Walking Taco Casserole makes taco night even easier! Seasoned ground beef is topped with crunchy Fritos (or Doritos!), topped with gooey cheese, and thrown in the the oven to bake in minutes. Walking Taco Bake is an effortless weeknight dinner recipe on the table in 20 minutes!
reasons to love walking taco casserole
- Crowd Pleaser – Families love the taste of walking tacos, while the cook won’t break a sweat throwing this easy weeknight dinner together.
- Incredibly Fast, Easy, & Effortless – Like Mexican Chicken Casserole, it has all the taste and ease of taco night, without having to assemble countless tacos!
- Naturally Gluten Free – Everything in this recipe is gluten-free, including the Fritos (or Doritos)!
- Affordable – The ingredients are simple and cheap, but the flavor is robust!
Ingredient notes
- Ground beef – Use ground chuck for more flavor or ground sirloin for a healthier option. Alternatively ground turkey may also be used.
- Taco seasoning packet – Read label to make sure it is gluten free, or use homemade taco seasoning (recipe included under FAQs)
- Salsa – Pick your favorite brand and spice level. The taco seasoning does add a bit of heat, so I usually use mild salsa.
- Cream Cheese – Adds a touch of creaminess and tang to compliment the taco flavor.
- Fritos – Puts the walking taco in the Walking Taco Bake!
How to make walking taco casserole recipe
(Note: This is a step-by-step tutorial with pictures. For more specific instructions, along with ingredient amounts, see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.)
- First, brown the beef in a large skillet. After the meat has cooked I prefer to drain it through a colander and then add it back to the skillet, but this is a matter of preference.
- Add the taco seasoning, salsa, and water. Bring it to a simmer, lower heat and simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes.
- Stir in cream cheese until well combined.
- Transfer the meat mixture to a 11X7 baking dish. Top with Fritos, shredded cheese, and bake at 375ºF for 5-10 minutes, or until cheese is hot and bubbly.
- Scoop onto plates and serve with taco fixings, such as lettuce, sour cream, jalapenos, and tomatoes.
Additions and substitutions
Another reason to love this recipe for walking taco bake is how versatile it is! Just like tacos, the possibilities are endless!
- Add 1 small diced onion to the ground beef as it cooks
- Stir in drained and rinsed black beans to stretch the dish further and add protein.
- Instead of salsa, substitute a can of red enchilada sauce.
- Replace the Fritos with Doritos, tortilla chips, or Chili Cheese Fritos.
- Leave out the cream cheese or replace with 1/2 cup sour cream.
- Make it spicy by adding cayenne pepper or diced jalapeños to the taco meat.
make-ahead directions
To make this casserole ahed of time, prepare the seasoned ground beef mixture up to two days in advance. Cool and refrigerate in an airtight container.
When ready to serve, spread the beef in the baking dish, layer with Fritos, cheese, and bake. Since the meat will be cold, you will have to bake the dish about 15 minutes longer.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
This recipe uses a taco seasoning packet to add flavor easily and quickly. However, the store bought packet may also be replaced easily with pantry spices.
Homemade Taco Seasoning: 1 tbsp. chili powder, 1 tsp. smoked paprika, 1 tsp. cumin, 1/2 tsp. oregano, 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/2 tsp. pepper, 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper (optional)
No. If you need a dairy-free version, omit the cream cheese and substitute dairy-free cheese on top. Alternatively 1/2 cup sour cream may be used in place of the cream cheese.
All the ingredients are gluten free, but you may be wondering about the safety of Fritos. According to Fritos website, regular corn chips are gluten free. Chili Cheese Fritos do not contain gluten ingredients, but may have been cross-contaminated during processing.
Yes. To make walking taco casserole recipe for a crowd, double the ingredients and bake in a 9X13 pan. This will serve about 10 good-sized portions.
Click here to see the
step-by-step web story instructions for this recipe!
More easy weeknight dinner recipes
- Pepperoni Pizza Pasta
- Tamale Pie
- Creamy Coconut Shrimp
- Italian Sausage Pasta
- Unstuffed Egg Roll
- Pan Seared Pork Medallions
- Gluten-Free Baked Pasta
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Walking Taco Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds ground beef
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 1 cup salsa
- ½ cup water
- 2 ounces cream cheese, cubed
- 3 cups Frito corn chips
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
- For serving: shredded lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, jalapenos
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- In a large nonstick skillet, brown the beef over medium high heat, breaking up with a spoon as it cooks. After the beef has cook through, drain the grease if necessary.
- Return the beef back to the skillet and add the taco seasoning, salsa, and water. Bring to a simmer, lower heat and simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Stir occasionally. Stir in the cream cheese until smooth and well combined.
- Transfer the meat mixture to a 11X7 baking dish. Top with the Fritos, sprinkle shredded cheese over the top, and bake for 5-10 minutes, or until the cheese is hot and bubbly. Serve immediately with optional toppings.
- DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?? DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE FEEDBACK AND/OR CLICK A STAR RATING ON THE RECIPE CARD!
Equipment Needed
Recipe Notes
- Add 1 small diced onion to the ground beef as it cooks
- Stir in drained and rinsed black beans to stretch the dish further and add protein.
- Instead of salsa, substitute a can of red enchilada sauce.
- Replace the Fritos with Doritos, tortilla chips, or Chili Cheese Fritos.
- Leave out the cream cheese or replace with 1/2 cup sour cream.
Nutrition
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Judi says
Made this today…so good and easy…will make it again…I did add chopped onion to the ground beef and the black beans…very tasty
Melissa Erdelac says
Sounds like great additions, Judi! Thank you for sharing!
Best,
Melissa
Linda says
I made this and loved it! I added black beans to the ground beef mixture and added green onions and black olives on top before putting it in the oven. I have another recipe for a Taco Casserole which I also like but this one is easier and a bit spicier.
Melissa says
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Linda! Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know!
Best,
Melissa