by removing it from the fridge and letting it reach room temperature 30 minutes before you plan on cooking your taco casserole.
- This casserole can be made up to 2 days ahead of time. Follow steps 1 through 6 below, let cool, cover and store in fridge. Once you are ready to enjoy your casserole, preheat oven to 375 F and bake the casserole covered with aluminum foil for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, remove casserole from the oven, remove the aluminum foil and add Fritos and cheese. Bake for an additional 10 minutes at 375 F. Remove from the oven and add toppings.
- Ground Beef (minced beef) - I recommend using a 90% lean ground beef (90/10) for this recipe. If you use a less lean ground beef like 80% (80/20) or even 73% (73/27), you will need to drain the fat from the cooked beef before assembling your casserole.
- Toppings - Feel free to use whatever toppings you like and as many as you like
- Mexican Cheese Blend - you can also use shredded cheddar, Colby Jack, or Cheddar Jack
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. While oven preheats, heat olive oil in large skillet over medium heat.
3. Add ground beef and onions to the skillet and cook, stirring frequently, until beef is browned and onions are translucent.
4. Stir in the taco seasoning and salsa.
5. Next, stir in the cream cheese, black beans and corn until well blended.
6. Add taco mixture to a 9x13 casserole baking dish.
7. Top taco mixture with Fritos corn chips and then cheese.
8. Place in the oven and bake for 10 minutes or until the cheese has melted.
9. Remove the taco casserole from the oven and top with lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, sliced black olives, sliced scallions, and whatever else you like. Enjoy!
Walking Taco Casserole with Cream Cheese
Equipment
- 9x13 Casserole Baking Dish
- Stirring Spoon or Spatula
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 yellow onion chopped
- 1 pack taco seasoning 1oz
- 1 cup restaurant style salsa
- 1 pack cream cheese 8oz
- 1 (15oz) can black beans drained and rinsed
- 1 (15.25oz ) can corn drained
- 2 cups Fritos corn chips
- 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend
Toppings
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes sliced
- ยผ cup black olives sliced
- 1 scallion sliced
- ยผ cup sour cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- While oven preheats, heat olive oil in large skillet over medium heat.
- Add ground beef and onions to the skillet and cook, stirring frequently, until beef is browned and onions are translucent.
- Stir in the taco seasoning and salsa.
- Next, stir in the cream cheese, beans and corn until well blended.
- Add taco mixture to a 9x13 casserole baking dish.
- Top taco mixture with Fritos corn chips and then cheese.
- Place in the oven and bake for 10 minutes or until the cheese has melted.
- Remove the taco casserole from oven and top with lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, sliced black olives, sliced scallions, and whatever else you like. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is approximate. For accurate nutritional information you should refer to the nutritional labels on the packages of the specific ingredients that you used.
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Monica says
I'm so glad I found this recipe for Cinco de Mayo! My casserole was literally packed with flavor and it looked so beautiful when served. Your step by step pictures really made this recipe easy to follow and duplicate! Thank you!
Ivory says
You are welcome! So glad you enjoyed this recipe. It's one of our favorites ๐
Marilyn Moor says
Take this to all your summer barbecues - everyone will love you for it! Guaranteed no leftovers to bring homeโฃ๏ธโฃ๏ธ
mary says
can't believe something so easy to make tastes so good! will be one of my new go-tos!
Robin Hatcher says
My man loved this dish at work filling but not heavy on the stomach, and he added sources yummy!!!!!!
Jessica says
Did not have fritos, so I made it with no fritos. Served with tortilla chips and soft tortillas. Kids and husband LOVED it and it was so simple!!
Ivory says
Yay! So glad you enjoyed.
Gaylene Thorpe says
I've made this recipe many times, and my hubby loved it. Every time I make it we say it would be great to use for tacos, So tonight I made tacos with the meat part of the casserole. Delicious.