Walking Taco Casserole takes everything you love about the viral “walking taco” camping food and puts it in a delicious weeknight meal.
Imagine a dish brimming with all your favorite taco flavors – savory ground beef, crunchy Fritos corn chips, oozy melted cheese, all topped off with a refreshing dash of sour cream and tangy salsa.
Picture diving into this layered goodness, each bite bringing a burst of hearty, spicy, creamy flavor. Sounds divine, doesn’t it? Welcome to the joy of Walking Taco casserole, a simple casserole recipe that transforms your regular taco night into a festive fiesta!
Walking Taco Casserole is more than just an easy weeknight meal; it’s a fun, flavorful feast that your entire family will enjoy.
Seriously, they will enjoy it so much that you may have to double the recipe! So, the next time you’re thinking of shaking up your taco Tuesday, give this recipe a whirl. Your taste buds, and everyone else, will thank you!
Common Questions About Walking Taco Casserole
What is Walking Taco Casserole?
Walking Taco Casserole is an oven-baked twist on the classic “walking taco” – a portable, easy-to-eat taco in a bag, popular at festivals and fairs.
In casserole form, it becomes an easy weeknight meal that’s great for feeding the whole family or entertaining friends.
Is This Recipe the Same as Frito Pie?
While there are some similarities, Walking Taco Casserole and Frito Pie are not the same.
Frito Pie typically contains chili, cheese, and Fritos, while our casserole version incorporates a wider range of taco flavors like sour cream, diced onion, and black beans.
How Do I Make My Own Taco Seasoning?
Creating your own taco seasoning is simple and allows you to control the flavors. Mix chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, and some salt and pepper. Feel free to adjust the proportions to suit your taste.
Storage
This easy recipe will spice up any busy weeknight. It’s as delicious as it is simple!
Refrigerator
Store the leftover casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for 3-4 days.
Freezer
For longer storage, wrap your cooled casserole tightly with plastic wrap, then aluminum foil, and freeze. It will last for up to three months.
Tips
Make sure you cook the onions with the beef before adding them to the rest of the dish. We are blending and bringing out all the flavors!
- To make sure you have an even layer of Fritos, gently crush them in your hand before adding them to the dish.
- Drain any excess grease from the ground beef after browning for the best results.
- Allow the casserole to rest for a few minutes after removing it from the oven. This really helps the flavors to meld together.
Ingredients
Don’t skimp on the taco toppings! Make this a real taco experience with avocado, sour cream, or any of your favorites!
- Ground beef
- Small white or yellow onion, chopped finely
- Taco seasoning
- Water
- Black beans drained and rinsed
- Diced tomatoes with green chiles
- Frito corn chips
- Mexican-style shredded cheese
- Green onions, sliced
- Sour cream
- Guacamole
- Salsa
- Jalapenos
- Your favorite taco toppings
How to Make Walking Taco Casserole
Once you get into this, it’s really simple. Don’t let the number of steps fool you. This is all going to come together easily!
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Spray a 13×9 baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef until almost done.
- Add the onions and cook until they turn soft and translucent, about 3-4 minutes and the beef is no longer pink.
- Stir in the taco seasoning and water, and heat to boiling.
- Reduce the heat and stir in the beans, Rotel tomatoes, and sour cream.
- Cook for 8-10 minutes or until heated through and the mixture is slightly thickened.
- Add a single layer of corn chips to the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Sprinkle 1 cup of the shredded cheese.
- Top with the beef mixture.
- Sprinkle with the remaining cheese.
- Cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes, then remove the foil and continue baking for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the casserole is bubbly around the edges.
- Remove from the oven and top with the remaining corn chips and toppings of your choice.
- Serve immediately.
- Store the leftovers in the refrigerator.
Kitchen Supplies You’ll Need for Walking Taco Casserole
I wanted to keep this as simple as possible. Again, this recipe is for those busy nights when you want something delicious but don’t want to hassle with a lot of cooking or baking.
- Large skillet
- 13×9 baking dish
- Cooking spray
What to Serve With Walking Taco Casserole
Pair your casserole with a simple green salad, cilantro lime rice, or a refreshing Mexican corn salad for a balanced meal. Make sure you get creative with your toppings! I’ve even tried a wonderful mango salsa with this and I loved it!
Why You Should Make Walking Taco Casserole
I personally love tacos. Like, we have Taco Tuesday every week haha! This casserole really brings out the flavors of tacos in a more hearty, comfort food kind of way.
- Easy to make: This casserole recipe only needs a few simple ingredients and is easy to assemble.
- Family-friendly: Its flavors are a hit with both adults and kids.
- Customizable: You can easily modify the recipe to cater to various dietary needs or flavor preferences.
- Great for gatherings: It’s an excellent choice for potlucks or casual get-togethers.
Variations and Add-Ins for Walking Taco Casserole
As always, don’t be afraid to change things up! These are more guidelines than actual rules. Right?
- Switch up the protein: Use ground chicken, turkey, or even a meatless substitute.
- Add veggies: Mix in corn, bell peppers, or jalapeños for an extra crunch.
- Spice it up: Add a dash of hot sauce or diced green chilis for a spicy kick.
If you love this easy dinner recipe, you’re going to love these other delicious casseroles too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!
More Great Taco-Inspired Recipes
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Walking Taco Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small onion white or yellow, chopped finely
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning 1 package
- ½ cup water
- 15 oz black beans drained and rinsed (1 can)
- 10 oz diced tomatoes with green chiles like Rotel (1 can)
- ½ cup sour cream
- 9.25 oz corn chips 1 bag – Fritos
- 2 cups Mexican-style shredded cheese
Toppings
Green onions, sliced
Sour cream
Guacamole
Salsa
Jalapenos
Any taco toppings you like
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Spray a 13×9 baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef until almost done.
- Add the onions and cook until they turn soft and translucent, about 3-4 minutes and the beef is no longer pink.
- Stir in the taco seasoning and water, and heat to boiling.
- Reduce the heat and stir in the beans, Rotel tomatoes, and sour cream.
- Cook for 8-10 minutes or until heated through and the mixture is slightly thickened.
- Add a single layer of corn chips to the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Sprinkle 1 cup of the shredded cheese.
- Top with the beef mixture.
- Sprinkle with the remaining cheese.
- Cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes, then remove the foil and continue baking for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the casserole is bubbly around the edges.
- Remove from the oven and top with the remaining corn chips and toppings of your choice.
- Serve immediately.
- Store the leftovers in the refrigerator.
Equipment
- 9×13 baking dish
Nutrition
Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate. Please double-check with your own dietary calculator for the best accuracy. We at Yummi Haus cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site.
Wendy Redfearn says
I used kidney beans instead of black beans. It was amazing. My whole family loved it.