Easy Walking Taco Casserole Recipe (Ready in 25 Minutes!)
Walking Taco Casserole is a unique, flavorful twist on your classic taco night. It combines all of your favorite taco ingredients in a convenient, bake-and-serve casserole form. Perfect for a family dinner or a fun gathering, this dish is not only easy to make but also a delicious way to satisfy your taco cravings with a creative spin.
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Why Are They Called Walking Tacos?
Traditionally, walking tacos are served right in a snack-sized chip bag. It’s a taco you can literally walk around with while eating. Our casserole version takes those same beloved flavors and turns them into a dish you can enjoy at the dinner table, but the name pays homage to its on-the-go taco roots.
Why You Will Love Making Walking Taco Casserole
This Walking Taco Casserole recipe is a fiesta of flavors waiting to happen in your kitchen! Here’s why you’ll be adding this to your favorites:
- Quick and Easy: With a prep time that’s a breeze, this recipe is perfect for those busy weeknights.
- Versatile: Whether you opt for ground beef, ground turkey, ground chicken, or even a vegetarian substitute, this casserole adapts to your preference.
- A Crowd-Pleaser: From little ones to grown-ups, everyone loves the unique twist of tacos in a casserole form.
- Customizable: Love extra spice? Throw in some jalapenos. Not a fan of black beans? Swap them with pinto beans.
- Leftovers are Amazing: If you’re lucky to have leftovers, they taste even better the next day and make for a hassle-free meal.
- Nutrition Packed: With ingredients like lean ground beef, black beans, and all sorts of toppings, you’re looking at a dish that’s as nutritious as it is delicious.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You’ll need all the ingredients in the photograph below.
How to Make Walking Taco Casserole with Step-By-Step Instructions
A complete printable recipe and the measurements in both US customary and metric are available in the recipe card below.
Let’s get started on creating this mouth-watering Walking Taco Casserole. It’s simpler than you think and oh-so satisfying!
Prep the Oven and Pasta
First things first, let’s get everything ready. Preheat your oven to 355°F (180ºC) – a crucial step for that perfect bake. Then, grab a pot, bring some salted water to a boil, and cook your pasta just shy of the package’s suggested time.
Remember, it’ll cook a bit more in the oven, so keeping it slightly underdone is key.
Cook the Ground Beef
Heat your large skillet to medium-high heat. Now, add in your ground meat – could be lean ground beef, ground turkey, or chicken, you choose! Brown it nicely and drain any excess grease.
This step is crucial for getting that rich, ungreased flavor. Then, stir in your diced onion, a clove of minced garlic, taco seasoning, salt, and pepper. Let it cook for another 5-7 minutes, letting all those flavors mingle.
Combining the Ingredients
Once your beef is perfectly seasoned and cooked, mix it in a bowl with your semi-cooked pasta and half of your cheddar cheese.
Assemble the Casserole
Now, the fun part – assembling! Grab your greased casserole dish (grease it to avoid sticking), and pour in your beef and pasta mixture. Layer it with black beans, salsa (homemade or store-bought – both work great), and sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese on top.
The layers here are what make every bite a perfect mix of flavor and texture.
Bake!
Pop the baking dish in the oven and bake for about 15 minutes. You’re looking for a bubbly, golden-brown top.
Top It Off
Once out of the oven, let it rest for a moment. Then, top it with shredded lettuce, a dollop of sour cream, and pico de gallo for that fresh, zesty finish. Voila! Your Walking Taco Casserole is ready to be devoured.
Recipe Notes and Expert Tips
Alright, let’s make sure your Walking Taco Bake turns out top-notch every time with these handy tips:
- Ingredient Swaps: Feel free to use ground turkey or chicken instead of beef for a lighter version. And if you’re not into black beans, pinto beans are a great substitute.
- Vegetarian: Swap the ground beef for a meat substitute or extra beans and veggies for a vegetarian version.
- Cheese: While cheddar cheese is a classic, don’t hesitate to mix it up with Monterey Jack, Mexican-blend cheese, or even a sprinkle of pepper jack for some extra kick.
- Spice It Up: If you’re all about that spice, add some chili powder, diced jalapenos or green chiles to the beef mixture. Or, for a milder flavor, just stick with the taco seasoning.
- Don’t Overcook Pasta: Remember, the pasta cooks again in the oven, so keep it al dente during the boiling stage.
- Drain the Beef: Be sure to drain the excess grease from your ground beef mixture. This step is key to avoiding a greasy casserole.
- Make Ahead: Assemble it a day in advance and store it in the fridge. Just add a few extra minutes to the baking time if you’re cooking it straight from the fridge.
- Topping Ideas: You can add any of your favorite taco toppings to this casserole to amp up the flavor. Some of our favorites include green onions, black olives, cilantro, Greek yogurt, sour cream, avocado, Pico de Gallo, and salsa.
How to Store Leftover Walking Taco Casserole
Got leftovers? Lucky you! Here’s how to keep your Walking Taco Casserole delicious for days:
- Cool & Airtight: Let the casserole cool down to room temperature, and then store your leftovers in an airtight container.
