This Easy Taco Casserole Recipe is a delicious weeknight dinner. Made in under an hour with tortillas, this ground beef casserole is the best!
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This past year, I have fallen in love with making healthy casseroles that are full of healthier ingredients, protein, and veggies while also being lower in sodium and not filled with condensed soups that have funky ingredients.
This easy taco casserole meets all our requirements for a healthier dinner option and is so quick and easy to make!
It comes together with only 8 ingredients and some spices and in about an hour!
If you like this recipe, try Taco Pasta, Taco Zucchini Boats, Taco Stuffed Peppers, Taco Skillet, or even our Chicken Taco Soup.
Why You’ll Love this Taco Bake Recipe:
There is so much to like about this ground beef casserole recipe! Here’s why it is one of our favorites:
- Made with basic ingredients – Most of these ingredients are pantry staples and there are only 8 ingredients and some spices needed for this delicious casserole!
- Easy to make & hearty – It may look like a lot of steps, but this recipe only takes an hour to make and is super hearty and filling with the protein (35g/serving) and veggies!
- Secretly healthy ingredients – This healthy recipe is lower in calories, made with more wholesome ingredients, and lower in sodium than other taco casseroles. Check the green box below for any substitutions.
Taco Casserole Recipe Ingredients
To make this easy taco casserole you’ll need:
- olive oil
- ground beef
- garlic powder, paprika, pepper
- taco seasoning
- water
- onions, diced peppers, frozen corn
- flour tortillas
- shredded Colby Jack cheese
You can find substitutions for all of these ingredients below in the green shaded substitutions box.
Substitutions for Taco Bake Casserole
Olive Oil: You can substitute avocado oil, butter, or ghee.
Onions: I used sweet onions, but you can use white or red onions.
Ground Beef: We like 90/10 ground beef. Feel free to use leaner ground beef depending on what you like. I haven’t tried making this with ground turkey or ground chicken but I think it would work.
Seasonings: We recommend using homemade taco seasoning because it’s lower in salt and preservatives.
Veggies/Other Add Ins: I haven’t tried making this with other vegetables added but I think it would be good with beans added in! I like to serve it over a salad to get in my veggies. Try it with our Taco Salad dressing.
Corn: You can use frozen corn or canned no salt added corn that has been rinsed/drained.
Tortillas: This recipe calls for flour tortillas but I think it would work fine with gluten free tortillas or even grain free/paleo tortillas. If you try it let me know! I think corn tortillas would get too mushy.
Gluten Free: I haven’t tried this recipe with gluten free tortillas but I think it would work!
Shredded Cheese: You can use pre shredded cheese, but shredding the cheese from a block melts much better! You can substitute Colby Jack with Mozzarella, Cheddar, Pepper Jack, or any cheese you like.
Can you add sour cream to taco casserole? Yes, you definitely can add sour cream to a taco casserole! Add 1/2 a cup as a layer, or add it on top!
To make it lower salt: Use salt free taco seasoning and lower salt cheese.
To Make it Lower Carb: Skip the corn. You can try this with low carb tortillas but I’m not sure how it will turn out.
To Make it Lower Calorie: Use leaner ground beef 90/10 or 95/5 or ground turkey. You can also cut back on the cheese or use lower fat cheese.
To Make it Plant Based: Use plant based ground beef substitute and cheese. (I have not tried this but I think it will work!)
How To Make Taco Casserole
- Heat olive oil and add onion to a pan. Cook over medium heat for 5-6 minutes.
- Add ground beef, garlic powder, paprika, and pepper. Cook over medium heat for 10 minutes while mixing and crumbling the beef into small pieces.
- Then, add the water and the taco seasoning, mix well and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and let it cook for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the diced peppers and corn to the cooked beef mixture. Mix well and remove from heat.
- Spread cut tortillas evenly in the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish sprayed with olive oil. (See photos)
- Add half of the beef mixture on top of the tortillas. Sprinkle with 1 cup of shredded cheese.
- Layer the other 5 tortilla pieces on top. Add the remaining beef mixture, and sprinkle the remaining cheese on top.
- Cover with foil or a lid and cook for 30 minutes at 350° until the casserole is warmed through and the cheese is melted.
- Remove the cover and cook for an additional 5 minutes so that the cheese gets nice and broiled.
How long do you bake this Taco Casserole Recipe?
You can bake a taco bake for 30-40 minutes.
What temperature do you bake taco bake at?
It’s best to cook a taco bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes.
Can you make Easy Taco Casserole ahead of time?
Yes, you can prep this dish the night before, cover and place it in the fridge overnight.
When ready to bake, leave the casserole on the counter as you preheat the oven. Bake as directed. Make sure your casserole dish is not cold because it could crack if it’s too cold going in a hot oven.
