Taco Casserole with Fritos
This easy taco casserole with Fritos is a fun, family-friendly dinner that comes together fast. Layers of seasoned beef, melted cheddar cheese, and crunchy Fritos create a comforting weeknight meal everyone will happily dig into.
Looking for more easy dinners? Try my beef enchilada casserole and white chicken enchiladas next!
What you’ll love about this recipe:
Ingredients for Walking Taco Casserole
- 1 cup onions, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, sliced
- 2 lbs. pounds lean ground beef
- 1 250ml can green chiles
- 2 pkgs. taco seasoning
- black pepper to taste
- 3 cups sharp cheddar, shredded (two cups for baking in oven and one cup for topping)
- 3 cups Fritos corn chips
- 2 cups shredded iceberg lettuce
- 1 cup tomatoes, diced
- 1 cup salsa
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup sliced green onions (for topping)
- 2 jalapeno peppers (optional)
Step by Step Instructions
STEP ONE – Start by adding chopped onions and garlic to a large skillet and sauté for for two minutes, stirring often. If you’re out of garlic, you could also add a little garlic powder or garlic salt.
STEP TWO – Add in the ground beef and cook beef and brown ground beef over medium heat stirring occasionally until meat is not longer pink inside. Drain off any excess grease.
STEP THREE – Stir in the can of green chiles and two packages of taco seasoning and water and cook as per the package directions.
Prefer homemade taco seasoning? You can also use that!
STEP FOUR – Transfer the mixture to a 13×9-inch baking dish and top with 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese. (You could also use an over safe skillet)
STEP FIVE – Bake in 350°F oven for 15 minutes.
STEP SIX – Sprinkle with Fritos, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, salsa, sour cream, sliced green onions and jalapeños (if using) and salsa.
STORAGE AND ADVANCED PREP DIRECTIONS
You can easily prepare this Frito taco casserole ahead of time by cooling the cooked ground beef mixture and placing in the refrigerator for up to two days. (don’t top with the cheese until you’re ready to cook it).
Store cooked Walking Taco Casserole in the refrigerator to up to two days in an airtight container.
Reheat in the microwave for one to two minutes.
Walking Taco Casserole
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
Description
This easy taco casserole with Fritos is a fun, family-friendly dinner that comes together fast. Layers of seasoned beef, melted cheddar cheese, and crunchy Fritos create a comforting weeknight meal everyone will happily dig into.
Ingredients
1 cup onions, chopped
3 cloves garlic, sliced
2 lbs. pounds lean ground beef
1 250ml can green chiles
2 pkgs. taco seasoning
black pepper to taste
3 cups sharp cheddar, shredded (two cups for baking in oven and one cup for topping)
3 cups Fritos corn chips
2 cups shredded iceberg lettuce
1 cup tomatoes, diced
1 cup salsa
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup sliced green onions (for topping)
2 jalapeno peppers (optional)
Instructions
- In a large skillet, sauté onions and garlic in 1 tbsp. of olive oil for two minutes.
- Add in ground beef and cook until meat is no longer pink inside.
- Stir in green chiles.
- Add in two packages of taco seasoning and water, following package directions.
- Taste and add black pepper to taste.
- Transfer the mixture to a 13×9-inch baking dish.
- Top with 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese.
- Bake in 350°F oven for 15 minutes until heated through and cheese is melted.
- Sprinkle with Fritos, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, salsa, sour cream, sliced green onions and jalapeños (if using).
Notes
Make-Ahead & Storage Instructions: You can easily prepare this Frito taco casserole ahead of time by cooling the cooked ground beef mixture and placing in the refrigerator for up to two days. (don’t top with the cheese until you’re ready to cook it).
Store cooked Walking Taco Casserole in the refrigerator to up to two days in an airtight container.
Reheat in the microwave for one to two minutes.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Oven Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 helpful
- Calories: 366
- Sugar: 5.4 g
- Sodium: 724.8 mg
- Fat: 22.7 g
- Saturated Fat: 12.7 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 13.3 g
- Fiber: 3.3 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 93 mg
Can you freeze this meal?
You can freeze the meat mixture without the cheese. Cool it, then cover with plastic wrap and foil. (for up to 3 months). Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Top it with the cheddar and cook in 350°F oven for 40-50 minutes. (check – it may need a few more minutes). Add the other toppings (lettuce, sour cream,etc). Thanks for stopping by and great question I will add it to the recipe notes. Sandra 🙂
This was very easy & simple ingredients kept around house most of time. We cut recipe in half only 2 of us. We have also used instead of corn chips; tortilla chips crumbled; ready made taco shells crumbled; whatever we had available. This is such a fun easy simple “do it your way” recipe; you will enjoy it.
Great idea using the crumbled tacos or nachos! Thanks so much for commenting and I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe! 🙂 Sandra
I am going to make this next week!! What a great idea!!!
That’s great! I hope you enjoy it 😉 Sandra
This recipe looks fun, easy and delicious. My family will love this.
We have it on regular rotation 🙂 I hope you enjoy it and thanks for stopping by! Sandra
Sounds delicious Sandra. Looking forward to making this tonight. I’m only using 1 lb of ground beef. Just for myself. Thanks for the recipe
Hope you enjoy it!
This was such a great meal! We wrapped the mixture in flour tortillas–loved the crunch from the chips! Def. a family fave!! xo
That’s great!! So glad that you enjoyed it 🙂 Sandra
Great idea for a quick meal!
I am going to make this for the next church potluck.
I am going to make this for the next church potluck.
Thank you for suggesting putting the Fritos in last. I used a different recipe the first time I made it and my husband nor I liked it it was too soggy! Made this last night and it turned out delicious. I’m going to join your cooking site I’m almost 65 and have got out of cooking now I want to start cooking more with fast simple meals.
That’s so great to hear! I’m so happy that you enjoyed it! We love quick and easy meals too 🙂
This is such a popular dish in our house we have made it multiple times. For such an easy dish it’s terrific and its teens approved
I made this with a few changes. I used Rotel instead of chilies and the tomatoes. I added 1/2 can of rinsed black beans. I also had sliced black olives for topping. It was great.
Love those substitutions and additions! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Yummy! We added a can of bush’s refried beans to the top of ours and it was delicious.