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    Home » Recipes » Dinner Recipes

    Walking Taco Casserole with Cream Cheese

    May 1, 2021 by Ivory 7 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    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.

    Walking Taco Casserole topped with black olives, tomatoes, Fritos corn chips, shredded lettuce and melted shredded cheese in a clear casserole dish - hero image.
    Table of Contents show
    1 Why You Will Love This Recipe:
    2 Watch How To Make This Recipe Here!
    3 Subscribe And Follow Munchy Goddess!
    4 Q&A:
    5 Equipment Needed:
    6 Ingredients:
    7 Pro Tips
    8 Instructions:
    9 Walking Taco Casserole with Cream Cheese

    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!

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    Q&A:

    What is a walking taco casserole?

    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:

    Walking Taco Casserole labeled ingredients in various dishes on a marble top: black beans, salsa, FRITOS, olive oil, sour cream, onions, taco seasoning, black olives, shredded lettuce, cherry tomatoes, ground beef, scallions, shredded cheese, corn, cream cheese.
    • 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 F.

    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.

    Chopped onions and fresh ground beef in a black cast iron skillet.
    Chopped onions and browned ground beef in a black cast iron skillet.

    4. Stir in the taco seasoning and salsa.

    Chopped onions, browned ground beef, taco seasoning and salsa in a black cast iron skillet.

    5. Next, stir in the cream cheese, black beans and corn until well blended.

    Chopped onions, browned ground beef, taco seasoning, salsa and cream cheese in a black cast iron skillet.
    Chopped onions, browned ground beef, taco seasoning, salsa, cream cheese, black beans and corn in a black cast iron skillet.
    Chopped onions, browned ground beef, taco seasoning, salsa, cream cheese, black beans and corn blended and cooked in a black cast iron skillet.

    6. Add taco mixture to a 9x13 casserole baking dish.

    Walking Taco Casserole mixture spread out evenly in a clear 9 by 13 casserole baking dish.

    7. Top taco mixture with Fritos corn chips and then cheese.

    Fritos corn chips and Walking Taco Casserole mixture in a clear 9 by 13 casserole baking dish.
    Shredded cheese, Fritos corn chips and Walking Taco Casserole mixture in a 9 by 13 casserole baking dish.

    8. Place in the oven and bake for 10 minutes or until the cheese has melted.

    Melted shredded cheese, Fritos corn chips and Walking Taco Casserole mixture baked in a clear 9 by 13 casserole baking dish.

    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 black olives, tomatoes and shredded lettuce on top in a clear 9 by 13 casserole baking dish.
    Walking Taco Casserole topped with black olives, tomatoes, Fritos corn chips, shredded lettuce and melted shredded cheese in a clear casserole dish.

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    Walking Taco Casserole topped with black olives, tomatoes, Fritos corn chips, shredded lettuce and melted shredded cheese in a clear casserole dish - featured image.

    Walking Taco Casserole with Cream Cheese

    Ivory
    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.
    5 from 5 votes
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    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Total Time 25 mins
    Course Brunch, Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
    Cuisine Mexican
    Servings 8 people
    Calories 634 kcal

    Equipment

    • 9x13 Casserole Baking Dish
    • Large Skillet
    • 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
    • ¼ cup black olives sliced
    • 1 scallion sliced
    • ¼ cup sour cream

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 375 F.
    • 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

    *Be sure to soften the cream cheese before mixing it in the beef, this will make it easier to mix into the beef
    *Leftovers can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
    *Other great topping ideas include sliced avocado, taco sauce, guacamole, Pico de Gallo

    Nutrition

    Calories: 634kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 27gFat: 40gSaturated Fat: 17gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 102mgSodium: 1035mgPotassium: 714mgFiber: 9gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 1412IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 299mgIron: 4mg
    Keyword Casserole, easy dinner recipe, Taco, Taco Casserole, Walking Taco Casserole
    Tried this recipe? Pin it!Mention @MunchyGoddess or tag #MunchyGoddess!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Monica

      May 06, 2021 at 11:13 am

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
      • Ivory

        May 06, 2021 at 11:35 am

        You are welcome! So glad you enjoyed this recipe. It's one of our favorites 🙂

        Reply
    2. Marilyn Moor

      May 15, 2021 at 2:54 am

      5 stars
      Take this to all your summer barbecues - everyone will love you for it! Guaranteed no leftovers to bring home❣️❣️

      Reply
    3. mary

      May 26, 2021 at 9:20 am

      5 stars
      can't believe something so easy to make tastes so good! will be one of my new go-tos!

      Reply
    4. Robin Hatcher

      June 17, 2021 at 5:11 pm

      5 stars
      My man loved this dish at work filling but not heavy on the stomach, and he added sources yummy!!!!!!

      Reply
      • Jessica

        July 23, 2022 at 7:30 pm

        5 stars
        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!!

        Reply
        • Ivory

          July 24, 2022 at 3:20 am

          Yay! So glad you enjoyed.

          Reply

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