Easy Taco Casserole [VIDEO] - The Recipe Rebel (2024)

Taco Casserole is cheesy, beefy, flavorful and SO easy to make! It’s a great weeknight dinner that the whole family loves. A base layer of soft tortillas are topped with a hearty ground beef mixture, more tortillas and plenty of gooey cheese.

Dig into more of my favorite casserole recipes like Stuffed Pepper Casserole, Chicken Noodle Casserole and Cheeseburger Casserole!

Taco Casserole is one of my family’s favorite dinners! This is a classic that gets requested in my house at least once a month, but usually more.

I’ve been making variations of this casserole for years. The version you see today is my masterpiece! I’ve tried it with all kinds of ingredients you so you don’t have to.

While this new and improved Taco Casserole is the bee’s knees, have no fear. It takes just about 5 minutes to prepare! Then you just toss it into the oven and call it dinner.

I’m all about easy weeknight dinners, and this one’s a real winner!

Why we love this Taco Casserole:

• Filling: There’s plenty of ground beef and black beans in the mix to get your protein fix at dinner. Just one hearty serving should keep you nice and full!
• Quick and Easy: With just 5 minutes of prep and 25 minutes in the oven, this easy casserole recipe comes together in just half an hour.
• So Cheesy: I mean, it kind of goes without saying that when a recipe calls for 3 cups of cheddar cheese you know it’s going to be good!

Taco Casserole Ingredients Needed:

• Ground Beef – You can swap this with ground turkey or even chicken if you’d like. Just note that the flavor and consistency may differ.
• Cheese – Freshly gated cheddar is my favorite! Feel free to use another type of cheese if you’d like, such as a Mexican blend.
• Tortillas – You can use flour, whole wheat or corn. They’ll all work well.
• Salsa – While I’m a fresh salsa lover, I actually prefer using a jar of salsa for this recipe. Fresh salsa is a bit too watery.
• Black Beans – Make sure they’re drained well prior to using.
• Onion – A white or yellow onion is preferred.
• Red Bell Pepper – Feel free to swap this with another colored bell pepper if you’d like!
• Garlic – You can swap this with garlic powder if needed.
• Seasonings – All you need is some taco seasoning and a little bit of oregano to create the very best flavor.

How to make Taco Casserole

Take a quick look at how simple this taco casserole recipe is! For more information about ingredients and steps, scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of the page.

• Cook the ground beef, peppers and onions over medium-high heat until the beef is browned and the veggies are tender.
• Stir in the taco seasoning, oregano, garlic and salt.

• Stir in the salsa and beans. Remove from the heat.
• Place the base layer of tortillas on the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish.

• Top the tortillas with ⅓ of the meat and ⅓ of the cheese. Repeat the layers twice for three layers: two tortillas (cut to fit as necessary), ⅓ ground beef, ⅓ cup cheese.
• Bake at 350°F for 15-20 minutes, until the cheese has melted and it’s warmed all the way through.

Variations and Substitutions

• Veggies: This is a wonderful recipe to use when you have extra veggies you need to get out of your fridge! Toss in some kale, mushrooms, zucchini, or whatever else you may have on hand.
• Make it Spicy: To add more heat, sprinkle in some cayenne powder and/or red pepper flakes when you add the taco seasoning. You can also serve your taco casserole with your favorite hot sauce splashed on top! Or, mix in some jalapeños with the other veggies. So many spicy options to play around with!
• Change the Meat: Not a ground beef fan? No worries! Swap it out with ground turkey or ground chicken. You can even omit the meat and replace it entirely with more black beans for a vegetarian dinner.

How to store Taco Casserole

Leftover taco casserole will stay fresh in the fridge for about 2-3 days. Make sure it’s kept in an airtight container, of course! To reheat it, simply pop it in the microwave and zap it for 30 seconds at a time until heated through.

Can I freeze taco casserole?

Yes! Let the beef taco casserole fully cool to room temperature prior to covering with a lid (or any other freezer safe storage container you have). Freeze for up to 3 months. Don’t forget to date and label!

When you’re ready to serve taco casserole, allow it to slowly defrost in the fridge for a few hours before reheating.

Serving suggestions:

Freshen up your plate with a lighter side dish like Corn Salsa! You can also serve it with a side of Baked Rice, Easy Homemade Cheese Sauce and tortilla chips, or Taco Dip!

More Taco Recipes You’ll Love!

• Crockpot Chicken Taco Soup — for all the taco lovers out there!
• Taco Lasagna — easy to prep ahead!
• Taco Mac — one of our favorite mash ups.
• Taco Pizza