Walking Taco Casserole Made In Just 25 Minutes

This walking taco casserole is loaded with flavor. It is made with Tex Mex seasoned beef and vegetables, topped with crunchy Doritos, melty cheese, and sour cream. This taco casserole recipe is the ultimate party plate or family dinner, and it’s ready in under 30 minutes!

THE BEST WALKING TACO CASSEROLE

For the days when you want to prepare something filling and delicious without a lot of effort or time, this walking taco casserole is one of the best things you can make.

And if you’ve never heard of a walking taco before, it’s basically a crushed-up bag of chips mixed with taco ingredients like seasoned beef, vegetables, and cheese. It’s also called taco in a bag (I’m sure you can guess why).

This easy taco casserole version has all the flavor and texture of the walking taco but even better. It has layers of deliciousness, the Doritos bake up extra crisp in the oven, and the cheese becomes wonderfully gooey and melty.

What’s more, it’s ready in about 25 minutes, is made with simple ingredients, and makes enough to feed the whole family. 

Can you say easiest Taco Tuesday ever?

Oh, and if you want another recipe that comes in clutch on Taco Tuesday, you have to give these chicken fajita crunchwraps a try. They are like the ones from Taco Bell, but better! 

INGREDIENTS

Again, this walking taco casserole is made with basic ingredients and pantry staples that you can find anywhere. 

And I wouldn’t be surprised if you have most of this list in your kitchen already.

Anyway, here’s what you’ll need:

• 1 tbsp of olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 ½ tbsp chili powder
• 1 tbsp paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• Salt and pepper to taste
• ½ cup crushed tomato 
• 10 oz black beans
• 2 cups Doritos
• 3 oz shredded cheddar
• 3 oz shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• 1 cup diced lettuce
• 1 cup diced tomatoes
• Sour cream for topping
• Spring onion for garnish

It may seem like a lot at first glance, but when you look closer, you’ll realize it’s primarily common spices, veggies, and toppings.

In fact, if you’ve made some of my similar recipes like this spicy southwest salad or sheet pan chicken fajitas, you’re probably already familiar with everything on this list.

ADJUSTING THE SPICE LEVEL

Now, let’s talk about the spice level - I like my taco casserole on the spicier side, so this recipe calls for a lot of chili powder. 

And if you want to make it even spicier, you can add some chopped jalapenos to the casserole. 

But if you want yours to be milder, feel free to reduce the amount of chili powder to your liking. Or you could also add more cheese and sour cream - both will tame any spiciness. 

Either way, your taco casserole will come out delicious and flavorful!

CHIPS TO USE

So, I like to make this taco casserole with Doritos, and the classic nacho cheese is my favorite flavor to use. 

But you can experiment with other flavors of Doritos, like spicy nacho and cool ranch, and see what you like best. 

You could also just use regular tortilla chips or even Fritos! 

And if you want to cut down on the carbs and add some extra protein, I suggest using Quest Protein Chips - the nacho cheese, ranch, and loaded taco would all go great in this walking taco casserole recipe. 

HOW TO MAKE WALKING TACO CASSEROLE

Another thing to love about this recipe is how insanely easy it is to make.

It basically comes down to three steps: sauté, assemble, and bake. And altogether, this recipe should take a little under 30 minutes to make!

Sound good? Then let’s dive into the recipe!

STEP 1: COOKING

The first thing you’ll want to do is preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180°C).

Next, heat up a tablespoon of olive oil in a pan over medium heat and it around so the oil coats the surface. Add your chopped onion and cook, occasionally stirring, until it becomes translucent.

Then, add your ground beef along with the chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, plus salt and pepper to taste.

Sauté the meat and spices until the beef has browned and is cooked through. Then add your crushed tomato and black beans and let everything cook for another 5 minutes.

STEP 2: ASSEMBLE & BAKE

Once your taco casserole filling is ready, you’ll want to transfer all of it to a casserole dish in an even layer. 

Then top it with Doritos or any chips of your choice, followed by the shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses.

Next, pop your casserole in the oven and let it bake for 10 minutes or until the cheese has melted. 

Once that happens, take it out and sprinkle with lettuce and diced tomatoes, followed by a few dollops of sour cream and some chopped spring onion. 

Serve hot and enjoy!

STORING YOUR WALKING TACO CASSEROLE

This recipe makes enough casserole for about 4-5 people so it's the perfect family dinner recipe - especially on Tuesdays!

Plus, you can easily double or triple it for a bigger group or to have extra as leftovers. 

Now, if you have plans to store the extras for later in the week, I highly recommend making this taco casserole ahead of time. I’ll go into more detail on that in a second.

But if you do happen to find yourself with leftovers after dinner, you can transfer them to an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to 3 days.

MAKING THE CASSEROLE AHEAD OF TIME

This walking taco casserole is a fantastic make-ahead recipe. 

To prep it a couple of days ahead, make the filling as described earlier, then transfer it to an airtight container. 

Or, to save your future self a couple of minutes, you can also place it in the casserole dish and put the cover on it if it has one, or cover it with cling wrap.

And when you’re ready to make your taco casserole, just take it out, transfer it to a casserole dish (if you haven’t already), and proceed with the rest of the recipe. It’s that easy!

WRAPPING IT ALL UP 

This walking taco casserole is one of my favorite things to make for a big party or family gathering. 

It’s incredibly easy, uses simple ingredients, and is an instant hit with everyone who tries it!

So I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do - I highly recommend making it for your loved ones and see what they think! And if they end up asking you for the recipe, you’ll know where to point them. 

Oh, and if you make it, leave a comment below and let me know what you think!

And if you liked this recipe, give these instant pot chicken enchiladas a try next!

Print