A Walking Taco Casserole takes everything that makes a walking taco great, like quick and easy to put together, delicious to eat, and puts it in one easy dish.

walking taco casserole on a white background

What is a walking taco casserole?

A walking taco casserole, also called a walking taco bake, combines taco seasoned ground beef, veggies, then layers of cheese and Frito chips.

Top it with jalapeno peppers, pico de gallom and some chopped cilantro if you like. Just like you would your favorite tacos.

This makes it an easy weeknight meal the entire family will love. It kind of reminds me of this Doritos casserole.

It’s really just a casserole version of a walking taco. Perfect for Cinco de Mayo or any taco night, even if it’s not Taco Tuesday. Just like these taco empanadas!

If you are really into taco night like we are, check out this easy Taco Spaghetti, this Taco Hash Brown Casserole, and this Crockpot Taco Casserole with Potatoes.

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ingredients for walking taco bake in individual bowls

Ingredients Needed

Ground beef – Lean ground beef is best or substitute ground turkey. Great for using leftover taco meat.
Onion – White or sweet onion works.
Black beans – I like the size and texture of black beans for this recipe but pinto beans, navy beans, or even kidney beans also work.
Taco seasoning – Substitute store bought or homemade Southwest seasoning.
Cream cheese – Full fat, reduced fat, or fat free.
Diced tomatoes – Handy tip, drain the extra water from the tomatoes after you dice them, or strain the extra liquid if you use canned diced tomatoes.
Chopped green chiles – Optional if you don’t like spicy.
Taco sauce – Try it with mild or spicy.
Frito corn chips – Nacho cheese or Cool Ranch Doritos work great too.
Cheddar cheese – Or substitute Pepper Jack, Monterey Jack cheese, or a Mexican blend cheese.

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How to Make a Walking Taco Casserole

Preheat oven to 350F. Spray a 9×13 casserole dish with non stick spray.
In a large skillet, brown ground beef and onions over medium-high heat until no longer pink. Drain if desired.
To the pan with the onions and beef, add the taco seasoning and water. Cook for 2-3 minutes to get the flavor of the seasoning in the meat.
Add the drained black beans, diced tomatoes, chopped green chilies, cream cheese, and taco sauce. Stir to combine.

To the bottom of the baking dish, add half the corn chips. Top with the beef mixture and spread into an even layer.
Top with cheddar cheese. Cover with aluminum foil and cook in the oven for 20 minutes.

Uncover, top with remaining corn chips. Bake uncovered for another 5 -10 minutes or until the edges are bubbly and the cheese is melted.
Remove from the oven. Add your favorite toppings and you are ready to serve. Enjoy!

For the full recipe and detailed cooking instructions, please see the recipe card at the end of this post.

Can I use other flavors of Fritos?

Fritos now come in a few different flavors so feel free to add your favorite ones. My family loves the spicy ones!

You can also use any other type of corn chip as well, like classic tortilla chips, or even Doritos.

Great Toppings

Top your casserole with things like:

sour cream
cilantro
extra shredded cheese
diced onion or sliced green onions
salsa
jalapenos – pickled or fresh, all work great.
black olives

If you serve the toppings on the side, then everyone can use their favorites:)

If you like this recipe, check out my Frito pie casserole recipe or my Mexican trash recipe with ground beef casserole. Both are hearty, tasty, and budget friendly.

How long does it last?

If you have leftovers, cool them completely. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 or 4 days.

Can I make it ahead of time?

You can prep everything ahead of time and layer in the dish. Just leave off the corn chips until ready to bake.

Can I freeze it?

You can prep and bake the casserole. Cool completely and wrap tightly with plastic wrap. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

You can leave off the chips and add them right before you bake it again. That way they stay crunchy.

Close up showing the layers of a walking Frito casserole

Tips for the Best Casserole

Drain the meat mixture really well or the casserole will be soggy.
Use leftover taco meat for quicker prep.
Homemade taco seasoning tastes better than store bought.
Spray the bottom of your casserole dish first with a cooking spray or light brush of oil to prevent sticking.
Substitute the taco sauce with enchilada sauce.

If you love this recipe as much as I do, pin this to your favorite casserole Pinterest board and share it on your favorite social media channels!

This delicious Taco Casserole Recipe is one of those taco recipes that is a family favorite every night of the week.

Walking Taco Casserole

A walking taco casserole, which is also called a walking taco bake, combines taco seasoned ground beef with cream cheese, then layers of cheese and Frito chips.

5 from 3 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Ground Beef

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 20

Total Time: 30

Servings: servings

Calories: 392kcal

Author: Jennifer Stewart

Equipment

Ingredients

½ cup onion diced
1 pound ground beef
1 15 ounce can black beans drained
1 ounce packet taco seasoning 2 tablespoons homemade
½ cup water
4 ounces cream cheese softened
1 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes
4 ounces chopped green chilies
¼ cup taco sauce
1 9.25 ounce bag Fritos corn chips
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350F. Spray a 9×13 casserole dish with non stick spray.
In a large skillet, cook the ground beef and onions until no longer pink. Drain if desired.
To the pan with the onions and beef, add the taco seasoning and water. Cook for 2-3 minutes to get the flavor of the seasoning in the meat.
Add the drained black beans, diced tomatoes, chopped green chilies, cream cheese, and taco sauce. Stir to combine.
To the bottom of the baking dish, add half the corn chips.
Top with the meat mixture and spread into an even layer. Top with cheddar cheese.
Cover with foil and cook in the oven for 20 minutes.
Uncover, top with remaining corn chips. Bake uncovered for another 5 -10 minutes or until the edges are bubbly and the cheese is melted.
Remove from the oven. Let cool for a few minutes.
Add your favorite toppings and serve. Enjoy!

Notes

Drain the wettest ingredients during the preparation. That way you don't end up with a super soggy casserole.

Pre-heat your oven before popping the casserole dish in there. This ensure that your cooking time does not become an extended version of "Is it ready yet?"

Spray the bottom of your casserole dish first with a cooking spray or light brush of oil to prevent sticking. It also helps crust the bottom a bit, for some, that is the best part!

Use the right size casserole dish for the job. A 9×9 or a 9×13 dish with at least 2 inch depth is ideal. However, you can also use a cast iron pan if you prefer.

Nutrition

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