Cheesy Taco Casserole

Easy to make taco bake will have the whole family combing back for seconds!

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, it's one of our favorites!

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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

✔️ It's 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

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

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

Brown the ground beef, drain.
Add the onions and 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, cover and cook for 20 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, green onions, sour cream, jalapenos, minced cilantro, chopped tomatoes or olives!

Equipment

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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.

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.
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.

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.

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