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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.
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
Tools for this recipe
Check out Natasha’s favorite kitchen essentials, gadgets, and cookware!
- This is the skillet I use for sauteing, and here’s my preferred 9×13 baking dish.
- Break up the beef with a meat chopper.
- These disposable aluminum baking pans are perfect if you’re bringing it to a potluck or making several.
How to make taco casserole
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
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.
Add in the corn, salsa, beans, and half the cheese. Warm until the cheese melts.
Place an even layer of Doritos in a baking dish. Spoon the beef mixture over top.
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
- Make it with a side salad with this Chipotle Cilantro Lime Ranch Dressing, and you’re all set. I also recommend this Avocado Corn Salad.
- Start the meal off with chips and my Easy Guacamole Recipe.
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.
More Tex-Mex recipes you’ll love
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.
Easy Taco Casserole Recipe
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
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.
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!
Thank you for this Delicious and very easy it make Taco casserole. I used “Doritos with a hint of lime chips” which went well with this Mexican dish! We also enjoyed Zero Ginger ale with lots of lime juice in it – made it seem like a great margarita! Yum!
Colorado Karen
I’m glad you enjoyed it!! 😀
Would this be ok made ahead of time and baked after? We have practice so I planned on preparing it before and then throwing it in the oven when we get home.
Yes… see the “can I make taco casserole ahead of time” section of the blog post. Enjoy! 🙂
Your site is really the most user friendly.. I should’ve known the answer would’ve been in there had I just taken the time to read. Thank you!
It’s all good! 🙂 Hope you love the recipe!
Easy and quick recipe that’s very tasty!
Thank you, Kim!
Easy and delicious!
Thank you!! 😀
Excellent! My husband, the picky eater, loved it too!
I had taco meat in the freezer from the last time I made tacos, threw it in the pan with the beans, corn and a can of Rotel. By the time the oven was hot, the meat mixture was ready to go in. Super fast! I used regular corn tortilla chips. I put them on the bottom as directed, but also added a thin layer to the top under the cheese. Put in the oven for 18 minutes & it was perfect! Will absolutely do it again!
Yay!! That’s great to hear, Kathy! 😀
This recipe sounds great. Wondering if anyone has layered it for larger group?
Do you think this will be ok with Fritos?
Hi! I think some other readers have tried it… you may want to read thru the comments. I think it should be ok. Let me know how it goes! 🙂
I don’t have Doritos. I do have nacho cheese bugles. What’s your opinion on this substitute?
Hi! You could give it a try, but I can’t say I’ve ever cooked with Bugles.
Great recipe! The family approves! Thank you!
You’re very welcome, Karen!! 🙂 Thanks for your 5-star review!
I used fresh garlic and added smoked paprika. It was delicious!
Fantastic!!