taco seasoning Archives - Family Dinners

Easy John Wayne Casserole Recipe

Andrea + Stef — Thu, 16 Feb 2023 17:50:13 +0000

In case you have never tried John Wayne casserole, then it is about time to give this amazingly flavorful and delicious family dinner a whirl. Everyone who loves southwestern cuisine will enjoy eating this quick and easy weeknight dinner. It combines a biscuit base with layers of ground beef, creamy sour cream mixture and lots of melty cheese.

Ground beef and cheese casserole only takes 15 minutes to prepare and is ready to serve in under an hour. It tastes best combined with a potato side, crunchy salad and Mexican condiments such as salsa or guacamole, for example. This is undoubtedly the best version of the original John Wayne casserole recipe. And it’s the perfect dish to bring some new life into Taco Tuesdays.

What is John Wayne Casserole?

This yummy casserole full of southwestern flavors got its name from the fact that in the 1970s the famous actor John Wayne contributed a version of this easy recipe to a cookbook called “Cooking with Love from Cara and her Friends”. Cara Connery created this charity cookbook for the American Cancer Society. Since then, the recipe has been adapted multiple times but still kept John Wayne’s name. This oven baked casserole is a scrumptious combination of a biscuit base, ground beef taco meat, Rotel tomatoes, bell peppers and lots of cheese.

Why You’ll Love This

Notable: everything you love about Tex-Mex food in one scrumptious and easy casserole recipe that will impress the taste buds of your whole family
Main Ingredients: Bisquick, water, ground beef, yellow onion, red bell pepper, Rotel tomatoes, taco seasoning, sour cream, mayonnaise, cheddar cheese
Cooking Method: oven baked
Cooking Time: 15 minutes prep time and 40 minutes bake time
Pairs well with: potatoes, salad, pico de gallo, guacamole
Special Equipment Needed: large skillet, kitchen spatula, 9×13-inch baking dish, large bowl, small mixing bowl

Ingredients

You may have all of these ingredients for this cheesy casserole in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store! If this is your first time making this easy ground beef casserole recipe you might want to read the possible variations before deciding on your ingredients.

Biscuit and Taco Casserole Ingredients

2 ¼ cups Bisquick
⅔ cup water
1 lb ground beef
½ medium yellow onion (about 1 cup, diced)
1 red bell pepper (sliced)
1 10 oz. can Rotel tomatoes (undrained)
¼ cup taco seasoning
½ cup sour cream (plus more for serving)
½ cup mayonnaise
2 ½ cups shredded medium cheddar cheese (divided)

Optional Garnish

Fresh parsley or fresh cilantro, chopped fresh tomatoes, sliced black olives, sliced green onions

Variations and Substitutions

Biscuit crust: We love using Bisquick mix for convenience, however, you can try using canned biscuits or homemade biscuit dough as well.

Ground Beef: In case you prefer, substitute ground turkey or ground chicken for the beef.

Taco Seasoning: Use your favorite store-bought brand or make your own taco spice. Both mild and spicy taco seasoning work great with this casserole dish. A ¼ cup taco seasoning is equal to one packet.

Cheese: Substitute medium cheddar with sharp cheddar cheese, pepper jack cheese, or Monterey jack cheese, for example. Additionally you can try using a Mexican cheese blend as well.

Bell Pepper: We used a red bell pepper for this hearty casserole, but you can substitute yellow or green bell peppers in a pinch. In case you like it spicy you can additionally add some green peppers, green chiles or jalapeño peppers, for example.

How To Make Gluten Free

Make this ground beef casserole recipe gluten free by using gluten free biscuit mix. Moreover, make sure your taco seasoning is also gluten free.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love this easy ground beef casserole recipe, try our Mexican Lasagna Recipe. You’ll love it because this taco casserole combines all your favorite Mexican flavors, such as taco meat, refried beans, salsa, melty cheese and sour cream.

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Casserole Dish — We love using this glass baking dish as it cooks food evenly, you can easily see the food while it cooks and it also looks good as a serving dish.

Instructions

This section shows how to cook John Wayne casserole in the oven, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For detailed instructions and nutritional information see the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Prep: Firstly grease a 9×13 casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray. Then, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 1: Brown ground beef and chopped onion in a large skillet over medium-high heat until no pink remains and onions have softened. Onions will be translucent.

Step 2: Afterwards add the taco seasoning and mix well.

Step 3: Then add Rotel tomatoes with all the juices and stir to combine. Set meat mixture aside.

Step 4: Afterward mix together biscuit mix and water in a large bowl until a shaggy dough forms.

Step 5: Then add the cheese and form a cohesive dough. The cheese pieces will break up as you mix.

Step 6: Afterward press the biscuit layer evenly into a glass baking dish. It doesn’t need to be totally even or flat.

Step 7: Then add the ground beef mixture on top of the bisquick layer. Make sure to spread it out evenly.

Step 8: In a separate bowl, stir together sour cream, mayonnaise, and 1 cup of grated cheese. Then spread the sour cream mixture over the lean ground beef layer.