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What to Serve with this Taco Bake Recipe
Taco Bake Toppings
- lettuce
- guacamole
- sour cream
- corn salsa or pineapple salsa
- more cheese
- tortilla chips
- cilantro
- taco dressing
Easy Taco Casserole Sides
- Garlic Parmesan Corn
- Green Beans Almondine
- Garlic Roasted Brussels Sprouts
- Sheet Pan Crispy Roasted Potatoes
- Balsamic Mushrooms
- Crispy Smashed Potatoes
How to Store Taco Bake Casserole
Refrigerating: This taco casserole will last for up to 4 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Freezing: I haven’t tried freezing this recipe, but I think the tortillas would get a little soggy so I don’t recommend it.
Reheating: You can reheat this recipe in the microwave, toaster oven, oven, or on the stove.
More like this Taco Bake Recipe:
Looking for other easy meals? Check out these 40+ Healthy Ground Beef Recipes. Click here to grab our free healthy 30 minute dinners cookbook.
Taco Bake Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup chopped onions
- 2 pounds ground beef 90/10
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning one packet
- 2/3 cup water
- 2 cups diced bell peppers orange, red or yellow
- 1 cup frozen corn defrosted
- 5 10 inch flour tortillas cut in half divided
- 2 cups shredded Colby Jack cheese divided
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Spray an oven safe 9×13 casserole dish with olive oil. Set aside.
- In a 12 inch sauté pan, heat olive oil and add onion. Cook over medium heat for 5-6 minutes until the onion is translucent.
- Add ground beef, garlic powder, paprika, and pepper. Cook over medium heat for 10 minutes while mixing and crumbling the beef into small pieces.
- Once the meat is cooked, add the water and the taco seasoning. Mix well and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and let it cook for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the diced peppers and corn to the cooked ground beef. Mix well and remove from heat.
- Place cut tortillas (5 halves) in the bottom of the 9×13 dish, spread evenly in 1 layer. (See above for photos)
- Add half of the ground beef/veggie mixture on top of the tortillas. Sprinkle with 1 cup of shredded cheese.
- Layer the other 5 tortilla pieces on top. Add the remaining ground beef/veggie mixture, and sprinkle remaining cheese on top.
- Cover with foil or a lid and cook for 30 minutes at 350 degrees until the casserole is warmed through and the cheese is melted.
- Remove the cover and cook for an additional 5 minutes so that the cheese gets nice and broiled.
- Serve and Enjoy!
Video
Nutrition Facts
Important Note: This is not an authentic Mexican recipe. My goal is always to share recipes that are a bit healthier and made with affordable, accessible ingredients so everyone can enjoy them regardless of their food allergies or dietary restrictions.
Ashley says
I love everything about this recipe–super easy, super cheesy, delicious, and very filling! I made it for dinner last night, and have PLENTY for leftovers for the week, even splitting it with my boyfriend 😀
Excited to continue making this and adding it to the recipe rotation!
Terah says
I made this for dinner last night, it was so delicious! My husband loved it as well . I am gluten free so I used Siete almond flour tortillas vs flour tortillas.
Greg says
I just made this recipe and it’s delicious. I substituted green and yellow peppers with serano and jalapeños peppers. Made it really spicy if you like that then make it spicy .I added more of the vegetables than recipe called for. Added 4 cups of cheese instead of 2. All around awesome.
Jennifer V says
This was fast, easy and delicious! My husband devoured it and we are looking forward to the leftovers. Every recipe I have ever tried from you did not disappoint. Thank you for all the great content.
Nicole says
Me and hubby are big burrito lovers so when I saw this recipe I instantly thought Burrito Casserole! So good I swapped beef
Mince for Turkey and was just as good! Thanks for this recipe I’ll be making again and again. So easy and quick!
Penny Richards says
Can you use cooked chicken instead if ground beef?
The Clean Eating Couple says
I havent tried it but I’m sure it would work!
Jenny Jones says
Definitely adding this casserole into my regular dinner rotation! It’s really delicious! I did add black beans and sour cream on top. La Tortillas Factory makes a tortilla that is a mixture of corn and whole wheat. Those held up beautifully in this recipe and gave it a great flavor!
Shannon H says
This was tasty and very easy to make! I left out the corn (used extra pepper) and make it with frozen chopped onion. The tortillas on the bottom layer got crispy and were delicious. I’ll make this again
Robin Hudson says
Tried this for the first time last night! Loved it! It makes a lot, so we have a meal for another night and I don’t have to cook again! I paired this with a side salad for extra veggies. I will most certainly make this again!
Amanda says
My family enjoyed this taco casserole. I used corn tortillas and they worked perfectly. I used more cheese than the recipe called for and topped with salsa and sour cream. I am looking forward to having the leftovers!
Heidi says
This looks really good, however I would use ground turkey, and I wish the directions were a little more specific, how much meat, how much taco seasoning, etc.
The Clean Eating Couple says
If you click the “jump to recipe” button at the top of the page, it will take you to the full recipe with amounts and directions or you can just scroll.