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Home » Recipes » Beef Recipes

Cheesy Taco Casserole

Published: May 8, 2022 · Modified: Mar 17, 2023 by Bowl Me Over · 2 Comments

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If you're looking for an easy weeknight meal that is both delicious and satisfying, look no further than this Cheesy Taco Casserole! This dish is simple to make and can be tailored to your liking by using your favorite taco toppings.

So why not give it a try tonight? Your family will love it!

Next time try the Burrito Casserole or the Tamale Pie with Jiffy!

Serving of taco casserole on spatula.
Jump to:
  • Why you'll love this recipe   
  • Ingredients
  • Instructions 
  • Equipment
  • FAQ's
  • Things to know
  • Variations
  • Storage
  • Related recipes
  • Serve with
  • Cheesy Taco Casserole

Why you'll love this recipe   

✔️ Like the Doritos Casserole, this is an easy dinner that can be on the table in under an hour. Plus the entire family will enjoy it.

✔️ This cheesy taco bake is a great way to use up leftover taco meat or ground chicken.

✔️ It's perfect for meal prep on taco night and can be made ahead of time.

Ingredients

Ingredients to make beefy taco casserole.

For the exact measurements, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. 

  • ground beef
  • yellow onion
  • black beans
  • packet taco seasoning
  • white rice
  • frozen corn
  • Rotel tomatoes with chilies
  • corn chips - Doritos, Fritos, Tostitos, use your favorite!
  • shredded cheese

Instructions 

Instructions to make taco bake with print overlay.

This is an overview of the instructions. For the complete directions just scroll down to the bottom!

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Prepare 9x13 casserole dish by spraying with non-stick cooking spray, set aside. 
  2. In a large skillet over medium heat - brown the ground beef, drain.
  3. Add the onions and drained black beans. Sprinkle with taco seasoning and mix together well. 
  4. Top with the rice. Add the water, drained corn and canned tomatoes. Mix to combine. Spoon into the casserole dish. Cover and cook for 40-45 minutes or until the rice is tender. 
  5. Remove the cover and sprinkle with chips, top with cheese. Cover until the cheese melts or place under broiler for 2-3 minutes. 
  6. Serve topped with your favorite toppings! Salsa, sour cream, jalapenos, minced cilantro, chopped tomatoes or olives!

Equipment

The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

  • large skillet
  • casserole dish
  • aluminum foil

FAQ's

Can you make taco meat ahead of time?

Yes, you can brown the beef up to 3 days in advance. Store in the fridge in an airtight container until ready to use.

How do you moisten a dry casserole?

If your casserole is dry, you can add a little chicken or beef broth to moisten it up. You can also add a little milk if you like.

What temperature do you bake a casserole?

The typical baking temperature for a casserole is 350-375 degrees F.

Should you cover a casserole when reheating?

If you are reheating the casserole in a microwave, you should cover it with a damp paper towel. If you are reheating it in an oven, you can leave it uncovered.

How do you reheat a casserole without drying it out?

It's best to reheat casseroles in a 325 degree F oven until heated through. You can also add a little chicken or beef broth to moisten it up before reheating if needed.

Casserole dish filled with taco bake with two servings dished out on plates.

Things to know

  • For easy clean up be sure to spray your baking dish well with cooking spray before adding the ingredientsit.
  • Top this cheesy casserole with your favorite taco toppings for a delicious taste.
  • Don't have Rotel on hand? Use a can of diced tomatoes and a can of green chilies instead.
  • I think this casserole makes excellent leftovers because it tastes better the next day.
  • If you are using lean meat, add a small amount of olive oil to the pan to prevent sticking.
  • Use any type of cheese that your family prefers, we like Mexican shredded blend or shredded cheddar cheese.

Variations

  • If you are on a keto diet, you can leave out the corn and use protein tortilla chips instead of the original in this easy taco casserole.
  • You can also sub ground chicken or ground turkey for the beef.
  • Instead of black beans, refried beans can be added to the meat.
  • If you like your tacos extra spicy add extra chili powder to the taco seasoning.
  • Stretch this dish by adding more vegetables such as bell peppers, zucchini, or even mushrooms. 
  • Another way to change up this recipe is to add spicy ranch dressing or cream cheese to the ground beef mixture for a creamy touch to taco Tuesday.

