This taco casserole with tortillas is simply irresistible. It combines perfectly seasoned ground beef, salsa con queso, and crispy tortillas with a melty Mexican cheese blend throughout. Plus, it's so easy to make you just might want to have it every night for dinner!
Table of Contents
The Best Taco Casserole
If you love tacos, just wait until you give this taco bake casserole a try!
It's crazy delicious. From the cheesy, seasoned ground beef mixture to the crisp tortillas and melted cheese on top, there's just so much to love about this easy taco casserole recipe.
And something about eating a deconstructed taco with a fork and knife is so much more satisfying than eating regular tacos.
We've been making this for pretty much every Taco Tuesday in the Cunningham household since it's so darn good, and it's always a hit whenever we're hosting. Especially when these spicy margaritas are served up beforehand!
Why This Recipe Works
5 ingredients. You only need five ingredients to make this recipe, and they're all basic grocery store finds.
Easy to make. This taco bake is just as easy, if not easier, than making regular tacos.
A winning combination. This recipe has everything you love about tacos, and it tastes even better in a layered casserole form.
Crowd-pleaser. Everyone always loves this recipe, so it's a guaranteed winner for a family dinner or if you're hosting.
Ingredients
I just mentioned that this taco bake recipe is made with only the simplest ingredients, and those ingredients are:
- 1lb. ground beef
- 1 ½ tablespoon taco seasoning mix
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup salsa con queso
- 3 8-inch flour tortillas or corn tortillas
- 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend or cheddar cheese
- Sour cream for serving
For another version of this taco casserole, you can use most of these ingredients and a few more to make this crock pot taco casserole!
Oh, and you can basically substitute tortilla shells for tortilla chips and make this taco casserole with tortilla chips for another taco casserole recipe.
How To Make Taco Casserole With Tortillas
1. Prep: Preheat the oven to 350°F and heat some oil in a large skillet.
2. Cook the beef: Add the ground beef to the hot oil and cook until it's browned on all sides. Add the taco seasoning and water and simmer the beef for 2-3 minutes. Stir in the salsa con queso until it combines with the ground beef, then remove it from the heat.
3. Assemble the casserole: Spray an 8-inch round baking dish with some cooking spray. Layer the bottom of the pan with one of the flour tortillas. Add ⅓ of the ground beef mixture over the tortilla and top it with ⅓ of the shredded cheese. Repeat the layers two more times and finish it with the ground beef with the shredded cheese on top.
4. Bake and serve: Put the assembled casserole in the oven for about 20 minutes until the cheese is melted. Cool the taco bake for a few minutes before slicing and serving. Enjoy!
Tips To Make The Best Recipe
- Break the ground beef apart while it's cooking so it browns evenly on all sides.
- Change the meat. Instead of ground beef, try using ground chicken or ground turkey. You can even use shredded chicken instead of ground chicken. Or use refried beans to make it vegetarian.
- Add canned diced tomatoes, frozen corn, green onions, or black olives to the salsa con queso, beef, and taco seasoning mix.
- Serve the casserole with shredded lettuce on top with a side of sour cream and salsa for the ultimate taco experience.
How To Store Taco Casserole
In the fridge: Store the taco casserole in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
In the freezer: Transfer the casserole to a freezer-safe bag or container, and you can freeze it for up to 3 months.
Reheating: For the best leftover results, put the casserole back in the oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes or until the cheese melts again and it's heated through.
FAQS About This Taco Casserole Recipe
Can I make this taco bake casserole ahead of time?
Yes, the best way to make it in advance is to cook the ground meat and store it in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Then just assemble and bake the casserole as described in this recipe.
What goes with taco casserole?
It's great served with some sour cream, salsa, and guac to top the casserole. You can also make this Moes queso or Taco Bell nacho cheese to drizzle on the casserole and serve it with some tortilla chips for dipping too.
Can I use corn tortillas instead of flour tortillas?
Yes, you can use corn tortillas, but I've found that flour tortillas hold up better and also get nice and crisp when baked.
