This walking taco casserole is a layered bake featuring nacho cheese tortilla chips (Doritos) along with everything you love about tacos all in one pan! It's a quick & easy dinner recipe that is on your table in 30 minutes.
What Is A Walking Taco?
If you've ever been to a kid's birthday party, graduation party or school sports concession stand in the midwest, you've probably tried a walking taco.
All the goodness of Mexican tacos like seasoned ground beef, beans, cheese, are piled into a personal-sized bag of crushed tortilla chips and topped with veggies, sour cream and salsa. They are a delicious and portable meal that both kids and adults love!
While the idea of being portable is convenient, walking tacos in casserole form is a great option for a weeknight meal at home. It contains all the components of tacos that you love, all in one pan!
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Ingredient Notes
Here are some quick tips for a few of the ingredients. Find a full list of ingredients in the recipe card below!
- Ground beef - Any kind will do. You will drain any excess grease after cooking.
- Black beans - A second form of protein in this casserole. I love having beans with my Mexican food, so I like the combo of both meat and beans in here.
- Salsa - Homemade or store-bought is fine. You choose the level of spice.
- Taco seasoning - I've made my own, but most time the packet at the grocery store is just too easy to pass up.
- Doritos - Or any brand equivalent of nacho cheese tortilla chips. I prefer using these instead of corn chips, or Fritos, as they have more flavor.
- Toppings - Any veggies or other toppings you'd put on a taco can be used. Find a list of suggested toppings further down in this post.
How to Make Walking Taco Casserole
Make the meat filling - Combine cooked ground beef and onion with black beans, green chiles, salsa and taco seasoning. Stir well to combine and heat for a couple minutes until everything is heated through.
Layer - Start with placing half the crushed chips in the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish. Evenly add half of the meat mixture followed by half the shredded cheese.
Quick Tip: The easiest way to crush the chips is to open the bag and use your hands to crush all the chips inside. Good way to get some aggression out!
Repeat - Use second half of chips, meat mixture and shredded cheese to finish assembling the casserole.
Bake - At 350 degrees for 20 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
Serving Tips
I like to top the casserole with veggie toppings and leave any sauces for people to add themselves. How perfect would this recipe be for Cinco de Mayo party?
You could also leave the veggies on the side of everyone to customize their own. Some topping ideas include:
- Shredded lettuce
- Diced tomato
- Avocado
- Black olives
- Jalapeno slices
- Cilantro
- Pico de gallo
- Sour cream
- Taco sauce
- Guacamole
- More salsa
- Queso
Recipe Variations
The best thing about this taco bake is how customizable it is. Here are some ideas to cater to many different dietary and taste preferences:
- Double the ground beef for an all-meat recipe or sub in ground turkey or chicken!
- To make a vegetarian dish, use 2 cans of either pinto, black beans or canned corn.
- Make your own taco seasoning to adjust the spice and sodium levels to your needs.
- Use a spicier salsa or a specialty one like salsa verde.
- Cheddar, Monterrey Jack, pepper jack or a "Mexican" blend cheese are other cheese options.
- Although there may be cross-contamination during manufacturing, brand name Doritos do not contain gluten. Use certified gluten-free tortilla chips if gluten is an issue.
The possibilities are endless!
Storage Tips
If you are serving fewer people and assume you'll have leftovers, leave a section of the casserole free of any toppings and store them separate for another time . Leftover taco bake can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
The casserole can easily be reheated in the microwave and then topped with your desired toppings. The chips will be slightly soggier when reheated, but overall, the leftovers are just as good!
I would not recommend freezing the casserole, but you could make and freeze the meat & bean mixture and thaw before assembling.
Other Weeknight Meals You'll Love
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Walking Taco Casserole (With Doritos)
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Brown ground beef and onion in a skillet until beef is cooked through. Drain excess grease, if needed. Add black beans, green chiles, salsa and taco seasoning. Stir well to combine.1 # ground beef, 1 cup yellow onion, 1 15 oz. can black beans, 1 4 oz. can chopped green chiles, 1 cup salsa, 1 packet taco seasoning
- Place half of meat mixture in the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish. Top evenly with half of crushed chips. Sprinkle evenly with half the cheese.
- Repeat with another layer of meat mixture, chips and cheese.
- Bake uncovered for 20 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Top with desired toppings.
Notes
- Shredded lettuce, diced tomato, avocado, black olives, jalapeño, cilantro, pico de Gallo, sour cream, taco sauce, queso, guacamole
Ashley says
So easy and my family loved it!