The recipe prices will vary based on fluctuating grocery costs. Please use what is posted as a guide.
This delicious taco casserole recipe combines all your favorite Mexican flavors in one satisfying dish. It’s an easy, crowd-pleasing dinner option!
It costs approximately $11.70 to make this taco casserole. The recipe makes six servings and costs around $1.95 per serving.
Taco Casserole
Ready to switch up your regular taco night? This Taco Casserole is the recipe for you! It has all the components of a delicious taco but in a casserole form.
The base is layered with savory ground beef, followed by black beans, salsa, and corn. Tortilla chips and shredded cheese finish it off to add a nice crunch to the texture and a delicious cheesy layer.
You can customize the casserole with your favorite toppings like shredded lettuce, sour cream, and avocados. It is a win-win for everyone! Easy to make and super tasty, making it kid-friendly and family-approved.
What You’ll Love About This Taco Casserole
- Quick Meal: With only fifteen minutes of prep time and fifteen minutes of cooking time, you can have this meal ready in thirty minutes! That’s perfect for busy weeknights when you need dinner ready fast.
- Family Friendly: If your family loves tacos, they will love this casserole! It is made with all the same delicious traditional taco ingredients in a unique and non-traditional way.
- Crowd Pleaser: Take this dish to potlucks, family gatherings, or parties. It makes a large serving, making it easy to take somewhere to serve a crowd.
Ingredients & Estimated Cost:
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil – $0.12
- 1 small onion – $0.39
- 3 garlic cloves – $0.15
- 1 pound lean ground beef – $3.58
- 1 Tablespoon chili powder – $0.08
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin – $0.02
- ½ teaspoon onion powder – $0.02
- 15 oz can black beans – $0.79
- 15.5 oz jar salsa – $2.9
- 10.5 oz can whole kernel corn – $0.89
- 1 ½ cups chips – $0.18
- 2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese – $2.49
The recipe cost is calculated by the amounts needed for the recipe. To find out more about how we price our recipes, check out Budget Recipes Explained. The pricing for this recipe was updated in August 2023.
How To Make Taco Casserole
***For complete recipe instructions, see the recipe card below.
- First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and spray a 13×9-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet and cook the onions for two to three minutes.
- Then, add in the garlic and cook for about a minute.
- Next, add the ground beef, cook until browned, and drain the excess fat.
- Stir in the beans, salsa, and corn before pouring the mixture into the baking dish.
- Sprinkle the top of the mixture with crushed corn chips and shredded cheese and bake for twelve to fifteen minutes.
- Finally, serve with your favorite toppings.
Recipe Variations and Substitutions
- Protein Options: You can use ground turkey and chicken instead of ground beef. For a vegetarian or vegan version, skip the meat, add extra beans, or use a meat substitute.
- Beans and Corn: Feel free to use different types of beans, like pinto beans or kidney beans, instead of black beans. Replace the canned corn with fresh, frozen, or roasted corn for added flavor.
- Salsa: Experiment with different types of salsa, such as salsa verde, chipotle salsa, or homemade salsa.
- Cheese: Change the cheese using pepper jack, Monterey Jack, or a blend of cheeses you enjoy.
- Tortilla Chips: Instead of traditional tortilla chips, use blue corn or multigrain chips.
- Vegetables: Add extra veggies to the filling, such as bell peppers, zucchini, or spinach, to increase the nutritional value.
- Grains: Instead of rice, you can use quinoa, couscous, or even cooked pasta as a base.
- Gluten-Free: For a gluten-free version, make sure all your ingredients are gluten-free, including the chips and salsa.
- Low-Carb: To reduce carbs, skip the chips and use cauliflower rice instead of regular rice.
Ground Beef Taco Casserole Storage Tips
SERVE: Just like many recipes containing dairy ingredients. It’s advisable not to let the Taco Rice Casserole sit out for more than 2 hours.
STORE: Preserve the casserole’s freshness by storing it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You can refrigerate for 3 to 4 days.
