Homestyle Walking Taco Casserole for Family Dinner (Print Version)

Quick Walking Taco Casserole for family dinner. Layered with seasoned beef, beans, cheese, and crunchy Fritos. A weeknight winner everyone loves!

# Recipe Info:

Prep Time: 15 Minutes minutes
Cook Time: 25 Minutes minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 6 Servings
Difficulty: Beginner
Cuisine: American
Dietary: Meat-based, Dairy

# Ingredients:

→ Main Players

01 - 1 lb lean ground beef
02 - 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained
03 - 1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained
04 - 1 cup frozen corn
05 - 1 (10 oz) can red enchilada sauce

→ Flavor Makers

06 - 1 (1 oz) packet taco seasoning
07 - 1/2 medium yellow onion, chopped
08 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Cheesy Goodness & Crunchy Toppers

09 - 1.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese
10 - 1 (9.25 oz) bag Fritos corn chips

→ Optional Fun

11 - Sour cream, for serving
12 - Fresh cilantro, chopped, for garnish
13 - Diced avocado, for garnish
14 - Diced jalapeños, for heat

# Instructions:

01 - First things first, grab your largest skillet and set it over medium-high heat. Toss in your ground beef. Break it up with a spoon, you know, get it all crumbly. Let it brown up nicely, really getting some color on it. This step is where all that rich flavor starts to build. Drain off any excess grease – honestly, I always forget to have a bowl ready, so I usually end up using a paper towel-lined plate, oops! Once it's browned, take it out and set it aside for a moment.
02 - Now, into that same skillet (don't even bother cleaning it, those little bits of beef add flavor!), add a tiny drizzle of olive oil if it looks a bit dry. Toss in your chopped yellow onion and let it soften up, about 5 minutes. You want it translucent and fragrant, not burnt, so keep an eye on it. Then, add your minced garlic and let it cook for just another minute until you can really smell it. This is where the kitchen starts to smell amazing, a real promise of good things to come.
03 - Return the browned beef to the skillet with the softened onions and garlic. Stir in your taco seasoning – it’ll smell so good! Next, pour in the undrained diced tomatoes, the rinsed black beans, the frozen corn, and that can of red enchilada sauce. Give everything a good stir until it’s all combined. Bring it to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to low and let it bubble away for about 5-7 minutes. This lets all those flavors get to know each other, making the sauce rich and delicious.
04 - While your mixture is simmering, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grab a 9x13 inch baking dish. Now, for the fun part! Spread about half of your Fritos corn chips evenly across the bottom of the dish. I like to crush them just a little bit, but not into dust, you know? Just enough to make a good base. Then, spoon half of your seasoned beef mixture right over those chips. This is where it really starts to look like the delicious dinner it’s going to be!
05 - Sprinkle about half of your shredded cheddar cheese over the beef mixture. Oh, that cheese! It's going to get so wonderfully melty. Now, repeat the layers: the remaining Fritos, then the rest of the beef mixture. Top it all off with the remaining cheese. I sometimes add a little extra cheese on top, just because, well, why not? More cheese is never a bad idea in my book, especially for an <b>Easy Walking Taco Casserole for Family Dinner</b>.
06 - Pop that glorious dish into your preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes. You're looking for that cheese to be beautifully melted and bubbly, and the edges to be slightly browned. When it comes out, the whole kitchen will smell incredible. Let it sit for about 5 minutes before serving – this helps everything set up just a bit, making it easier to scoop. Scoop it out and watch everyone dig in. It's truly a weeknight hero!

# Notes:

01 - Make sure you really brown the ground beef well; those caramelized bits add so much depth of flavor.\nTo store leftovers, cover tightly and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days; reheat in the oven for best texture.\nGround turkey or chicken can be swapped for beef, just season well as they are milder.\nA dollop of sour cream and fresh cilantro makes this dish extra special for serving.

# Equipment Needed:

01 - Large skillet
02 - 9x13 inch baking dish
03 - mixing spoons

# Nutrition (Per Serving):

Calories: 450
Total Fat: 25g
Total Carbohydrate: 35g
Protein: 28g

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