That is the perfect strolling taco casserole! It’s an easy-to-make recipe with layers of crunchy Fritos corn chips, melty cheese, and juicy floor beef loaded up with salsa, tomatoes, and cream cheese in a baking dish.
This straightforward dinner places a enjoyable spin on a taco casserole, impressed by the favored Midwestern strolling taco. For easier Tex-Mex recipes, strive my tamale pie and King Ranch rooster casserole.
When you’ve ever tucked right into a strolling taco at a soccer recreation or made one at residence, you’re going to LOVE this newest casserole. And in the event you’ve by no means heard of a strolling taco earlier than, chances are you’ll like it much more! We scarfed down this strolling taco casserole once we had mates over to observe the sport not too long ago. It’s a tacky, flavor-packed meal with crunchy Fritos layered with savory, creamy taco meat amped up with chunky salsa and cream cheese.
Issues to Love About This Strolling Taco Casserole
- Large taco taste. A strolling taco casserole has every thing I like a few basic taco, toppings and all, besides by some means even higher?! The taco meat layer isn’t simply seasoned and savory, it’s wealthy and creamy.
- Simple to make. Regardless of the flavour this casserole packs right into a baking dish, the components are tremendous easy. Just some pantry gadgets, inexpensive floor beef, and a bag of Fritos. Oh, and PLENTY of cheese! It’s prepped in 10 minutes with hardly any effort.
- Nice for sharing. This recipe solutions the query, “How do I make strolling tacos for a crowd?” As an alternative of particular person servings, every thing is baked in a casserole dish. It’s good for potlucks and events, and for placing a enjoyable spin on household taco nights.
What Is a Strolling Taco?
Whether or not you realize it as a strolling taco or a Frito pie, it is a deconstructed taco assembled inside a bag of partially crushed-up corn chips. The thought is to garnish the bag with taco meat and any taco or nacho toppings you’d like. It’s referred to as a “strolling” taco because of how straightforward it’s to wander round with one in hand!
So, as an alternative of assembling inside a chip bag, this recipe takes these components and bakes them right into a steamy, tacky Mexican-style casserole. It may not be as straightforward to hold round on recreation day, however it’s 100% simply as scrumptious!
Substances You’ll Want
I’ve included the essential components right here together with some notes to make sure this strolling taco casserole knocks your socks off. Scroll all the way down to the recipe card after the submit for the total listing with quantities. You’ll additionally discover a step-by-step with photographs exhibiting learn how to make this casserole beneath the recipe card.
- Olive Oil – Or one other cooking oil, for browning the meat.
- Floor Beef – I like to make use of lean floor beef. You can additionally make this casserole with floor rooster, turkey, or pork.
- Onion – Yellow or white onion, diced.
- Taco Seasoning – This may be your favourite store-bought mix or do-it-yourself taco seasoning. In a pinch, fajita seasoning makes an excellent substitute because the components are very comparable.
- Canned Tomatoes – Any canned, diced tomatoes. You can additionally use Rotel.
- Salsa – I like to recommend shelf-stable chunky salsa for this recipe. When you use do-it-yourself salsa, take into account cooking off a number of the liquid beforehand in order that it doesn’t make the filling watery.
- Cream Cheese – You’ll wish to use the cream cheese that is available in bricks (not the spreadable, bagel-smear variety).
- Fritos – Or one other kind of corn chip (Doritos and even plain tortilla chips additionally work properly right here). You’ll must hold half of the chips entire and crush the remainder up utilizing a ziptop bag and a rolling pin.
- Cheese – Freshly shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese, or a Mexican cheese mix.
Casserole Toppings
Garnish your strolling taco casserole any manner you’d garnish a basic taco. I high mine with chopped iceberg lettuce, cherry tomatoes, black olives, and sliced spring onion. There are a great deal of straightforward taco topping concepts:
Suggestions and Variations
- Let the casserole relaxation for 10 minutes earlier than serving. This offers the filling an opportunity to arrange in order that it’s much less “soupy” to scoop. It additionally lets the casserole cool off so the warmth doesn’t wilt delicate garnishes, like recent lettuce.
- Totally different protein. You’ll be able to substitute the bottom beef on this casserole with one other kind of floor meat. Or, substitute leftover shredded beef or rooster carnitas. On this case, you’ll be able to stir any pre-cooked meat proper in with the remainder of the filling components with out having to sear it within the pan first.
