Description
Walking Taco Casserole is a comforting Tex-Mex dish that layers seasoned ground beef, black beans, corn, and Rotel tomatoes over crunchy corn chips, topped with melted cheddar cheese and fresh toppings. It’s an easy weeknight dinner perfect for family meals, combining the flavors of classic walking tacos in a convenient casserole form.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 1 can (10 ounces) Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies, drained
Seasonings and Liquids
- 1 packet taco seasoning mix
- 1/4 cup water
Dairy
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Base and Toppings
- 4 cups corn chips (like Fritos)
- Sour cream, for topping
- Diced tomatoes, for topping
- Shredded lettuce, for topping
- Sliced green onions, for topping
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to get it ready for baking the casserole.
- Cook Beef and Vegetables: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and diced onion until the beef is browned and the onion is soft, about 7 to 8 minutes. Drain any excess fat to keep the dish from being greasy.
- Add Seasoning and Mix-ins: Stir in the taco seasoning and water. Then add the drained black beans, frozen corn, and drained Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies. Simmer this mixture for about 5 minutes until everything is heated through and flavors meld.
- Assemble Casserole: Spread half of the corn chips evenly across the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish. Spoon the beef and vegetable mixture evenly over the chips. Then sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese all over the top.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Add Final Toppings and Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and immediately top with the remaining corn chips to retain some crunch. Serve warm with sour cream, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and sliced green onions as desired.
Notes
- For a leaner alternative, substitute ground turkey or chicken instead of ground beef.
- Add jalapeños or a dash of hot sauce to increase the heat level.
- To keep the corn chips crispier, reserve some chips to serve on the side instead of baking all of them inside the casserole.