FREEZE: If you want to freeze the casserole, prepare it but hold off on baking. Wrap the dish securely with two layers of foil and position it in the freezer. You can freeze for around 2 to 3 months.
Taco Casserole Recipe FAQs
A casserole is a convenient dish for weeknight dinners and when you need dinner on the table easily and quickly. They are known for being layered in a large baking dish and are often classic comfort food.
You can split the mixture between two 9-inch or two 8-inch rounds if you do not have a 13×9-inch baking dish.
The amount of calories will vary somewhat depending on what toppings, if any, you put on top of the casserole. But one slice, with just the recipe ingredients, will have 541 calories. For the total nutritional value of this recipe, see the information at the bottom of the recipe card.
Get Kids Involved
Ages 2-3: Let your little one help you crush the tortilla chips. They will have so much fun doing this hands-on activity.
Ages 4-5: Your child can assist by mixing the ingredients as the recipe directs. They can begin to learn how to follow the directions of a recipe as they learn when to add and mix each ingredient.
Ages 6-8: Show your child how to spread and layer the ingredients. They can learn the process for layering to create a casserole and will feel successful as they complete this task.
Ages 9-11: Supervise them while they prepare the entire recipe. Remember to have them read it twice before beginning the recipe.
Ages 12+: Let them prepare the entire recipe unsupervised while you do the happy dance in the corner!
Budget Tips
We prefer to buy our ground beef in bulk and freeze it in portions to use as needed. We have found this to be more cost-effective than buying smaller amounts multiple times.
More Main Dish Recipes
- Chicken Stuffing Casserole
- Ham and Noodle Casserole
- Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole
- Cheeseburger French Fry Casserole
- Pizza Casserole
- Tuna Noodle Casserole
- Green Chile Enchilada Casserole
- Chicken Noodle Casserole
- Overnight Eggs Benedict Casserole
- Baked Chicken and Rice Casserole
Taco Casserole
Equipment
- 13×9 baking dish
- large skillet
- cutting board
- chef's knife
- mixing spoon
Ingredients
CASSEROLE:
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion about ½ cup finely diced
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 Tablespoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 15 oz can black beans drained and rinsed
- 15.5 oz jar salsa
- 10.5 oz can whole kernel corn drained well
- 1 ½ cups corn or tortilla chips coarsely crushed
- 2 cups shredded Mexican blend or cheddar cheese
TOPPINGS:
- Shredded lettuce
- Avocado
- Cilantro
- Sour cream
- Black Olives
Instructions
PREP OVEN:
- Move oven rack to the middle position.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
PREP BAKING DISH:
- Coat a 13×9 baking dish with cooking spray.
MAKE CASSEROLE FILLING:
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat the oil and add onions.
- Cook for 2-3 minutes or until onions are softened.
- Add garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Add ground beef to the pan and break apart with a wooden spoon or spatula.
- Cook until browned.
- Drain off excess fat.
- Stir in beans, salsa and corn and heat through.
- Pour mixture into prepared baking dish.
- Sprinkle with crushed corn chips and shredded cheese.
BAKE:
- Bake for 12-15 minutes or until cheese is melted and casserole is heated through.
SERVE:
- Serve immediately with your favorite toppings.
Tavo says
Wow, this taco casserole is a hit! The flavors meld together so well, it’s like a fiesta in every bite. Your choice of spices was spot-on, making it a dish I’ll definitely be making again. Thanks for sharing such a delicious recipe!
Nikki says
This quick, easy and fabulous casserole is perfect for a weeknight meal.
Gianne says
Made this yesterday and it was a total hit! The whole family loves it. Now I have to add this to our taco Tuesdays.
Alison Corey says
I’m also impressed that this recipe is so affordable. The ingredients are simple and inexpensive, but the dish is still incredibly flavorful.
Kristine says
I was looking for an easy dinner recipe and stumbled across this taco casserole. So glad I did, it’s delicious! We nearly ate the whole thing!