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This taco casserole recipe has tender ground beef, all the best taco flavors, tons of cheese, and a layer of Doritos! It’s the ultimate easy comfort food for busy families. 

Love casseroles? Try my Simple Ground Beef Casserole, Simple Breakfast Casserole, or check out all my casserole recipes.

close-up of taco casserole on a metal spatula

Why you’ll love it

Your whole family will thank you for making this simple taco casserole since it’s just so tasty. They’re going to get really excited for next taco night. It’s also super customizable, so everyone can load it up with their favorite fresh toppings!

Taco flavors, black beans, salsa, and ground beef all dressed up in a hot and cheesy casserole with a warm spice blend… who says no? Even your pickiest eaters are going to devour this meal. It’s also a fairly inexpensive casserole for any weeknight.

What you’ll need

  • Olive oil – for frying the ground beef
  • Ground beef – I like to use lean ground beef. Try 90%
  • Doritos – use your favorite flavor. I picked nacho cheese. You can also add some on top for an extra crunch!
  • Onion – makes a great savory base
  • Chili powder, garlic powder, ground cumin – this trio makes a delicious homemade taco seasoning
  • Beans – I prefer black beans, but you could do a layer of refried beans instead!
  • Corn – we’re using canned corn to make this hassle free
  • Salsa – pick up a jar of your fave brand
  • Cheese – I used a Mexican blend, but cheddar would work great

Suggested toppings:

  • Fresh tomatoes
  • Chopped cilantro and scallions
  • Avocado
  • Black olives
  • Sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
  • Iceberg or romaine lettuce
ingredients in small bowls for taco casserole

Tools for this recipe

Check out Natasha’s favorite kitchen essentials, gadgets, and cookware!

How to make taco casserole

This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.

cooking ground beef with onion and spices in a cast iron skillet

Preheat the oven. In a cast iron skillet cook the beef in the olive oil. After a few minutes, stir in the onion and spices. Continue cooking through, and then spoon out any excess fat.

adding in corn, cheese, salsa, and black beans

Add in the corn, salsa, beans, and half the cheese. Warm until the cheese melts.

adding doritos and beef mixture to a casserole dish

Place an even layer of Doritos in a baking dish. Spoon the beef mixture over top.

taco casserole with cheese before and after baking

Top the casserole with the remaining cheese, and then bake uncovered until hot and melty! Serve as-is or with toppings of your choice suggested above.

Can I make taco casserole ahead of time?

  • You bet! Simply cook the onion, spices, and beef mixture, assemble the layers in a baking dish, let it cool, and then tightly cover.
  • It’ll keep in the fridge for a day or two, or you can freeze it for up to a month.
  • If frozen, thaw in the fridge overnight before baking. Since it’ll be starting out cold, it’ll need a bit more time than in the original instructions. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes, and then uncover it cook for another 15 minutes or so until it’s hot.

Substitutions and variations

  • You don’t have to use Doritos. Other tortilla chips or Fritos will definitely work in this taco bake!
  • Use a ready-made taco seasoning blend if you prefer not to use the individual spices.
  • You could add more veggies such as red bell peppers to this casserole. I’d add them in at the same time as the onion. 
  • Feel free to swap the black beans with another kind if you prefer, like kidney beans or pinto beans. 
  • If you want to add some heat, use a medium or spicy salsa, hot cheese blend, add some cayenne pepper, or you could even toss in some spicy chopped green chilies. 

What to serve with taco casserole

Leftovers and storage

  • If you have any leftovers, they will keep in the fridge for 2-3 days in a covered container. Keep in mind the Doritos will lose firmness over time.
  • Reheat in the oven for best results, but you can also microwave until heated through.
  • Leftovers can also be frozen. I portion them up in individual containers.
a baking dish with taco casserole

Did you make this taco casserole with Doritos? Talk to me in the comments below and leave a star rating! You can also find me on Instagram.

close-up of taco casserole on a metal spatula
4.81 from 98 votes

Easy Taco Casserole Recipe

This taco casserole recipe has tender ground beef, all the best taco flavors, tons of cheese, and a layer of Doritos! It's the ultimate easy comfort food for busy families.
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 40 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients 

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1/2 medium onion chopped
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 2 cups crushed Doritos I used Nacho Cheese flavor
  • 1 (14 ounce) can black beans drained & rinsed
  • 1 (12 ounce) can corn drained
  • 1 (15.5 ounce) jar salsa use your favorite kind
  • 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend (or use cheddar) divided
  • Toppings (optional, to taste): tomatoes, cilantro, scallions, avocado, black olives, sour cream, lettuce, etc.