- Refrigerate or Freeze: You can refrigerate your casserole for up to 3-4 days. If you want to keep it longer, it freezes well too! Just place it in a freezer-safe container and it’ll stay good for about 2-3 months.
- Reheating: When you’re ready to eat, you can reheat it in the oven or microwave or oven. If it’s frozen, let it thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Our Top 3 Money-Saving Tips for This Recipe
We all love saving a buck or two, especially when it comes to delicious meals like this Walking Taco Casserole. Here are our top three tips for making this dish budget-friendly:
- Bulk Buy Your Meat: Ground beef, chicken, or turkey – whatever your pick, buying in bulk is usually cheaper. You can freeze what you don’t use in portions for next time, making it a win-win for your wallet and future meal plans.
- Go Generic: Opt for store-brand or generic versions of ingredients like taco seasoning, canned beans, and cheese. They taste just as good as name brands but at a fraction of the cost.
- Use Leftovers: This recipe is great for incorporating leftover ingredients. Got some extra veggies or cheese from another meal? Toss them in! It’s a great way to reduce waste and save money.
What to Serve with Walking Taco Casserole
Now that you’ve made this delicious Walking Taco Casserole, let’s talk about what to pair it with to round out your meal.
Refreshing Sides
A light, crisp salad is a perfect balance to the richness of the casserole. Greens, tomatoes, cucumber, and a zesty dressing are great for turning this into a walking taco salad.
Guacamole and Chips
Can you ever go wrong with guacamole and chips? This dynamic duo serves as a great appetizer or side. The original Walking Taco recipe is served in a bag of Fritos or Doritos, and those are both delicious with this casserole. You can also make your own tortilla chips at home – great for using up stale tortillas!
Something Sweet
And for dessert? How about some churros or a simple Mexican chocolate cake? A sweet treat is always a good idea to round off a spicy and savory meal.
More Recipes You Will Love
- Cheeseburger Casserole
- Tater Tot Casserole
- Chicken Casserole
- Chicken and Rice Casserole
- Breakfast Casserole
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Easy Walking Taco Casserole Recipe (Ready in 25 Minutes!)
Ingredients
- 15 ounces ground beef
- ½ onion diced
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- salt and pepper
- 3 cups short pasta
- 1 ½ cups red salsa
- 1 cup black beans
- 2 cups Cheddar cheese
- Shredded lettuce, pico de gallo, and sour cream for toppings
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 355°F/180ºC.
- Bring a pot of salted water to boil and boil the pasta 2-3 minutes short of the time indicated in the package. Reserve.3 cups short pasta
- Heat a non-stick skillet to medium-high and brown the ground beef — drain any excess fat. Add the onion, garlic, taco seasoning, salt, and pepper, and cook for 5-7 more minutes.15 ounces ground beef, ½ onion, 1 garlic clove, 2 tablespoons taco seasoning, salt and pepper
- Transfer the meat to a bowl and combine with the pasta and half of the cheese.2 cups Cheddar cheese
- Grease a baking pan and transfer the mixture. Top with a layer of beans and a layer of salsa. Top with the rest of the cheese.1 ½ cups red salsa, 1 cup black beans
- Bake for 15 minutes, or until bubbly.
- Top with shredded lettuce, sour cream and pico de gallo.Shredded lettuce, pico de gallo, and sour cream
Notes
- Ingredient Swaps: Feel free to use ground turkey or chicken instead of beef for a lighter version. And if you’re not into black beans, pinto beans are a great substitute.
- Vegetarian: Swap the ground beef for a meat substitute or extra beans and veggies for a vegetarian version.
- Cheese: While cheddar cheese is a classic, don’t hesitate to mix it up with Monterey Jack, Mexican-blend cheese, or even a sprinkle of pepper jack for some extra kick.
- Spice It Up: If you’re all about that spice, add some chili powder, diced jalapenos or green chiles to the beef mixture. Or, for a milder flavor, just stick with the taco seasoning.
- Don’t Overcook Pasta: Remember, the pasta cooks again in the oven, so keep it al dente during the boiling stage.
- Drain the Beef: Be sure to drain the excess grease from your ground beef mixture. This step is key to avoiding a greasy casserole.
- Make Ahead: Assemble it a day in advance and store it in the fridge. Just add a few extra minutes to the baking time if you’re cooking it straight from the fridge.
- Topping Ideas: You can add any of your favorite taco toppings to this casserole to amp up the flavor. Some of our favorites include green onions, black olives, cilantro, Greek yogurt, sour cream, avocado, Pico de Gallo, and salsa.
Storage Instructions
- Cool & Airtight: Let the casserole cool down to room temperature, and then store your leftovers in an airtight container.
- Refrigerate or Freeze: You can refrigerate your casserole for up to 3-4 days. If you want to keep it longer, it freezes well too! Just place it in a freezer-safe container and it’ll stay good for about 2-3 months.
- Reheating: When you’re ready to eat, you can reheat it in the oven or microwave or oven. If it’s frozen, let it thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