More Casserole Recipes
- Taco casserole with Doritos
- Chicken taco casserole
- Mexican casserole
- Burrito casserole
- Doritos chicken casserole
- Beef enchilada casserole
- Hashbrown casserole topped with Corn Flakes
Taco Casserole With Tortillas
This taco casserole with tortillas is simply irresistible. It combines perfectly seasoned ground beef, salsa con queso, and crispy tortillas with a melty Mexican cheese blend throughout. Plus, it's so easy to make you just might want to have it every night for dinner!
Ingredients
- 1lb. ground beef
- 1 ½ tablespoon taco seasoning mix
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup salsa con queso
- 3 8-inch flour tortillas or corn tortillas
- 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend or cheddar cheese
- Sour cream for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Heat some oil in a large skillet.
- Add beef and cook until browned.
- Add the taco seasoning and water. Simmer for 2-3 minutes.
stir in salsa con queso and remove from the heat. - Spray an 8-inch round baking tin with some cooking spray.
- Layer the bottom of the pan with one tortilla. Add ⅓ of the beef mixture over the tortilla and top it with ⅓ of the shredded cheese.
- Repeat layers two more times and bake for 20 minutes until the cheese is melted.
- Cool the taco bake for a few minutes before slicing and serving.
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size:
1 servingAmount Per Serving: Calories: 527Total Fat: 33gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 19gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 39g
Lloyd spesard
Gotta try this one!!
Brendan Cunningham
Definitely!
Adrienne
Will the flour tortilla be gummy like wet bread
Brendan Cunningham
No they should crisp up nicely
Phyllis
My flour tortilla the bottom one always gets soggy? Can you give me some advice? and I’m the one that is also putting this fabulous Mexican Dinner together because it looks and sounds delicious. Have a nice evening
Wilma
Just put the tortillas in the oven till they are crispy first or deep fry the tortillas first I love them deep fried
L
Yes, so use corn tortillas.
Betty
Not at all! I've already made it twice and I'm making it tonight for dinner.
Jenny
This is my hubby's now fave for taco Tuesday!! I use the low carb mission flour tortillas and they work/crisp perfectly!!! It's DELICIOUS!!
Brendan Cunningham
So happy he likes it!
Nancy
Could you use white queso instead of the salsa
Brendan Cunningham
Yes for sure I think that'd be delicious!
Wendy
We made this taco casserole tonight and not a bite is left! Def a keeper.
Brendan Cunningham
That's amazing we are so happy it was a hit!!
Patty
The casserole was good my husband loved it. I'm not a spice girl at all thank God for the sour cream..I added scallions and corn to the mix.. We also bout keto tortillas they were soft after baking do next time I'll great tell flour tortillas... But all in all good recipe will make again.
Carolyn
Great recipe, for which I used corn tortillas (10 in all) softened in hot oil then cut into pieces to distribute through each layer. Can't help it, I just love corn tortillas!!! I will make this again and add on the lettuce, tomatoes and onion to give it that true taco experience!! Thanks!!!!!
Brendan Cunningham
Corn tortillas are delicious:) We're so happy you like the recipe!!
Josie Hall
Can you make this ahead and not bake it until the next day?
Brendan Cunningham
Yes but the tortillas will get soggy. So the best way to make it ahead of time is to cook the ground beef and store it in the fridge. Then just assemble the casserole before baking the next day.
Michelle Carver
Fantastic and quick! I needed to double the taco seasoning but that is probably a reflection of the generic “taco seasoning” mix I bought. I added 3 Tbsp Bragg’s Nutritional Yeast for added nutrition since it has a cheesy flavor. I used 6” low carb tortillas, used 2 (6”) cake pans, then layered: tortilla + beef & cheese + tortilla + beef & cheese in each making 2 meals. Definitely going into regular rotation!
Brendan Cunningham
That sounds great!! We're so glad you like the recipe!
Rochelle
Thanks for the cake pans idea!
Kathryn Tower
Do you pre crisp the tortilla?
Thank you!
Brendan Cunningham
Yes if you want them extra crispy I would pre crisp them!
Riley Dimitroff
I'd eat this every night it was excellent!!
Mila Dargan
This was like my favorite taco thing ever!!
Lana Nellen
It was DELICIOUS!!!
RobinW
This is awesome, 2 thumbs up, hubby likes is and it’s so easy, didn’t change a thing with the recipe, it is spot on. Thanks for sharing.
Brendan Cunningham
Hey Robin! We are so happy you two liked the recipe!!