Step 9: Afterwards top the casserole with the sliced bell peppers and the remaining cheese.

Step 10: Finally bake in the preheated oven for 30-40 minutes, until casserole is bubbly and the cheese is melted.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love Mexican inspired one pan meals then you’ll love our Frito Pie with Ground Beef. This yummy, quick and easy comfort food combines perfectly seasoned beef and beans with melty cheese and crispy Frito chips.

Make Ahead

John Wayne casserole tastes best fresh out of the oven, so we do not recommend making it ahead of time. However, you can prepare the ground beef layer ahead of time and then keep it in the refrigerator for up to 2 days before assembling and baking the casserole.

Stef says….

Yummy dinner casseroles are a family favorite in our house. Jalapeño Popper Chicken Casserole and T urkey Enchilada Casserole are two of our other favorite Mexican inspired weeknight dinners.

Recipe Tips

Follow these tips to make the best ground beef casserole recipe.

Tip: Make sure to properly brown the beef and onions. This adds immense flavor to the beef mixture and keeps the meat from drying out.
Tip: In case the biscuit dough is too sticky, place a sheet of parchment paper or plastic wrap over it while pushing it onto the baking dish.
Tip: There are so many variations of this recipe. So feel free to personalize this casserole recipe with all your favorite add-ins.

Serving Suggestions

We love to eat this cheesy beef casserole all by itself. But sometimes you need to serve it as a complete meal. Try one of these delicious recipes:

Salad: Pair John Wayne casserole with a fresh salad. A green salad like our Italian Salad, Stef’s Taco Salad Shells or Andrea’s Greek Salad.

Sides: Traditionally, beef and biscuit casserole is served with a baked potato. You can in fact make this scrumptious side dish in the oven, convection oven, air fryer, Instant Pot, slow cooker, toaster oven, microwave or on the grill. It would taste great with Air Fryer Hasselback Potatoes or Cheesy Hasselback Potatoes.

Sauces: Traditionally, John Wayne casserole is served with Mexican condiments such as guacamole, restaurant style salsa or pico de gallo, for example. It would taste great with mango habanero salsa as well.

More Tex-Mex Inspired Recipes

In case you also love Mexican cuisine as much as we do then you have to try some spicy Sausage Rotel Dip and chips or these crowd pleasing recipes:

How To Store

Refrigerate: Transfer to an airtight container, ziploc bag or wrap tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Then store meat and cheese casserole leftovers in the fridge for 3-4 days.

Freeze: Firstly, let leftover John Wayne casserole cool completely. Then transfer to a freezer-safe container or freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

Defrosting: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

How To Reheat

You can reheat leftover casserole in the microwave.

Common Questions

Is it possible to add more vegetables to this original recipe?

Yes! As a matter of fact you can add some corn or your favorite kind of bean to the meat filling. We like black beans, pinto beans or kidney beans, for example. Moreover, you can add an additional chopped bell pepper to the ground beef mixture.

I love spicy food. How can I make this dish spicy without compromising the delicious flavor?

There are in fact several ways to add a spicy kick to this yummy dinner. Firstly you can use spicy taco seasoning for the meat, then you can add some chopped green chilies or jalapeno peppers to the sour cream layer and finally you can replace all or half of the cheese in this great recipe with Pepper Jack cheese.

What is a great side dish to serve with this best casserole recipe?

Even though this scrumptious casserole is already a full meal by itself, it goes extremely well with potato sides. We recommend serving baked potatoes, Hasselback potatoes or even tater tots with John Wayne casserole. All these delicious potato dishes cook up to perfection in the air fryer.

Can I make my own taco seasoning mix?

Of course! Our delicious and easy Taco Seasoning recipe only uses simple ingredients. It is a quick blend of chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, oregano, salt and pepper. Additionally, homemade taco spice is so much better than store bought.

Easy John Wayne Casserole Recipe

This amazing Tex-Mex casserole combines layers of ground beef, biscuits and cheese to a delicious family meal everyone will love. It has been around for decades because it's just that good!

Course Main Dish

Cuisine American, Mexican

Keyword cheesy ground beef casserole, easy ground beef casserole, john wayne casserole, taco casserole recipe

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 40

Total Time 55

Servings servings

Calories 583kcal

Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

large skillet
kitchen spatula
mixing bowls
9x13in baking dish

Ingredients

2¼ cups Bisquick
⅔ cup water
1 lb ground beef
½ medium yellow onion diced, about 1 cup
1 red bell pepper sliced
10 oz Rotel tomatoes undrained
¼ cup taco seasoning or 1 package
½ cup sour cream plus more for serving
½ cup mayonnaise
2½ cups medium cheddar cheese shredded and divided

Optional Garnish:

chopped fresh cilantro
sour cream
diced tomatoes
sliced black olives

Instructions

Firstly grease a 9×13 casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray. Then, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Brown ground beef and chopped onion in a large skillet over medium-high heat until no pink remains and onions have softened.
Add the taco seasoning to the meat mixture and stir well.
Then add Rotel tomatoes with all the juices and stir to combine. Set meat mixture aside.
Afterward mix together biscuit mix and water in a large bowl until a shaggy dough forms.
Then add the cheese and form a cohesive dough.
Afterward press the biscuit layer evenly into a glass baking dish.
Then add the ground beef mixture on top of the bisquick layer. Make sure to spread it out evenly.
In a separate bowl, stir together sour cream, mayonnaise, and 1 cup of grated cheese.
Then spread the sour cream mixture over the lean ground beef layer.
Top the casserole with the sliced bell peppers and the remaining cheese.
Bake in the preheated oven for 30-40 minutes, until casserole is bubbly and the cheese is melted.