- Extra add-ins. For a distinct spin on this recipe, add 1 cup of corn and 1 cup of black beans. You can additionally add in diced bell peppers, spinach, or refried beans (borrow the do-it-yourself refried beans from my huevos rancheros tacos).
- Totally different flavors. I exploit plain Fritos, however you’ll be able to mess around with different flavors like Chili Cheese or Flamin’ Scorching Fritos.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
- Refrigerate. Because the Fritos on this casserole are inclined to get soggy with time, it’s finest to take pleasure in any leftovers inside 3 days. Maintain them saved hermetic within the fridge with none toppings till you’re able to reheat and serve.
- Reheat. Heat up this strolling taco casserole lined underneath foil at 350ºF for 20 minutes, or till it’s heated by way of. You too can reheat parts within the microwave.
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Preheat the oven. Preheat your oven to 350ºF. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
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Prep the onions and Fritos. Peel and cube your onion. Place 1 cup of Fritos corn chips in a zip-lock bag and crush them utilizing a rolling pin.
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Cook dinner the meat. Warmth olive oil in a big skillet over medium-high warmth. Add the bottom beef and season flippantly with salt and pepper. Cook dinner the meat till browned. Drain any extra liquid from the meat.
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Add onions. Add the diced onion to the meat and prepare dinner, stirring for 3-4 minutes or till softened.
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Season the meat. Add taco seasoning and water. Cook dinner for 3 minutes.
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Add the remaining components. Stir within the canned chopped tomatoes, salsa, and cream cheese. Scale back warmth to medium-low. Stir gently till the cream cheese is melted, then simmer for 8-10 minutes or till the combination barely thickens. Style and regulate seasoning with salt and pepper if wanted.
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Assemble the casserole. Add 1 cup of entire Fritos chips on the backside of the ready baking dish. Unfold the meat combination over the Fritos. High the meat with cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, and crushed Fritos chips.
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Bake. Cowl the casserole with aluminum foil and bake for 15-20 minutes. Take away the foil and bake for five minutes till the cheese is bubbly and barely golden. Take the casserole out of the oven and let it cool for 10 minutes.
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Serve. High the casserole with shredded lettuce, halved cherry tomatoes, and sliced black olives earlier than serving.
- Add 1 cup of corn and 1 cup of black beans for a distinct model. This can make the casserole extra nutritious.
- In case you have refried beans, they can be added to the casserole.
- If Fritos chips are unavailable, you’ll be able to substitute them with plain tortilla chips.
- Be happy to experiment with completely different Fritos chip flavors for a novel twist.
- Permit your casserole to chill for 10 minutes earlier than you add garnishes. The warmth from the casserole might wreck delicate lettuce.
Serving: 1.5cups | Energy: 480kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 27g | Fats: 31g | Saturated Fats: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 6g | Monounsaturated Fats: 10g | Trans Fats: 0.4g | Ldl cholesterol: 88mg | Sodium: 714mg | Potassium: 576mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 865IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 295mg | Iron: 3mg
Dietary data is an estimate and offered as courtesy. Values might fluctuate in line with the components and instruments used. Please use your most well-liked dietary calculator for extra detailed data.
The best way to Make a Strolling Taco Casserole
With simply 10 minutes earlier than it’s able to bake, this casserole is speedy and scrumptious (my favourite combo, actually). Right here’s learn how to make it:
- Prep. Whereas the oven preheats to 350ºF, peel after which cube the onion. In the meantime, add about 1 cup of Fritos to a resealable bag and crush them up utilizing your arms or a rolling pin.
- Cook dinner the meat. Get your floor beef sautéeing in a sizzling skillet with oil. Season with a little bit salt and pepper and break it up whereas it browns.
- Add onions and seasonings. If wanted, drain the grease, then stir within the onions and prepare dinner for an additional 3-4 minutes till they’re softened. Subsequent, sprinkle in taco seasoning and water.
- Add the remaining components. After 3 minutes, stir in canned tomatoes, salsa, and cream cheese. Decrease the warmth, and let the filling simmer and thicken for 8-10 minutes.
- Assemble the casserole. Now, unfold the remaining cup of entire Fritos into the underside of a greased casserole dish. High with the meat combination, adopted by shredded cheese and a layer of crushed Fritos.
- Bake. Cowl and bake this taco casserole at 350ºF for 15-20 minutes. Take away the foil within the final 5 minutes to get the topping good and golden.
- Relaxation and serve. Afterward, give your casserole about 10 minutes to relaxation outdoors of the oven earlier than digging in. Serve topped with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, black olives, or any of your favourite taco toppings.
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