Description
This Easy Taco Bake is a delicious and comforting layered casserole combining seasoned ground beef, black beans, corn, salsa, crunchy tortilla chips, and melted cheddar cheese. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, it’s flavorful, cheesy, and customizable with your favorite taco toppings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup corn kernels (fresh, canned, or frozen)
- 1 cup salsa
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 3 cups crushed tortilla chips
Optional Toppings
- Sour cream
- Sliced green onions
- Jalapeños
- Diced tomatoes
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Cook Beef and Onion: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and chopped onion together until the beef is browned and onions are softened. Then drain any excess fat from the skillet.
- Season Beef: Stir in the taco seasoning packet and 1/2 cup water into the beef mixture. Continue cooking while stirring until the sauce thickens and coats the meat evenly.
- Add Beans, Corn, and Salsa: Mix in the rinsed black beans, corn kernels, and salsa thoroughly with the beef mixture to combine all flavors.
- Layer Ingredients: Spread half of the crushed tortilla chips evenly in the prepared baking dish. Spoon half of the beef mixture over the chips and sprinkle with 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese.
- Repeat Layers: Repeat by layering the remaining crushed tortilla chips, the remaining beef mixture, and finally top with the last cup of shredded cheese.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the cheese on top is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden.
- Serve: Remove from oven and let the taco bake cool for 5 minutes. Garnish with optional toppings such as sour cream, green onions, jalapeños, and diced tomatoes before serving.
Notes
- Drain excess fat after browning beef to prevent greasiness.
- You can use fresh, canned (drained), or frozen corn—just thaw before adding.
- For a spicier dish, add diced jalapeños into the beef mixture or as a topping.
- Leftovers keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat nicely in the oven or microwave.
- To make it vegetarian, substitute the ground beef with plant-based crumbles or extra beans.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican-American