Notes

You can top each slice of John Wayne casserole with a dollop of sour cream, some diced tomatoes, black olives and chopped cilantro.
Salsa, pico de gallo and guacamole are also great sides with this casserole.

Nutrition

The post Easy John Wayne Casserole Recipe appeared first on Family Dinners.

Texas Trash Dip

Andrea + Stef — Sun, 08 Jan 2023 17:08:03 +0000

If you want to add a new staple to your favorite dip recipes, then Texas trash dip is just perfect for you. You only need a few simple ingredients to make this quick and easy super bowl dip. It is the perfect blend of cream cheese, sour cream, refried beans, taco seasoning and cheese. Lots of cheese! This hot bean dip is gooey, comforting and the perfect mix of flavors. You can serve Texas trash dip at parties, on game day, Cinco de Mayo or at any Mexican inspired dinner party. Serve this best cheesy bean dip with your favorite tortilla chips, crackers or toasted white bread.

What is Texas Trash Dip?

Texas trash dip is a warm cheesy bean dip that is a game day favorite all through football season. Hot bean dip usually contains cream cheese, sour cream, refried beans, taco seasoning and all sorts of ooey gooey cheese. This crowd pleaser can be baked in the oven or cooked in a crock pot. Serve Texas trash dip with corn chips, crackers or toasted white bread.

Why You’ll Love This

Notable: creamy Mexican inspired hot bean dip with lots of cheese, that tastes amazing with corn chips
Main Ingredients: cream cheese, sour cream, refried beans, taco seasoning, grated cheese
Cooking Method: oven baked, Crockpot (optional)
Cooking Time: 10 minutes prep time, 30 minutes baking time
Pairs well with: tortilla chips, tostadas, flavored corn chips, crackers, toasted white bread, pretzles
Diets: keto friendly, gluten free, vegetarian
Special Equipment Needed: large microwaveable bowl, cooking spoon or spatula, 9×13-inch baking dish, baking pan or disposable pan, OPTIONAL: slow cooker

Ingredients

You may have all of these ingredients for this cream cheese bean dip in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store! If this is your first time making this cheesy bean dip recipe you might want to read the possible variations before deciding on your ingredients.

Hot Texas Trash Dip Ingredients

8 oz cream cheese (softened)
1 cup sour cream
2 (16oz) cans of refried beans
¼ cup taco seasoning mix (make your own or use one packet)
4 cups grated cheese

Optional Garnish

Fresh cilantro, sliced jalapeños, black olives or green onions

Variations and Substitutions

Taco Seasoning: Substitute store-bought taco spice with homemade Taco Seasoning Mix.

Cheese: You can use lots of different types of cheese, such as cheddar cheese, Monterrey Jack cheese or a Mexican cheese blend for this Mexican bean dip.

Refried Beans: We use store-bought refried beans for convenience, but you can also make your own Instant Pot Refried Beans.

Add Spice: In case you like to make your dip a bit spicy, add some green chiles, chopped jalapeño peppers, or red pepper flakes to your delicious dip. You can also substitute some of the shredded cheeses with Pepper Jack cheese.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love this warm cheesy dip recipe, try our Hot Pizza Dip. You’ll love it because this creamy and cheesy hot dip has everything you love in pizza. Enjoy dipping crusty bread, vegetables or crackers in this game day favorite.

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Baking Dish — We use a 9×13-inch baking dish for this easy dip recipe but you can also use a quarter sheet pan or a disposable pan for easy clean up, if you prefer.

Optional:

Crockpot — This recipe requires a slow cooker. We use a 6 qt. basic Crockpot brand slow cooker. It works wonderfully. If you’re planning to take your Crockpot to potlucks you’ll want to check out this one that has a locking lid. A slow cooker has an inner pot called the crock. Neither the crock nor the lid are oven safe on most machines. Do not put them in the oven.

Instructions

This section shows how to cook cream cheese bean dip in the oven, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For step-by-step instructions, photos and nutritional information see the full recipe in the recipe card below.

PREPARE: Firstly preheat oven to 350ºF. Then microwave the cream cheese in a large microwavable bowl for 30 seconds-1 minute, until it is melted and can be easily stirred.

ADD INGREDIENTS: Afterwards add sour cream, refried beans, taco seasoning and 2 cups of the cheese to the softened cream cheese and stir to combine. Then spread mixture into a 9×13 casserole dish or a quarter sheet pan, and top with the remaining 2 cups cheese.

