Taco Casserole with Tortilla Chips

This taco casserole recipe is one for the books. It has crunchy tortilla chips, seasoned ground beef, beans, and ooey-gooey cheese. It'll satisfy your craving for tacos and nachos all in one easy casserole! 

The Best Nacho Casserole

I say it every time; casseroles have got to be my favorite dish to make for a family. They're quick, easy, and delicious, and this tortilla chip taco casserole is no different. 

It's kind of like my taco casserole with tortillas but with chips instead of taco shells.

This easy taco casserole recipe has tender red beans and ground beef mixed in taco seasoning and salsa-like sauce for the filling. All that deliciousness is baked on top of crunchy tortilla chips, with melted shredded cheese and more chips on top.

How delicious does that sound?!

This family-friendly meal is perfect for a busy weeknight dinner or when you're hosting a large party. Either way, this delicious taco bake is a meal that everyone will love!

Why This Recipe Works

Easy to customize. This easy taco casserole recipe can be made in a variety of ways. Serve it on a bed of shredded lettuce with sour cream, add fire-roasted corn, pinto beans, or black beans. There are endless ways to make delicious taco casserole.

It saves time. This recipe is essentially a one pan meal. Everything gets prepared in a skillet, and then transfer to a casserole dish to bake in the oven.

Crowd favorite. Everyone loves loaded nachos, and this casserole is basically the best loaded nachos ever! Kids and adults both love this nacho casserole, so you'll have a hit whenever you serve it.

Ingredients

The ingredients in this baked taco casserole are simple, yet when they're mixed together they create a flavorful experience unlike any other. 

Check out what you need to make taco casserole:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 can diced tomato
• 1 can red kidney beans
• 5 cups corn tortilla chips
• 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

You can use almost all of these ingredients to make this taco pasta casserole and taco potato casserole. They're two more of the best taco casserole recipes ever, so you'll want to try those next.

How To Make Nacho Casserole

1. Prep: Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°F) and grease a casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.

2. Cook beef: Brown the ground beef and onion over medium heat until the beef is no longer pink and is cooked through. Add minced garlic, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper to the beef and mix to combine.

3. Add the tomatoes: Stir in the diced tomatoes and tomato paste to combine it with the ground beef mixture. Then add red kidney beans, stir, and simmer for an additional 5 minutes.

4. Build the casserole: In the prepared casserole dish, add 3 cups of corn tortilla chips to the bottom and sprinkle them with ½ cup of the shredded cheese. Spread the ground beef mixture over the top of the tortilla chips and top with the remaining tortilla chips and cheese. 

5. Bake: Put the nacho casserole in the oven and bake uncovered for 20 minutes or until the cheese on top is melted and bubbly. 

6. Serve: Top the beef nacho bake with more tortillas or any of your favorite taco toppings and serve immediately.

Tips To Make The Best Recipe

• Use corn tortillas, Frito corn chips, or Doritos instead of corn tortilla chips.
• Substitute the red kidney beans with black beans or refried beans.
• Use 1 packet of taco seasoning mix instead of paprika to enhance the flavor.
• Serve with shredded lettuce on top and a side of sour cream for dipping.

How To Store Taco Casserole With Tortilla Chips

In the fridge: The best way to store this taco casserole is to transfer the filling to an airtight container and it'll last in the fridge for up to 3 days. 

In the freezer: Transfer the beef nacho casserole to a freezer-safe bag or container, and you can freeze it for up to 3 months.

Reheating: When you're ready to reheat it, put the ground beef nacho casserole filling on top of some new tortilla chips. Bake in the oven at 350°F (180°F) for about 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is melted. 

More Taco Casserole Recipes

• Taco cornbread casserole
• Walking taco casserole
• Dorito chicken casserole
• Frito taco casserole
• Chicken tortilla casserole
• Cheesy sheet pan chicken nachos