Walking Taco Casserole Recipe – Crunchy & Cheesy Family Favorite
As a mom of three boys, taco nights are a family favorite! But for something a little different we love this Walking Taco Casserole, the ultimate meal for crunchy, cheesy fun!! Layered with seasoned beef, Fritos for that irresistible crunch, and all the fixings, it’s ready in 30 minutes and vanishes faster than game day snacks. Perfect for busy evenings, it’s is quick and tasty! Here’s how to make taco night casserole-style!
We were first introduced to walking tacos at a swim meet. I thought it was such a genius idea and all of the kids loved it! I mean you can’t beat taco fixings poured into a bag of fritos! Over the years we’ve made them for parties or gatherings and they are always a hit!
So I decided to try taking all of those flavors and textures and throwing them into an easy to make casserole. It is more practical for feeding a family and for a weeknight dinner. It has all the things you love about walking tacos in a quick and easy taco bake. This is the perfect twist for taco Tuesday!
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Ingredients for This Easy Walking Taco Casserole Recipe
Here’s what you’ll need to make this easy taco casserole, I’ve included easy swaps and variations. For the exact measurements see the printable recipe card below.
Ground Beef – This is the base for this easy casserole. I like to use lean ground beef but you can use your favorite cut, just be sure to drain excess fat. You can also use ground turkey or ground chicken
Taco Seasoning – You can use your favorite brand of taco seasoning. Our favorite is Siete, but any store bought brand will work. Or you can use homemade taco seasoning (my fajita seasoning works well too! )
Salsa – You can use your favorite brand of salsa for this recipe. I usually use mild but if you like more spice you can use medium or spicy.
Onion – Diced onion adds great flavor to the meat mixture you can use a yellow or white onion for stronger onion flavor or a vidalia onion for a sweeter onion flavor.
Fritos – Fritos corn chips are the classic chip used for walking tacos and I like them because they are a great size. Alternately you can use any tortilla chips, like plain corn chips, or a flavored chip like Doritos. Just use your family’s favorite!
Shredded Cheese – Cheese is the perfect topping for this casserole! I like to use a Mexican blend but sharp or mild cheddar cheese works really well too. For a little extra spice you can use pepper jack. Pre-shredded cheese works well, but freshly shredded melts much better.
Optional Taco Toppings – The great thing about this delicious walking taco casserole is that you can load it up with all of your favorite taco toppings. Some of our favorites are sour cream, jalapenos, sliced black olives, chopped grape tomatoes, shredded lettuce, hot sauce and guacamole. My pico de gallo and avocado crema are great additions too!
Here’s How to Make Walking Taco Casserole
Preheat the oven to 350, spray a 9×13 casserole dish.
Place ground beef in a large skillet, cook over medium to medium/high heat stirring and crumbling as it cooks until cooked through and no longer pink.
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Remove the cooked ground beef from the skillet to drain on a paper towel lined plate leaving about a tablespoon of drippings in the skillet. Set aside.
Place the diced onion in the skillet with reserved drippings. Cook over medium heat for 5-10 minutes or until translucent.
Add the ground beef back into the pan, add in the taco seasoning, salsa and water. Stir to combine and continue heating over medium heat, stirring occasionally for 5-10 minutes or until heated through.
Spread the ground beef mixture across the bottom of the baking dish.
Spread the shredded cheese evenly across meat mixture.
Lightly crush the Fritos and spread them across the cheese layer.
Place into the oven and bake the casserole for 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Serve topped with your favorite taco toppings.
FAQ, Tips & Variations
Here are some tips and answers to frequently asked questions to help make this recipe a success!
Can I make walking taco casserole ahead of time?
Yes! This is a great meal prep for busy weeknights. You can assemble the casserole minus the fritos cover it with plastic wrap and place it in the fridge until you’re ready to bake it. (It will keep well for 2-3 days) Then when you’re ready to eat just add the chips, and bake. It might take a little longer to bake because it is cold so adjust the time accordingly.
How to store leftovers?
Leftovers of this walking taco bake can be stored refrigerated in an airtight container. It is best reheated in the oven or the air fryer so that the chips stay crisp.
Can I make this vegetarian?
Absolutely! With just a couple of swaps you make this recipe vegetarian. You’ll just need to swap the seasoned ground beef mixture with a vegetarian option. Lentils are a great substitute for ground beef, or you can use beans- black beans or pinto beans are a great choice. Just season them the way you would the meat and assemble the rest of the casserole.
Walking Taco Casserole with Fritos and Taco Layers
Ingredients
- 2 lbs Lean Ground Beef
- 2 Packages Taco Seasoning
- 1 Cup Salsa
- ½ Cup Water
- 1 Cup Diced Onion
- 1 9 oz Bag Fritos
- 2 Cups Shredded Mexican Blend Cheese
- Optional Toppings- Sour Cream, jalapenos, black olives, guacamole,
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350, spray a 9×13 casserole dish.
- Place ground beef in a large skillet, cook over medium to medium/high heat stirring and crumbling as it cooks until cooked through.2 lbs Lean Ground Beef
- Remove the cooked ground beef from the skillet to a plate lined with paper towels to drain leaving about a tablespoon of drippings in the skillet. Set aside.
- Place the diced onion in the skillet with reserved drippings. Cook over medium heat for 5-10 minutes or until translucent.1 Cup Diced Onion
- Add the beef back into the pan, add in the taco seasoning, salsa and water. Stir to combine and continue heating over medium heat, stirring occasionally for 5-10 minutes or until heated through.2 Packages Taco Seasoning, 1 Cup Salsa, ½ Cup Water
- Spread the meat mixture across the bottom of the baking dish.
- Spread the shredded cheese evenly across meat mixture.2 Cups Shredded Mexican Blend Cheese
- Lightly crush the Fritos and spread them across the cheese layer.1 9 oz Bag Fritos
- Place the casserole into the oven and bake for 10-15 minutes or until the cheese has melted.
- Serve topped with your favorite taco toppings.Optional Toppings- Sour Cream, jalapenos, black olives, guacamole,