BAKE AND SERVE: Bake for 25-30 minutes in the preheated oven until the dip is hot and bubbly and the cheese is beginning to brown. Serve warm with tortilla chips, crackers or toasted white bread.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love quick and easy dips then you’ll love our amazing sweet Buckeye Dip. It tastes just like a mix of buckeye candies and peanut butter frosting. Every peanut butter fan will love this amazing sweet treat.

Make Ahead

You can assemble this creamy bean dip recipe up to 1 day ahead of time. Make sure to cover tightly with cling wrap and keep in the refrigerator until ready to cook. Only bake the dip when you are ready to serve it.

Slow Cooker Texas Trash Dip

Prepare this warm bean dip as described in the recipe, then spread bean mixture at the bottom of a crockpot instead of the bottom of a baking dish. Afterwards top with cheese and cook on high for 2 hours.

Stef says….

Another party favorite of mine that combines cream cheese, beans and cheese are my Southwest Chicken Roll-ups. They are true to the region’s love of spicy food and great flavor profiles. These party-perfect appetizers don’t disappoint!

Recipe Tips

Follow these tips to make the best Texas trash warm bean dip.

Tip: Don’t skip the softening of the cream cheese. Otherwise it wont blend evenly with the other ingredients.
Tip: Grate your own cheese. Pre-grated cheese contains additives and therefore does not provide the same amazing flavor as freshly grated cheese.
Tip: Due to the high dairy content we recommend not leaving this dip out for more than 2 hours.

More Delicious Warm Dip Recipes

If you love this Texas trash dip recipe, then you’ll enjoy these other delicious warm dip recipes:

More Mexican Inspired Dip Recipes

If you love Mexican flavors as much as we do, then these easy and scrumptious dips will be perfect for your next party:

How To Store

Refrigerate: Store cheesy bean dip leftovers in an airtight container, ziploc bag, or other sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Freeze: We do not recommend freezing this creamy dip, as its consistency might not be the same after defrosting.

How To Reheat

Reheat leftover Texas trash dip in the microwave or in the oven until hot and bubbly again.

Common Questions

Can I add any toppings to this easy appetizer?

By all means!! We recommend freshly chopped cilantro, sliced jalapeños, green onions or black olives.

How long can this crowd-pleasing dip sit out at room temperature?

We recommend leaving this dip out at room temperature no longer than two hours. After that, in order to stay food safe, give it some time in the fridge to cool down. You can reheat leftovers later in the microwave or oven.

What dippers should I serve with this Texas trash dip recipe?

The best part about this amazing super bowl Texas trash dip recipe: it goes with almost everything. Serve this delicious appetizer with freshly cut veggies, such as celery sticks, baby carrots, or bell pepper sticks, for example. Cheesy bean dip also tastes great with tortilla chips, tostadas, salty crackers, pita chips or toasted French bread slices.

How can I reduce the calorie count of this hot cheese and bean dip?

If you are following a low calorie diet you can make this dip with low fat cream cheese and low fat sour cream. Additionally you can substitute some of the sour cream with low-fat or no-fat greek yoghurt. Moreover, you can use only one cup instead of two cups of cheese to top this delicious dip.

Texas Trash Dip Recipe

Warm and creamy dip full of beans, cheese and taco flavor. Texas trash dip is a cheesy bean dip that's perfect for tortilla chips.

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American, Mexican

Diet Gluten Free, Vegetarian

Keyword bean and cheese dip, cream cheese bean dip, hot bean dip, hot texas trash dip, texas trash dip recipe

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 30

Total Time 40

Servings servings

Calories 321kcal

Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

cooking spoon or spatula
mixing bowl
9x13in casserole dish

Ingredients

8 oz cream cheese softened
1 cup sour cream
2 16 oz cans of refried beans
¼ cup taco seasoning or one packet
4 cups grated cheese cheddar, Monterrey Jack or Mexican blend

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Microwave cream cheese for 30 seconds – 1 minute until it is melted and can be easily stirred.
Mix together cream cheese, sour cream, refried beans, taco seasoning, and half of the cheese.
Spread mixture into a 9×13 casserole dish or a quarter sheet pan.
Sprinkle the remaining cheese onto the dip.
Bake for 30 minutes until dip is hot and bubbly and cheese is beginning to brown.

Notes

Tip: Don’t skip the softening of the cream cheese. Otherwise it wont blend evenly with the other ingredients.

Tip: Grate your own cheese. Pre-grated cheese contains additives and therefore does not provide the same amazing flavor as freshly grated cheese.

Tip: Due to the high dairy content we recommend not leaving this dip out for more than 2 hours.

Nutrition

The post Texas Trash Dip appeared first on Family Dinners.

Easy Ground Beef Taco Casserole (Mexican Lasagna Recipe)

Andrea + Stef — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 18:38:34 +0000

This super delicious Mexican taco casserole with ground beef is incredibly easy to make and a real crowd pleaser. It only takes 15 minutes of hands-on prep time to make this easy weeknight meal. You can even prep it the day before! Mexican lasagna combines all your favorite Mexican flavors, such as taco meat, refried beans, salsa, melty cheese and sour cream. If you love Mexican food, then this layered Mexican casserole recipe with ground beef will definitely become a family favorite. It is the best Mexican taco bake recipe you have ever tasted.

