This walking taco casserole is the perfect easy dinner that packs so much Tex-Mex flavor! Crispy fritos, taco-seasoned ground beef and creamy black beans get baked with a layer of sharp cheddar. On top, a crisp and refreshing zesty ranch salad adds notes of freshness and brightness. Your family will love it and so will you!
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If you're looking for the perfect weeknight dinner - this Walking Taco Casserole is it!
I first made it a few weeks ago on my instagram stories and it was a huge hit!
And since today is Cinco de Mayo, I figured what better day to share the finalized recipe?!
Beefy, Cheesy Tex-Mex goodness is baked on a bed of crispy fritos until hot and bubbly.
On top, there's a crispy and refreshing salad loaded with tomatoes, red onion, shredded lettuce, cilantro and scallions. The dressing is a zesty mixture of tart lime juice and creamy store-bought ranch dressing.
It's one of those dinners that's beyond easy to make yet tastes super fresh and flavorful!
Ingredients
For the Casserole
- ground beef
- taco seasoning (cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika and salt OR a packet!)
- onion
- salsa
- cream cheese
- water
- hot sauce, I like Cholula’s Chipotle the best!
- Fritos
- black beans
- shredded cheddar, such as Tillamook
For the Salad Topping
- lettuce
- tomatoes
- red onion
- cilantro
- scallions
- pickled jalapeno
- ranch dressing
- lime juice
How to make it
Making this walking taco casserole is super easy! Start by preheating the oven to 350F degrees.
Now grab a large nonstick pan and turn the heat to medium-high. Add beef and use a spatula to break it up. Cook it down for about three minutes.
Next, add your taco seasoning. I recommend using cumin, chili powder, garlic, smoked paprika and salt. But you could also use a store-bought packet if you'd like! Cook and toast the spices for another 2-3 minutes.
Now add a diced onion and cook for another 3-5 minutes. This will help absorb the excess fat that is being cooked off from the beef.
Once the onions have softened, add the cream cheese, salsa, water and hot sauce and cook for the mixture for another 5 minutes until creamy. Turn the heat off and set to the side.
Now spray a casserole dish with nonstick and add a layer of fritos followed by the the cheesy beef mixture, the black beans and a hefty sprinkle of salt.
Top with the cheese and place in the oven for 30 minutes.
While it’s cooking, it's time to assemble the salad.
Add the lettuce, tomatoes, onion, cilantro, scallion and pickled jalapenos to a large bowl.
Then add the ranch dressing and lime juice and toss everything together. Season with salt and pepper if needed.
Once the casserole is done baking, remove it from the oven and top with the salad.
Add a few more fritos on top and serve immediately with more hot sauce if desired!
How to make a vegetarian walking taco casserole
If you'd like to make this dish vegetarian, try swapping out the beef for two packets of extra firm tofu. You'll want to press the tofu before sauteeing it to remove any excess moisture.
You could also just use two cans of vegetarian refried beans if you'd like!
Although I haven't worked with it often, you could also try using seasoned jackfruit which would mimic the texture of pulled pork.
What to pair it with
If I were making this for a big dinner, I'd recommend by starting with these chicken bacon ranch quesadillas or these sweet potato empanadas.
I'd also serve it with Epcot’s Famous Avocado margarita because it's sooo good!
For dessert, I'd 100% make this Strawberry Tres Leches Cake or this Vegan Flourless Chocolate Cake - however I'd add some cayenne to the melted chocolate to make it more Mexican-inspired!
Save this recipe for later
Don't let this recipe slip your mind! Save it to your pinterest page so you can make it at a later date!
And if you don't already, I'd love it if you followed me, Grilled Cheese Social, on pinterest for more easy cheesy dinner inspiration!
Recipe
Recipe
Walking Taco Casserole
Ingredients
For the Casserole
- 1.5 lbs ground beef
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon garlic
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 small onion finely diced
- ½ cup salsa
- ½ 80z block cream cheese
- ⅓ cup water
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce I like Cholula’s Chipotle the best!
- 2 cups Fritos
- 1.5 cups black beans rinsed
- 1 cup shredded cheddar such as Tillamook
For the Salad Topping
- 2 cups shredded lettuce
- ½ cup tomatoes diced
- ¼ red onion diced
- ¼ cup cilantro roughly chopped
- 2 stalks scallions diced
- 2 tablespoon pickled jalapenos
- 2-3 tablespoon ranch dressing
- 1 lime juiced
Instructions
For the Casserole
- Preheat the oven to 350F degrees.
- Heat a large nonstick pan over medium-high and add beef. Break it up with a spatula and cook for three minutes.
- Add cumin, chili powder, garlic, smoked paprika and salt and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
- Add onion and cook for another 3-5 minutes or until most of the excess fat is absorbed.
- Add cream cheese, salsa, water and hot sauce and cook for the mixture for another 5 minutes until creamy.
- Spray a casserole dish and add a layer of fritos, the cheesy beef and the black beans with a sprinkle of salt. Top with the cheese and place in the oven for 30 minutes.
For the Salad Topping
- While it’s cooking, assemble the salad.
- Add the lettuce, tomatoes, onion, cilantro, scallion and pickled jalapenos to a large bowl. Add the ranch dressing and lime juice and toss everything together. Season with salt and pepper if needed.
- When the casserole is done baking, top with the salad and a few more fritos. Serve immediately.
Notes
You could also just use two cans of vegetarian refried beans if you'd like!
Although I haven't worked with it often, you could also try using seasoned jackfruit which would mimic the texture of pulled pork.
Elizabeth
I haven’t yet made the walking taco casserole... but I fell in love with the salad topping. I first made it when GCS did a video of a pizza she paired with the salad... now I make it all the time. I sometimes add more veggies like radishes and cucumbers and have that as a meal by itself. I’m making it again tonight while trapped inside in WA in a snowstorm. Everyone should make this salad. I promise one day to make the actual casserole ?❤️❤️❤️
grilledcheesesocial
LOL! Love it! Thank you for sharing!!
Jen
One of my faves. Checks so many delicious boxes for me. Cheesy, creamy, crunchy salad. I have made it quite a few times now. Currently waiting impatiently for it in the oven. Yummy!