Easy Taco Casserole Recipe

This Easy Taco Casserole Recipe is a delicious weeknight dinner. It also has the best flavors you would find in a taco.

We love to keep tacos classic with ground beef, but you could really replace it with any ground meat. If you prefer a lighter option, go ahead and use ground chicken or turkey. If you prefer pork, use ground pork. If you are vegetarian, use your favorite meatless crumbles. Whichever meat you choose, you can’t go wrong!

MEAT OPTIONS FOR TACO CASSEROLE:

You can prepare your casserole entirely up to 24 hours ahead of time. Top it with a layer of plastic wrap and keep it in the fridge for up to 24 hours before time to bake. If baking straight from fridge, adjust bake time to 45 minutes.

MAKE-AHEAD INSTRUCTIONS:

Watch the video recipe

Easy Taco Casserole Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 pounds lean ground beef

• 2 (4 oz) cans of green chiles, diced

• 1 medium onion, diced

• 1 tablespoon cumin powder

• 2 teaspoons kosher salt

• Freshly ground black pepper to taste

• 2 teaspoons garlic powder

• 18 corn tortillas, cut in half

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 (14.5 oz) can of black beans, rinsed and drained

• 2 cups salsa

• 1 can corn, drained

• 3 cups of Mexican blend or cheddar cheese, shredded

• ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

• ¼ teaspoon dried oregano

• ½ teaspoon ground paprika

• 2 teaspoons chili powder

Garnish:

• 1 bunch of cilantro, chopped

• Sour cream

• 1 Tomato, diced

• 1 cup lettuce, chopped

• Guacamole

• Queso fresco

• 1 jalapeno, sliced

• 1 cup black olives, sliced

Instructions

In a skillet over medium-high heat, saute the beef until all the liquid has evaporated. Add onion and saute until the onion softens about 3-5 minutes. Add in beef, cumin, salt, chili, and garlic powder, and cook beef until it browns making sure to stir and break the beef up while it cooks for about 6-8 minutes. Add one cup of cold water and reduce the heat to medium. Let it simmer on medium until all the water has evaporated. Add green chiles, and toss until evenly incorporated. Remove the skillet from the heat and set it aside.

In a separate skillet, brown the corn tortillas in a very small amount of oil in a pan over medium heat. Flip after about 1 to 2 minutes or until the tortillas get some color.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Line the bottom of a 9x13 dish with 6 tortillas. Sprinkle with 1 cup of cheese. On top of the cheese, spoon half of the ground beef mixture.

On top of the ground beef mixture, layer the black beans across. Then spoon 1 cup of salsa across the beans. On top of the salsa, layer 6 more tortillas.

Layer the remaining ground beef across the tortillas, spoon the corn on top of the ground beef, and then top that with the remaining cup of salsa. Top the casserole with shredded cheese.

Bake until bubbly and cheese is browning, about 25-30 minutes.

Enjoy, buen provecho.