What is Mexican Taco Casserole?

Mexican taco casserole or Mexican lasagna is a layered dish like a traditional lasagna but with a Mexican-inspired flare. It combines flour tortillas with layers of taco-seasoned ground beef, salsa, sour cream, and melty cheese. Baked to perfection in the oven, this mouthwatering comfort food makes a perfect dinner for busy weeknights. Everyone will love it! This is really the best Mexican lasagna recipe out there. In this Mexican casserole recipe ground beef plays a starring role. Combined with spices, salsa, and refried beans, the filling is juicy and delicious.

Why You’ll Love This

Notable: easy to make taco bake that combines all your favorite Mexican flavors
Main Ingredients: ground beef, refried beans, salsa, taco seasoning, water, sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, flour tortillas, tomatoes, cilantro
Cooking Method: oven baked
Nutrients: excellent source of protein with 38g per serving
Cooking Time: 15 minutes prep time, 25 minutes cooking time
Pairs well with: guacamole, salsa, pico de gallo, leafy salad
Special Equipment Needed: skillet, mixing bowls, 9×13-inch baking dish

Ingredients

You may have all of these ingredients for this Mexican lasagna recipe in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store! If this is your first time making this ultimate Mexican casserole you might want to read the possible variations before deciding on your ingredients.

Casserole Ingredients

1 pound ground beef
1 can refried beans
1 ½ cups salsa, divided
¼ cup taco seasoning (or 1 packet)
- ¾ cup water
1 cup sour cream
4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
6 burrito size flour tortillas

Optional Garnish

2 fresh tomatoes, diced
¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
¼ cup chopped green onions
¼ cup sliced black olives

Variations and Substitutions

Ground beef: You can substitute ground chicken or ground turkey for the ground beef.

Flour tortillas: Substitute yellow corn tortillas or almond flour tortillas for the flour tortillas if preferred.

Refried beans: Make your own easy homemade refried beans in the Instant Pot. Use 2 cups of homemade beans.

Salsa: Make your own easy restaurant style salsa for this recipe. If desired, a great option is to substitute for red enchilada sauce mixed with some canned green chiles.

Cheddar cheese: Substitute some cheddar cheese for Monterey Jack cheese or Pepper Jack cheese.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you want to turn this delicious Mexican taco bake into a whole meal, serve our incredible Mexican Hot Chocolate Cupcakes for dessert. It is a really easy recipe. They are fluffy with just the right amount of spices and topped with the most amazing Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting.

Recommended Tools

Links to our favorite tools are affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link we may get a tiny portion of the sale.

Casserole Dish — We love using this glass baking dish as it cooks food evenly, you can easily see the food while it cooks and it also looks good as a serving dish.

Instructions

This section shows how to cook this Mexican burrito casserole recipe in the oven, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full step-by-step instructions, photos and nutritional information see the recipe in the recipe card below.

MAKE BEEF MIXTURE : Firstly, in a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef. Drain grease. Then add water and taco seasoning to the ground beef. Mix and simmer for a 2-3 minutes. Next, add refried beans and ½ cup of salsa to the cooked ground beef mixture. Stir to combine and remove from heat.

PREPARE OVEN AND OTHER TOPPINGS: In a separate medium bowl, combine 1 cup salsa with 1 cup sour cream. Stir and mix well. Then preheat the oven to 350°F and spray a 9×13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray.

LAYER THE CASSEROLE: Firstly, lay 2 tortillas in the bottom of the baking dish. Then spread ⅔ cup sour cream mixture over tortillas, followed by ⅓ of taco beef mixture. Afterwards sprinkle 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese over top of beef mixture. Top with a layer of tortillas. We tear the tortillas to make sure all parts of the cheese layer are covered without the tortilla going up the side of the dish. Then, repeat sour cream, taco meat mixture and shredded cheese layers and top again with tortillas. Add a last layer of sour cream and beef mixture, and finally finish by topping the casserole with 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese.

Stef says….

I prefer to use flour tortillas in my Mexican lasagna. However, you can substitute for corn tortillas if you prefer.

BAKE AND SERVE: Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes or until the cheese has melted in all the layers. No need to cover with aluminum foil. Finally, remove from oven and sprinkle with cilantro and fresh diced tomatoes, if desired.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love the combination of Mexican flavors in this casserole then you’ll also love our Loaded Beef Nachos. These colorful and mouthwatering loaded nachos are an amazing game day and party snack and most likely the best homemade nachos you have ever tasted.

