Description

This Walking Taco Casserole is a delicious, layered dish combining seasoned ground beef, black beans, diced tomatoes with green chiles, and creamy sour cream, all topped with crispy Fritos corn chips and melted Mexican-style cheese. Perfect for an easy weeknight meal, this casserole offers the flavors of classic walking tacos in a comforting, baked form.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat & Beans

1 pound ground beef
1 small onion, chopped
1 package taco seasoning
1 can black beans (15 ounces), drained
1 can diced tomatoes with green chiles (10 ounces)

Dairy

½ cup sour cream
2 cups Mexican-style shredded cheese

Other

1 bag Fritos corn chips (9.25 ounces)

Instructions

Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and spray a 13×9-inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
Brown Beef and Onion: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and chopped onion, stirring occasionally, until the meat is fully browned and the onion is soft.
Add Seasoning and Ingredients: Stir in the taco seasoning and the amount of water specified on the seasoning package (usually about 2/3 cup). Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat. Add the drained black beans, diced tomatoes with green chiles, and sour cream. Stir well and cook until heated through and combined.
Layer Ingredients: In the prepared baking dish, layer half of the Fritos corn chips evenly as the base, then sprinkle half of the shredded cheese on top. Spread half of the beef mixture over the cheese layer. Repeat the layers with the remaining Fritos, cheese, and beef mixture.
Bake Covered: Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the casserole to heat thoroughly.
Finish Baking: Remove the foil and bake for an additional 5 minutes until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
Serve: Remove from the oven and serve hot. Add your favorite toppings like sour cream, salsa, jalapeños, or guacamole as desired.

Notes

You can customize this casserole by adding toppings such as sliced jalapeños, avocado, or chopped cilantro before serving.
For a spicier version, use a hot taco seasoning or add some diced jalapeños to the beef mixture.
To make it lighter, try using reduced-fat cheese and sour cream.
If you prefer, substitute Fritos with another corn chip brand or crushed tortilla chips for a different texture.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Casserole
Method: Baking
Cuisine: Mexican-American

Keywords: Walking Taco Casserole, taco casserole, Fritos casserole, easy Mexican casserole, ground beef casserole