Easy Taco Casserole

Crunchy, cheesy, and crowd-pleasing, this casserole is ready in just 20 minutes.

By
Laurel Randolph
Laurel Randolph
Laurel Randolph
Laurel has over 10 years of experience developing recipes and writing about food. She is the author of 4 cookbooks, including the bestselling "The Instant Pot Electric Cookbook."
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Updated December 20, 2024
Laurel Randolph
easy taco casserol in a pot at a table setting with bowls of toppings, chips on a platter, and a bottle of beer

Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

Taco night is the best, but it can be a pain to heat up the tortillas, make all of the fillings, and assemble each taco, one after the other. When you’ve got a family to feed, it can feel just plain tedious. The answer? This easy taco casserole.

Made with ground beef, taco seasoning, black beans, salsa, cheese, and your choice of toppings, it’s somewhere in between taco casserole and nachos. You can easily tweak the recipe to suit your tastes, swapping the cheese for cheddar or pepper Jack, using hot salsa or adding pickled peppers for some heat, and topping with chopped avocado or guacamole.

The crunchy chips add lots of texture when layered with the meat and beans, and the whole dish comes together in just 20 minutes. Kids will love the crowd-pleasing flavors and textures, and they’ll have fun adding their toppings before digging in.

2 Quick Tips for Making Taco Casserole

  1. The taco seasoning packets have a thickening agent that helps to absorb some of the liquid in the salsa. This helps to thicken the liquid so the chips are coated without fully absorbing the sauce.
  2. Use sturdy, thick-style tortilla chips and not restaurant-style chips. I like the GreenWise brand. 
easy taco casserole in a skillet at a table setting with a tray of chips and a bowl of sour cream

Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

Make It Ahead

This taco casserole comes together in no time, but you can break up the prep to make dinnertime even quicker. Make the ground beef mixture ahead of time, storing it in the fridge for up to three days. Just don’t add the chips until you’re ready to bake so they don’t get soggy.

Taco Renditions You'll Love

Easy Taco Casserole

Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Total Time 20 mins
Servings 4 servings

This recipe was developed by Jasmine Smith

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Ingredients

  • 1 pound  lean ground beef or ground chuck

  • 1 (1-ounce) envelope taco seasoning mix

  • 1 medium red onion, finely chopped, divided

  • 2 cups mild chunky salsa

  • 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed

  • 4 cups sturdy tortilla chips (about 3 1/2 ounces)

  • 4 ounces pre-shredded Mexican 3-cheese blend (about 1 cup)

  • 1/2 cup shredded iceberg lettuce

  • 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes

  • 1/3 cup sour cream

Method

  1. Preheat the broiler:

    Preheat oven to broil with a rack about 8 inches from the heat source.

  2. Brown the beef:

    Heat a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef, taco seasoning, and about 1 cup of the onion. Cook, stirring often, until the beef is browned and the onion is translucent, 6 to 7 minutes. Do not drain.

  3. Add salsa and beans:

    Add the salsa and beans and reduce the heat to medium. Simmer, stirring often, until the sauce thickens and the flavors meld, about 3 minutes.

  4. Build the casserole and broil:

    Fold in the tortilla chips until just combined. Top with the cheese and transfer to the preheated oven. Broil until the cheese is melted, 2 to 3 minutes. 

    Remove from the oven and top with the lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, and remaining 1/4 cup diced onion.

    Love the recipe? Let us know with a rating and review!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
646 Calories
32g Fat
49g Carbs
40g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 646
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 32g 41%
Saturated Fat 13g 66%
Cholesterol 114mg 38%
Sodium 1910mg 83%
Total Carbohydrate 49g 18%
Dietary Fiber 11g 39%
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 40g
Vitamin C 7mg 35%
Calcium 321mg 25%
Iron 5mg 30%
Potassium 1167mg 25%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.