Description
Hearty easy taco casserole with fritos delivers Mexican-inspired comfort directly to dinner tables. Layers of seasoned ground beef, crispy corn chips, and melted cheese create a satisfying meal families will eagerly devour.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 packet taco seasoning
Vegetables and Beans:
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 cup salsa
- 1 (15 ounces / 425 grams) can black beans
- 1 (15 ounces / 425 grams) can corn, drained
Toppings and Extras:
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 cups Fritos corn chips
- 1/2 cup sour cream (optional, for serving)
- 2 tablespoons sliced jalapenos (optional, for serving)
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro (optional, for serving)
Instructions
- Heat a skillet over medium flame and thoroughly brown ground beef with finely chopped onions, ensuring no pink remains visible.
- Drain accumulated fat from the meat and incorporate taco seasoning and salsa, stirring until flavors meld completely.
- Preheat oven to 350F and select a rectangular baking dish for layering ingredients strategically.
- Create initial layer with seasoned beef mixture, spreading evenly across bottom of dish.
- Distribute black beans and corn kernels uniformly over beef layer, maintaining consistent coverage.
- Generously sprinkle shredded cheese across entire surface, creating a complete protective coating.
- Transfer casserole to preheated oven and bake for approximately 20 minutes until cheese transforms into bubbling, golden landscape.
- Remove dish from oven and immediately scatter Fritos across melted cheese layer, ensuring maximum crunch potential.
- Return casserole to oven for additional 5 minutes, allowing Fritos to achieve crisp, golden-brown edges.
- Remove from oven and garnish with dollops of cool sour cream, sliced fresh jalapeños, and chopped cilantro leaves.
- Serve immediately while temperature and texture remain optimal for maximum flavor enjoyment.
Notes
- Use lean ground beef to reduce fat content and create a healthier version of this comfort dish.
- Crush Fritos slightly before topping to enhance crunchiness and ensure even distribution across the casserole.
- Swap ground beef with plant-based meat alternatives or black beans for a vegetarian-friendly adaptation that maintains robust flavor profiles.
- Prepare casserole ahead of time by assembling layers and refrigerating, then bake when ready to serve for convenient meal planning.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg