Description
This Easy Taco Casserole is a delicious and comforting layered dish that combines seasoned ground beef, beans, corn, salsa, and melted cheese over a crunchy Doritos base. Perfect for a quick family dinner or casual gatherings, it’s packed with bold Mexican flavors and customizable with your favorite toppings.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1/2 medium onion, chopped
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 cups crushed Doritos (Nacho Cheese flavor recommended)
- 1 (14 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (12 ounce) can corn, drained
- 1 (15.5 ounce) jar salsa (your favorite kind)
- 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend or cheddar, divided
Optional Toppings
- Diced tomatoes
- Chopped cilantro
- Chopped scallions
- Avocado slices
- Black olives
- Sour cream
- Shredded lettuce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F and position the rack in the middle to ensure even cooking for the casserole.
- Cook the ground beef: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the lean ground beef, breaking it up as it cooks, and cook for about 5 minutes until starting to brown.
- Add spices and onion: Stir in the chopped onion, chili powder, garlic powder, and ground cumin. Continue to cook for another 5 minutes until the onion softens and the beef is fully cooked, stirring occasionally.
- Prepare the casserole base: While the beef mixture cooks, evenly spread the crushed Doritos in the bottom of a 9x13-inch casserole dish or similar size.
- Combine with beans, corn, salsa, and cheese: Remove excess fat from the skillet with the beef mixture if necessary. Stir in the drained black beans, corn, salsa, and half of the shredded cheese. Let this mixture warm through until the cheese starts to melt, about 2-3 minutes.
- Layer the casserole: Spoon the beef and bean mixture evenly over the crushed Doritos layer in the casserole dish.
- Add remaining cheese and bake: Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top of the casserole. Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes until the casserole is heated through and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve with toppings: Remove from the oven and serve the casserole warm. Optionally garnish with prepared toppings like tomatoes, cilantro, scallions, avocado, black olives, sour cream, or shredded lettuce.
Notes
- You can substitute Doritos with other flavored tortilla chips if preferred.
- For a vegetarian version, replace ground beef with plant-based crumbles or extra beans.
- Use low-fat cheese to reduce the fat content.
- Make sure to drain beans and corn thoroughly to avoid a soggy casserole.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