Great Make Ahead Meal

This amazing Mexican meal is perfect for making ahead of time. In case you are not planning on baking the casserole immediately, we recommend letting the meat mixture cool completely before assembling the dish. Afterwards finish layering the casserole completely. Then cover tightly with cling wrap or plastic foil. Store in the fridge for up to 2 days before baking. Otherwise freeze for up to a month. Whenever you are ready to bake the casserole, let it thaw in the fridge overnight. Then bake at 350ºF for about 20-30 minutes. The casserole is rather cold when it comes out of the fridge, and therefore needs a bit longer in the oven.

Andrea says….

I love to use spicy refried beans when we make this burrito casserole dish. We make our own refried beans in the Instant Pot. They’re really easy and you can adjust the spiciness.

Recipe Tips

Follow these tips to make the best Mexican casserole with ground beef.

Tip: Drain the ground beef after it is browned. This will prevent your Mexican beef casserole from being too greasy.
Tip: Tear the tortillas to make a mostly single layer of tortillas. If your tortilla layer is too thick it will be chewy.
Tip: Make sure the liquid layers cover the tortillas completely or they will get crispy.
Tip: Don’t skimp on the cheese!

What To Serve With Mexican Ground Beef Casserole

We love to eat Mexican taco casserole with ground beef all by itself. However, sometimes you need to serve it as a meal. Try one of these delicious recipes:

Sides: Mexican rice, cilantro lime rice or Instant Pot black beans would be great side dishes to serve with taco casserole.

Salad: Pair this easy Mexican casserole recipe with a fresh salad. A green salad like our easy Italian salad or Stef’s delicious Taco Salad Shells.

Sauces: Traditionally, Mexican lasagna is served with guacamole, restaurant style salsa or pico de gallo. It would taste great with mango habanero salsa as well.

More Mexican Inspired Recipes

If you also love Mexican cuisine as much as we do then you have to try some spicy Sausage Rotel Dip and chips or these crowd pleasing recipes:

How To Store

Refrigerate: Let the Mexican taco casserole with ground beef cool completely before transferring into an airtight container or ziploc bag. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Freeze: Taco lasagna leftovers can be frozen in a freezer safe container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. Cut the taco bake into individual servings before freezing, for easy portion control when defrosting.

Defrosting: Thaw in the fridge overnight.

How To Reheat

You can reheat Mexican burrito casserole in the microwave, air fryer or oven.

Common Questions

Is it possible to use homemade refried beans and salsa for this recipe?

While we used store bought beans and salsa for convenience, you can of course use homemade refried beans and restaurant style salsa as well.

Can this casserole be baked in a disposable casserole pan?

Of course. Especially when you are making this dish for a party or potluck, we recommend baking it in a disposable aluminum casserole pan. That way you don’t have to worry about your dish breaking or being returned afterwards. It turns out just as delicious.

Can I add vegetables to Mexican layered casserole?

Yes, you can. You can easily stir fry a veggie blend of chopped bell peppers, diced white or red onion, sweet corn and even cut up zucchini. Then add a layer of the vegetable blend on top of the ground meat mixture before topping it with the shredded cheese. Additionally you can also add some whole beans such as black beans, pinto beans or kidney beans. Finally you can sprinkle the baked dish with sliced black olives alongside the fresh tomatoes and cilantro.

Easy Layered Ground Beef Mexican Taco Casserole Recipe

Everything you love about tacos in a quick and easy Mexican lasagna with ground beef that feeds the whole family. This easy weeknight dinner gets rave reviews.

Course Main Dish

Cuisine American, Mexican

Keyword burrito casserole recipe, ground beef layered Mexican casserole recipe, layered Mexican casserole, Mexican lasagna recipe, taco casserole

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 25

Total Time 40

Servings servings

Calories 563kcal

Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

large skillet
9×13-inch casserole dish
mixing bowls

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef
1 can refried beans
1½ cups salsa divided
¼ cup taco seasoning
¾ cup water
1 cup sour cream
4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
6 burrito size flour tortillas

Optional Garnish:

2 fresh tomatoes diced
¼ cup cilantro chopped

Instructions

In a large skillet over medium heat, brown ground beef. Drain grease.
Add water and taco seasoning to the ground beef. Mix and simmer for a 2-3 minutes.
Add refried beans and ½ cup of salsa to the taco beef mixture. Stir to combine. Remove from heat.
In a separate medium bowl, combine 1 cup salsa with 1 cup sour cream. Stir and mix well.
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Then spray a 9×13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray.
Lay 2 tortillas in the bottom of the baking dish.
Spread ⅔ cup sour cream mixture over tortillas.
Spread ⅓ of taco beef mixture over sour cream layer.
Sprinkle 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese over top of beef mixture.
Layer with 2 more large tortillas. We tear the tortillas to make sure all parts of the cheese layer are covered without the tortilla going up the side of the dish.
Repeat sour cream, taco beef mixture and shredded cheese layers.
Layer with 2 more tortillas.
Repeat sour cream and taco beef mixture.
Top with 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese.
Bake uncovered for 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is melted in all the layers. Remove from oven.
Optional: sprinkle with cilantro and fresh diced tomatoes.

