We love casseroles, and it’s easy to see why these filled dishes are a favorite. They can be prepared ahead of time, frozen for future mealsCan easily feed a crowd, and can be made with almost any ingredients. From Sweet Breakfast Casserole to simplify Budget-Friendly OptionMost casseroles are cooked in less than an hour For meals that are time-efficient without compromising on taste.
Last year, our readers loved creating Bourbon Chicken so much so that it became Most Saved Recipes of 2023Now, as we close out 2024, one new recipe has gained more popularity among the AllRecipes community than any other: Best Taco Casserole,
Its simplicity and versatility have quickly earned it a place in the food rotation of many people. Home cooks love how easy it is to customize Taco Casserole, the straightforward list of ingredients and it cooks in just 30 minutes.
What makes our best taco casseroles so good?
lean ground beef and canned beans Form the base for this recipe, making each serving filling and delicious. Jarred salsa and shredded cheese liven things up, while crunchy tortilla chip pieces add irresistible texture, resulting in a hearty, scoopable dish. The pilaf is topped with a generous layer of cheese along with chopped tomatoes, green onions and black olives for fresh flavor in every bite.
What Fans Say About the Best Taco Casserole Recipe
- “It was fantastic. I would normally use refried beans with a dish like this, but the chili beans were perfect!” says reviewer ladyloofsalot. “They added just the right amount of flavor to it. Our entire family loved this recipe. “We would definitely eat it again.”
- “This is a great recipe for busy weekday dinners. The flavor is great and it satisfies your craving for restaurant-style Mexican food,” says reviewer Donna Correa. “I’ve made it just like that and will make it again.”
- “Easy and delicious,” praised Netta. “The recipe to use forever!”
How to Make This Taco Casserole Recipe
This pulao offers lots of great flavors and textures in one pan, but the best part is the simplicity of its recipe.
Cook your ground beef in a large skillet until brown and crisp. Add salsa to the pan and cook until the salsa liquid is absorbed. Then, add in a can of beans and continue cooking until the beans are heated through.
The next part involves assembling the casserole. Spread tortilla chips in the bottom of a baking dish and pour the beef mixture on top, then add the sour cream. Finally, arrange the olives, green onions and tomatoes on top of the sour cream and finish with a heavy layer of cheese.
Pop that casserole in the oven for about 30 minutes, and let the wonderful smells of Mexican cuisine fill your kitchen.
Dotdash Meredith Food Studio
Tips to Make the Best Taco Casserole Even More Delicious
As always, we encourage you to Customize Recipes Follow as you like and share your findings. Here are some additional things our readers are loving:
- Mix Taco Seasoning, Add a store-bought packet of taco seasoning or use your pantry Homemade version To add extra flavor. Stir the seasoning into the meat mixture during Step 4 of the casserole’s instructions until it is well mixed with the other ingredients.
- replace protein, This recipe calls for ground beef as a base, but you can substitute Cock Or ground turkey. To save time you can also use chopped Rotisserie Chicken,
- add extra vegetables, Add Roasted Onions and PeppersAdd jalapenos, or canned corn (be sure to drain it first) into the casserole for added flavor and nutrients. Top with additional fresh ingredients like tomatoes, avocado cubes and chopped cilantro.
- mix cooked rice, Rice will make this dish more delicious and add more detail to the serving. add 1 cup cooked mexican rice Or pick up a microwave steamer bag of rice from the grocery store for a quick addition.
- lighten it up, In addition to using lean meat like turkey or chicken, you can lighten this meal by substituting sour cream and cheese. You can use low-fat counterparts, reduce the amounts used, or substitute plain Greek yogurt In place of sour cream.
No matter how you make it, there’s no doubt that this easy dish will quickly become a favorite and come to your table again and again.
How to Substitute Ingredients for This Recipe
A great thing about this casserole is that you can use things you have on hand if you don’t want to run to the store. Take hints from the Allrecipes community on how to transform this recipe:
“I switched out the ground beef for chicken. I cooked (the chicken) and cut it into pieces and also added green chili chutney along with the salsa to make it a little spicy. We didn’t have tortilla chips so we used Taco shellstumbled down. It was very good. The nice thing about this recipe is that you can turn it into whatever you have on hand and make it work,” said reviewer JoMom.
Reviewer Sherry Higgins says, “It’s great.” “I added taco seasoning to the salsa and the meat and bean mixture, using ground turkeyAdded a little more cumin (we love cumin!), and doubled the recipe. I also used a regular container of salsa and a Pico-Type Salsa container. The last change I made was that I added a layer of Mexican rice on top of the meat/bean/salsa layer and before the sour cream. And yes, this dish will be added to the rotation!”
