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Easy Taco Casserole Recipe

Published: / Updated: / 60 Comments

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This taco casserole recipe has flavorful ground beef, salsa, corn, black beans, plenty of cheese, and a layer of Doritos. It's the perfect easy comfort food for busy families! 

ground beef taco casserole in a 9x13 baking dish, topped with sour cream, cilantro, and scallions

This ground beef taco casserole is also great because you can load it up with your favorite toppings. I'm one of those people where toppings make the meal. It's easy to top the whole thing like I did for the photos, or you can let everyone top their own piece once it's dished up. 

I didn't really grow up with casseroles, but I can definitely see the appeal. They're warm, comforting, easy to throw together, and feed a crowd. If you like taco flavors and ground beef, chances are that you will like this taco casserole with Doritos. Or your family will. I can imagine that this one would be popular with the kiddies!

It's strange... I did not expect my husband to like this, but he LOVED it. He devoured the entire thing and enjoyed the leftovers very much. Just goes to show that even when you think you know a person, they can sometimes surprise you.

This casserole is quite forgiving and easily customizable depending on your preferences. Keep scrolling for some tips and tricks.

Love casseroles? Try my Simple Ground Beef Casserole or check out all my casserole recipes.

taco casserole with Doritos (piece being lifted out, cheese pull)

How to make taco casserole

  1. Preheat your oven and prep the ingredients;
  2. Cook the ground beef in a skillet for 5 minutes, then add in the onion and spices and continue cooking; 
  3. Spread an even layer of crushed Doritos on the bottom of a casserole dish;
  4. Stir the beans, corn, salsa, and half the cheese into the skillet; 
  5. Spoon the beef mixture evenly over the Doritos;
  6. Top casserole with the rest of the cheese. Bake for 15-20 minutes;
  7. Meanwhile, prep your toppings;
  8. Add toppings to casserole (or serve it first and let everyone top their own bowls).

(Full ingredients and instructions are in the recipe card below)

taco casserole prep collage

Taco casserole toppings

  • Fresh tomatoes
  • Chopped cilantro
  • Avocado
  • Scallions
  • Black olives
  • Sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
  • Iceberg or romaine lettuce

...etc.

Recipe notes & tips:

  • You don't have to use Doritos. Other tortilla chips (or Fritos) will definitely work in this taco bake!
  • Use a ready-made taco seasoning if you prefer not to use the individual spices.
  • You could add more veggies (such as red peppers) to this casserole. I'd add them in at the same time as the onion. 
  • Feel free to swap the black beans with another kind if you prefer (such as kidney or pinto). Or even add a layer of refried beans instead. 
  • If you want to add some heat, use a medium or spicy salsa, hot cheese blend, add some cayenne pepper, or you could even add some spicy chopped green chilies. 

Other Tex-Mex recipes you may like:

layered taco casserole close-up

Will you make this Doritos taco casserole?

Questions? Ask me in the comments below. 

ground beef taco casserole in a 9x13 baking dish, topped with sour cream, cilantro, and scallions

Easy Taco Casserole Recipe

This taco casserole recipe has flavorful ground beef, salsa, corn, black beans, plenty of cheese, and a layer of Doritos. It's the perfect easy comfort food for busy families! 
4.92 from 23 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Total Time 40 mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 554 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound extra lean ground beef
  • 2 cups crushed Doritos I used Nacho Cheese flavor
  • 1/2 medium onion chopped
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 (14 fluid ounce) can black beans drained & rinsed
  • 1 (12 fluid ounce) can corn drained
  • 1 (14.5 ounce) jar salsa use your favorite kind
  • 2 cups shredded Tex-Mex cheese blend (or use cheddar)
  • Toppings (optional, to taste): tomatoes, cilantro, scallions, avocado, black olives, sour cream, iceberg lettuce, etc.

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350F and move the rack to the middle position. Prep your ingredients.
  • Add the oil and ground beef to a skillet. Cook, breaking up the meat as you go along, for 5 minutes over medium-high heat.
  • Stir in the onion, chili powder, garlic powder, and ground cumin, and continue cooking for another 5 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, add the crushed Doritos in an even layer to the bottom of a 9x13 (or similar size) casserole dish.
  • If there's a lot of excess fat in the skillet, spoon most of it out. Stir in the beans, corn, salsa, and half the cheese. Let it warm through (until the cheese melts).
  • Spoon the beef mixture evenly over the Doritos.
  • Top the casserole with the remaining cheese. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until it's warm and the cheese is nice and melty.
  • Meanwhile, prep the toppings. Serve casserole as-is or with your favorite toppings.

Notes

  • Serves 6+ depending on how much people eat.
  • Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

Nutrition

Calories: 554kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 34gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 82mgSodium: 1319mgPotassium: 827mgFiber: 8gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 970IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 362mgIron: 4mg
Keyword easy taco casserole recipe, ground beef taco casserole, taco casserole with Doritos
Author Natasha Bull
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  4. Edi Ross says

    5 stars
    Great recipe! I substituted the dairy and meat for ethical/animal cruelty reasons but the rest was easy to prep and delicious!

    Reply

  5. Christine says

    5 stars
    Just had this tonight! It was a hit. I was in a rush so I just used a bag of taco seasoning- next time I’ll make it spicier. Also added hatch chilies & didn’t have Doritos so just used plain tortilla chips. Will definitely have this again! Quick, easy, & really good! Thanks!