Notes

Tips:

Drain the ground beef after it is browned. This will prevent your Mexican beef casserole from being too greasy.
Tear the tortillas to make a mostly single layer of tortillas. If your tortilla layer is too thick it will be chewy.
Make sure the liquid layers cover the tortillas completely or they will get crispy.
Don’t skimp on the cheese!

Nutrition

The post Easy Ground Beef Taco Casserole (Mexican Lasagna Recipe) appeared first on Family Dinners.

Frito Pie with Ground Beef

Andrea + Stef — Fri, 21 Oct 2022 23:14:15 +0000

This amazing Frito pie with ground beef is loaded with juicy beef, melty cheese and crunchy Frito chips. While quick and easy to make, this family-friendly one pan meal is bursting with flavor. So, if you are looking for a less-mess and less-hassle weeknight dinner, then this crowd pleasing Frito pie recipe is perfect for you. It is ready in less than 30 minutes and your whole family will want to have seconds and thirds.

We have also included instructions on how to turn this scrumptious recipe into the always popular “walking tacos” for your next party.

What is Frito Pie with Ground Beef?

A Frito pie is basically a thick hearty chili, made with ground beef, onions, ranch-style beans and tomatoes. The chili base is topped with gooey cheese and Frito corn chips. This delicious dish is the ultimate comfort food. Moreover, it comes together in only one pan and is ready to eat in less than 30 minutes.

Why You’ll Love This

Notable: succulent beef chili topped with melty cheese and crunchy Fritos
Main Ingredients: ground beef, diced onion, taco seasoning, water, kidney beans, fresh tomatoes, shredded sharp cheddar cheese, Fritos, cilantro
Cooking Method: stovetop
Nutrients: great source of protein, with 42g per serving
Cooking Time: 10 minutes prep time, 10 minutes cooking time
Pairs well with: Mexican rice, guacamole, pico de gallo, taco salad
Special Equipment Needed: skillet with cover, cooking spatula or spoon

Ingredients

You may have all of these ingredients for this cheesy frito taco skillet recipe in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store! If this is your first time making this easy Frito pie recipe you might want to read the possible variations before deciding on your ingredients.

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef
½ cup onion, diced
¼ cup taco seasoning (or 1 packet)
¾ cup water
15 oz canned ranch style kidney beans (chili beans)
1 cup fresh tomatoes, diced (about 2-3 Roma tomatoes)
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 bag of Fritos corn chips

Optional Garnish

1 fresh tomato, diced
¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
dollop of sour cream

Variations and Substitutions

Ground beef: You can substitute ground chicken or ground turkey for the lean ground beef.

Cheddar cheese: Substitute some cheddar cheese for Monterey Jack cheese or Pepper Jack cheese.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love this Frito pie recipe, try our Loaded Beef Nachos. These colorful and mouthwatering loaded nachos are an amazing game day and party snack and most likely the best homemade nachos you have ever tasted.

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Skillet — We love making this dish in a cast iron skillet, because it is perfect for browning the beef. Additionally it works well as a serving dish, because it keeps the Frito pie warm for a while.

Instructions

This section shows how to cook ground beef Frito casserole on the stovetop, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full step-by-step instructions, photos and nutritional information see the recipe in the printable recipe card below.

MAKE BEEF MIXTURE: Firstly, in a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef. Drain grease. Then add the chopped onions and stir. Next add the water and taco seasoning to the ground beef. Mix and simmer for 5 minutes. Finally, add the beans and diced tomatoes to the cooked ground beef mixture. Stir to combine and heat through for 3-4 minutes.

LAYER DISH: Spread the bean and meat mixture out evenly and top with 1½ cups of shredded cheese. Then add 2 handfuls of Fritos to top the cheese. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top of the Fritos.

COOK AND SERVE: Cover with a lid and continue heating on the stovetop over low heat for about 5 minutes or until the cheese has melted. Garnish with diced tomato, cilantro and sour cream. Serve.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love Mexican inspired meals with crunchy chips then you’ll love our Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup. This hearty and spicy chipotle chicken soup is quick and easy to make and a family favorite all year round.

Make Ahead

You can prepare the chili base for the Frito pie up to 3 days ahead of time and store it in an airtight container in the fridge. Whenever you are ready to serve your Frito pie, start by reheating the chili in a skillet. Then top with a layer of cheese, Fritos and some more cheese and finish according to the recipe.

Stef says….

I prefer this stovetop method of making Frito pie so that I don’t have to turn on the oven and, most importantly, the chips stay crunchy and fresh. Casserole versions with chips on the bottom leave soggy chips and a dry casserole.

Melting the Cheese in the Oven

If you prefer, you can also melt the cheese under the broiler of your oven. Just make sure you keep a close eye on it, so the corn chips and cheese do not burn. For this method we recommend using an oven-proof skillet.

Recipe Tips

Follow these tips to make the best Frito pie casserole.

Tip: Add chili beans instead of plain pinto beans or black beans, as they add immense flavor to the meat mixture.
Tip: Only add Fritos to the top of the pie. This way they stay nice and crunchy, instead of getting soft and soggy.
Tip: Serve warm and garnish with all your favorite taco toppings, such as more cheese, sour cream, guacamole, pico de gallo or sliced black olives.