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350F and move the rack to the middle position.
  • Add the oil and ground beef to a skillet. Cook, breaking up the meat as you go along, for 5 minutes over medium-high heat.
  • Stir in the onion, chili powder, garlic powder, and ground cumin, and continue cooking for another 5 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, add the crushed Doritos in an even layer to the bottom of a 9×13 (or similar size) casserole dish.
  • If there's a lot of excess fat in the skillet, spoon most of it out. Stir in the beans, corn, salsa, and half the cheese. Let it warm through (until the cheese melts).
  • Spoon the beef mixture evenly over the Doritos.
  • Top the casserole with the remaining cheese. Bake, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes or until it's warm and the cheese is nice and melty. Meanwhile, prep the toppings.
  • Serve casserole as-is or with your favorite toppings.

Notes

  • Serves 6-8 depending on how much people eat.
  • You can also find this recipe in the casseroles chapter of the Salt & Lavender: Everyday Essentials hardcover cookbook.

Nutrition

Calories: 441kcal, Carbohydrates: 38g, Protein: 27g, Fat: 20g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g, Monounsaturated Fat: 7g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 62mg, Sodium: 860mg, Potassium: 695mg, Fiber: 7g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 749IU, Vitamin C: 2mg, Calcium: 264mg, Iron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

© Salt & Lavender Inc. Content and photographs are copyrighted. Sharing this blog post is much appreciated, but copying and pasting full recipes without authorization to social media is strictly prohibited.

Leave a star rating and comment below!

This recipe was originally published on December 17, 2019. It’s been updated with new photos and better instructions but is the same great recipe!


Hi! Iโ€™m Natasha.

Salt & Lavender is a recipe blog with a focus on delicious comfort food using everyday ingredients. Beat the weekday grind with hundreds of easy-to-follow and hassle-free recipes!

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4.81 from 98 votes (17 ratings without comment)

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219 Comments

  1. Miriam says:

    4 stars
    I did not have Doritos, so used plain tortilla chips. They were pretty soggy when I served it. โ˜น๏ธ I would suggest either adding them to the top after baking, or just serving chips on the side to scoop the mixture. Other than the soggy chips, everyone liked it alot!

    1. Natasha says:

      Yes, you could definitely try that. I’m glad you guys liked the recipe in general, though!

  2. Susan says:

    5 stars
    Loved it. Better than a taco. We topped with lettuce, tomato, olives and sour cream. Definite recipe keeper! Thank you.

    1. Natasha says:

      Woo hoo! You’re welcome! ๐Ÿ™‚

      1. Candice says:

        5 stars
        Iโ€™ve made this about half a dozen times now and the Doritos at the bottom have never ended up soggy. They remained crispy. Itโ€™s a super easy recipe and very kid friendly. Itโ€™s a hit around here!

        1. Natasha says:

          Wonderful!! So glad your family enjoys it. ๐Ÿ™‚

  3. Rachel says:

    This sounds delish! Could you make this ahead and keep in the fridge until you’re ready to cook and eat? Wondering if this would work for a meal train for a friend that just had a baby. Thanks!!

    1. Natasha says:

      Hi! My only concern is that the Doritos layer might get a little soggy. It’s not crispy to begin with, but I’d hate for it to go yucky. Maybe leave that off?

  4. maball says:

    5 stars
    This was so very good. You must use the Doritos. I loved it. My son said it was spicy, but I thought it was miraculous.

    1. Natasha says:

      Wonderful!! I’m so glad you liked it! ๐Ÿ™‚ Agree on the Doritos haha.

  5. Pauline says:

    5 stars
    Absolutely delicious

    1. Natasha says:

      So happy to hear that, Pauline! ๐Ÿ™‚

  6. Mary Sunn says:

    5 stars
    Really good! Quick and easy!

    1. Natasha says:

      Wonderful! So glad you enjoyed it.

  7. Kiki says:

    5 stars
    Very good! I am making this for my second time. My Son wanted this for his Celebration dinner for getting his new job!!
    This will be a go-to dinner. Yummy!!

    1. Natasha says:

      Aww I’m so happy to hear that! ๐Ÿ™‚

  8. Shiryl Stanfield says:

    5 stars
    Excellent recipe. Very fast and easy. I will definitely make this again. ๐Ÿ˜Ž

    1. Natasha says:

      Wonderful! So glad you liked it. Thanks for commenting!

  9. Tina Ulrich says:

    This sounds delicious! Wondering if I substitute the ground beef with rotisserie chicken if it would still turn out…..? Have you tried it? Looking forward to making this!

    1. Natasha says:

      Hi Tina! I think that would be fine. My only concern is that rotisserie chicken is already cooked, and so especially the white meat parts may get dry and chewy a lot faster. I’d probably just cook it for a bit less… like add it in to the mixture as late as possible. Let me know how it goes!

  10. DIane says:

    Loved it but I used soft tacos as a layered (lasagna) like dish. I spread sour cream and cheese on top. Really good, thank you Also used taco seasoning and salsa to give it more of a kick

    1. Natasha says:

      That’s such a good idea with the layered soft tacos!!