Storage

Refrigerate - Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Freezer - You can freeze this casserole for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

Reheat - To reheat this cheesy taco casserole, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and bake for 15-20 minutes, until warmed through. Alternatively, you can microwave the casserole on high for 4-5 minutes.

Serving of ground beef casserole on plate.

Related recipes

  • If you are looking for another great recipe that is filled with taco flavors, check out this Creamy Taco Spaghetti recipe.
  • Do you love Mexican food? Next time give these Taco Stuffed Shells a try.
  • Learn how to make the best ground beef taco meat here!
  • This Tamale Pie with Jiffy Casserole with the crispy cornbread topping has all your favorites loaded into one easy meal!
  • If you love easy recipes on busy weeknights, then this Loaded Chicken Taco Casserole is just what you are looking for.
  • Still hungry for good eats? Check out these easy Chicken Taco Casserole Recipes - you're sure to find a new favorite!

Serve with

  • Mexican Cole Slaw is a family favorite side dish to serve with this comforting casserole.  Plus, it's full of tangy fresh flavor.
  • If you are looking for a healthy side that the whole family will enjoy, look no further than this Southwest Salad recipe.
  • This Mexican Fruit Salad is the perfect blend of sweet and savory and pairs so well with this delicious taco casserole.

Don't forget to check out my Amazon storefront for some of my favorite products! 🛍️

If you love this recipe please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating! 

Cheesy Taco Bake Casserole in baking dish.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
5 from 4 votes

Cheesy Taco Casserole

Easy to make taco bake will have the whole family combing back for seconds!
Prevent your screen from going dark
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time50 mins
Total Time1 hr
Course: Lunch or Dinner
Cuisine: American, TexMex
Servings: 8
Calories: 329kcal
Author: Deb Clark
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 yellow onion diced
  • 1 14.5 oz black beans drained
  • 1 packet taco seasoning
  • ½ cup white rice
  • ¾ cup water
  • 1 cup frozen corn can substitute drained canned corn.
  • 1 14.5 rotel tomatoes with chilies
  • 1 ½ cup corn chips Doritos, Fritos Tostitos - just use your favorite corn chip!
  • 1 ½ cups shredded chedar cheese
  • ** Optional Toppings - salsa, sour cream, jalapenos, minced cilantro, chopped tomatoes, olives **

I earn a commission from Instacart from qualifying purchases.

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Prepare 9x13 casserole dish by spraying with non-stick cooking spray, set aside.
  • In a large skillet over medium heat - brown the ground beef, drain.
  • Add the onions and drained black beans. Sprinkle with taco seasoning and mix together well.
  • Top with the rice. Add the water, drained corn and canned tomatoes. Mix to combine. Pour into prepared casserole dish and cover tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until the rice is tender.
  • Remove the cover and sprinkle with chips, top with cheese. Cover until the cheese melts or place under broiler for 2-3 minutes.
  • Serve topped with your favorite toppings! Salsa, sour cream, jalapenos, minced cilantro, chopped tomatoes or olives!

Nutrition

Calories: 329kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 56mg | Sodium: 617mg | Potassium: 331mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 624IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 186mg | Iron: 2mg
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About Bowl Me Over

Welcome to Bowl Me Over! My name is Debra and I send warm greetings from sunny California. I am a serious foodie – I’ve been known as the go-to girl in our family for years, catering weddings and anniversary parties. In the summer I help cook mountains of food for our family reunions. Often times things I create end up in a bowl, hence the name Bowl Me Over! Let's stay connected, you can email me at [email protected] and find me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Alain H Leblond

    January 10, 2023 at 5:37 pm

    HOW LONG DO YOU PUT IT IN THE OVEN FOR AND AT WHAT TEMP???

    Reply
    • Bowl Me Over

      January 11, 2023 at 2:29 pm

      My apologies Alain, I just updated the recipe card and instructions. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.

      Reply

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