What To Serve With Frito Pie

We love to eat classic Frito pie all by itself. But sometimes you need to serve it as a meal. Try one of these delicious recipes:

Bread: Serve Frito Pie Casserole with freshly baked cornbread. Our delicious Cornbread Muffins are fluffy and have a perfect crumbly texture. They are just the right amount of sweet and savory.

Salad: Pair this Frito chili pie recipe with a fresh salad. A green salad like our easy Italian salad or Stef’s delicious Taco Salad Shells taste amazing with this delicious meal.

Sides: Another great side dish with Frito pie is rice. Have you tried our scrumptious Mexican rice or cilantro lime rice?

Toppings: Crockpot Frito pie tastes great garnished with tomatoes, cilantro and sour cream, but you can additionally top it with guacamole, restaurant style salsa or pico de gallo.

More One Pan Recipes

One pan recipes can be a real lifesaver, because they do not require any fancy equipment, come together quickly and taste absolutely scrumptious. Whether you are looking for a quick meal for busy weeknights or an easy dinner recipe to cook on vacation, you have to try our Sheet Pan Fajitas or Meatball Pasta Bake.

How To Store

Refrigerate: While Frito pie with ground beef is best eaten fresh, you can store leftovers in an airtight container or ziploc bag in the fridge for up to 3 days. However, the Fritos might get soft during storage and taste more like tortillas. We therefore recommend storing just the chili beef mixture by itself. Add cheese and Fritos only when you are ready to serve the dish.

Freeze: You can freeze the ground beef and bean mixture in a freezer safe container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. You can also add the cheese before freezing if you prefer. We do not recommend freezing the Fritos. Add them fresh to keep them super crispy.

Defrosting: Thaw chili mixture in the refrigerator overnight.

Andrea says….

I love this dish, because it comes together quickly and most importantly it is a ONE pan meal!

How To Reheat

Reheat the bean and beef mixture in a skillet on the stovetop, then top with cheese and Fritos and continue heating until the cheese is melty.

Hearty ground beef taco casserole with crunchy corn chips in a cast iron skillet.

Common Questions

What are “Walking Tacos”?

Walking tacos are a popular way of serving Frito pie at parties. Prepare the beef and bean mixture as described in the recipe. Then transfer to a crockpot or Instant Pot to keep warm during the party. Provide mini Fritos or single serve Frito bags and complete your walking taco station with all your favorite taco toppings, such as sour cream, salsa, guacamole, pico de gallo, sliced black olives, sliced jalapeños, cilantro… Guests tear open the Frito bags, scoop some warm chili mixture on top of the crunchy Fritos and add as many of their favorite toppings as they like. Yum yum!

Can this dish be made ahead of time?

You can prepare the chili beef mixture up to 3 days ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator. We recommend adding the cheese and Fritos only right before finishing the dish.

Can I add Fritos to the beef mixture as well?

Of course you can add additional Fritos to the beef mixture as well. However, these chips will not stay crunchy. They will get soft and resemble tortilla strips.

Frito Pie with Ground Beef Recipe

This yummy, quick and easy comfort food combines perfectly seasoned beef and beans with melty cheese and crispy Frito chips. A classic ground beef taco casserole cooked in one skillet makes a great weeknight meal.

Course Main Dish

Cuisine American, Mexican

Keyword frito pie recipe, frito pie recipe with ground beef, frito pie with ground beef, how to make frito pie with ground beef

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 10

Total Time 20

Servings servings

Calories 920kcal

Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

skillet with cover
cooking spatula or spoon

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef
½ cup onion diced
¼ cup taco seasoning one packet
¾ cup water
15 oz canned ranch style kidney beans chili beans
1 cup fresh tomatoes diced, 2-3 Roma tomatoes
2 cups cheddar cheese shredded
1 bag Fritos

Optional Garnish:

1 fresh tomato diced
fresh cilantro chopped
sour cream

Instructions

In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef. Drain grease.
Then add chopped onions and mix with the browned beef.
Add taco seasoning and water. Stir until combined. Simmer for 5 minutes.
Add beans and diced tomatoes. Then heat through, 3-4 minutes.
Spread out beef mixture into an even layer within the skillet and top with 1½ cups of cheese.
Add 2 handfuls of Fritos to top of cheese.
Sprinkle with the remaining ½ cup of shredded cheese.
Continue heating on the stovetop over low heat. Cover. Heat for about 5 minutes or until the cheese has melted.
Garnish with chopped tomatoes, cilantro and sour cream. Serve.

Notes

You can substitute ground turkey or ground chicken for the ground beef.
Add chili beans instead of plain pinto beans or black beans, as they add immense flavor to the meat mixture.
Only add Fritos to the top of the pie. This way they stay nice and crunchy, instead of getting soft and soggy.
Serve warm and garnish with all your favorite taco toppings, such as more cheese, sour cream, guacamole, pico de gallo or sliced black olives.

Nutrition

The post Frito Pie with Ground Beef appeared first on Family Dinners.