    Reply

  6. Deborah Daniel says

    5 stars
    Hi there!!
    Okay!!!!! Huge hit in our home this weekend!!! Requests are coming for it already and we just finished last night. I read some of the comments from others and it wasn’t soggy and was great for leftovers. It’s was so delish and can be fixed up with whatever fixins one may like. I would love to bring this to a party with all taco fixins that my family doesn’t like such as jalapeño, avocado, olives!!! Oh my oh my!!! Fabulous recipe and super easy and quick!!!
    Of course I had all the ingredients!!
    Thank you again for bringing love to my kitchen table and my families bellies!!!!

    Reply

  9. Miriam says

    4 stars
    I did not have Doritos, so used plain tortilla chips. They were pretty soggy when I served it. ☹️ I would suggest either adding them to the top after baking, or just serving chips on the side to scoop the mixture. Other than the soggy chips, everyone liked it alot!

    Reply

  10. Susan says

    5 stars
    Loved it. Better than a taco. We topped with lettuce, tomato, olives and sour cream. Definite recipe keeper! Thank you.

    Reply

  11. Rachel says

    This sounds delish! Could you make this ahead and keep in the fridge until you're ready to cook and eat? Wondering if this would work for a meal train for a friend that just had a baby. Thanks!!

    Reply

    • Natasha says

      Hi! My only concern is that the Doritos layer might get a little soggy. It's not crispy to begin with, but I'd hate for it to go yucky. Maybe leave that off?

      Reply

  15. Kiki says

    5 stars
    Very good! I am making this for my second time. My Son wanted this for his Celebration dinner for getting his new job!!
    This will be a go-to dinner. Yummy!!

    Reply

  17. Tina Ulrich says

    This sounds delicious! Wondering if I substitute the ground beef with rotisserie chicken if it would still turn out.....? Have you tried it? Looking forward to making this!

    Reply

    • Natasha says

      Hi Tina! I think that would be fine. My only concern is that rotisserie chicken is already cooked, and so especially the white meat parts may get dry and chewy a lot faster. I'd probably just cook it for a bit less... like add it in to the mixture as late as possible. Let me know how it goes!

      Reply

  18. DIane says

    Loved it but I used soft tacos as a layered (lasagna) like dish. I spread sour cream and cheese on top. Really good, thank you Also used taco seasoning and salsa to give it more of a kick

    Reply

  19. Joanne says

    5 stars
    My family of four ate every bit and asked for more! I was grateful that this recipe used ingredients that I usually have on hand due to our limited trips to the grocery store due to the [...] stay at home order in our state. Thanks!

    Reply

    • Natasha says

      Hi Joanne!! So happy you enjoyed it. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review! (I edited your comment because bloggers have been told that using buzzwords surrounding the current events can negatively impact our Google ranking so I'm not taking any chances).

      Reply

  20. Lauren A Milke says

    This was so delicious! My family loves cheese so added an extra 1/2 cup on top. I also substituted the black beans for black olives because it better suits my family's likes.
    Thank you so much,
    Lauren

    Reply

  21. Jeanne says

    5 stars
    Yet another delicious recipe from you! This was easy and a favorite at my house. Will be adding it to the meal rotation!

    Reply

  22. Monica Van Rickley says

    5 stars
    It was good! Made it for lunch. I had ranch style beans and since I didn’t know when else I could use it, it was the chosen one. Because of this I omitted adding chili powder. I also used frozen corn and served with a dollop of sour cream, avocado 🥑 and green onions. Even though I added the Doritos, we ate with some tortilla chips we had and it tasted like Nachos. I would definitely serve this as a snack while watching TV with the family.

    Reply

    • Natasha says

      I'm so glad you liked it and made it work with what you had at home, Monica! 🙂 Thanks for letting me know!

      Reply

  23. Jamie says

    5 stars
    I made this last night..... It was delicious!! Although I think I used too much cheese on top (my own doing though, lol), so I recommend a sprinkled layer of cheese top.
    I also added a packet of taco seasoning in the beef mixture, since I had it on hand, because the kids love it!
    My daughter is a vegetarian - so I made a small separate batch of meatless mixture, and added everything else, and just seasoned to taste. I used a large muffin pan to cook her vegetarian batch in the oven (it made about 3 portions).
    All-in-all, the recipe was delicious and very easy to make! Next time I am going to try the beef and vegetable mixture to stuff some bell peppers!! mmmm.........
    Thanks Natasha for your recipes - they are always crowd pleasers at mi casa!! 😉

    Reply

  24. Carol says

    5 stars
    This Recipe was fun. I wouldn’t normally admit to using Doritos in a recipe, but it received five star reviews from husband and son!
    I just found your site, and you have some great inspirational quick dinners, which I’m always looking for.

    Way to go, Natasha!

    Reply

    • Natasha says

      That's awesome! I thought Doritos would be a fun touch hahaha. So happy it was a hit! 🙂 So glad you found me. Happy new year!

      Reply

  25. Hannah says

    5 stars
    Made this today and it is DELICIOUS! I swapped the black beans for black eyed peas (because they are supposedly easier to digest and I have GI problems), mixed regular tortilla chips with the doritos, and used a McCormick Mild Taco Seasoning Packet (not too much), and then added tortillas to eat it all in! It is like tacos on steroids!

    Reply

  27. Mimi says

    5 stars
    I literally never ever cook, made this for my fiancé and my parents as a surprise, and it was a smash hit 😉 Super delicious and not even I could mess anything up; ingredients were easy to get as well!

    Reply