Taco Bake Casserole

Prep Time: Cook Time: Total Time: 15 mins 35 mins 50 mins

Servings: Yield: 12 1 9x13-inch casserole

Ingredients

• cooking spray (such as Pam®)

• 1 ½ pounds ground beef

• 1 cup chopped onion

• ½ cup water

• 1 (1 ounce) package taco seasoning mix

• 1 (10 ounce) can refried beans (Optional)

• 1 (6 ounce) can sliced black olives (Optional)

• 1 (4 ounce) can diced green chiles

• ½ cup salsa

• 15 taco shells, broken up, or more to taste

• 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
  

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Spray a 9x13-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
   

2. Cook ground beef and onions in a skillet over medium heat until beef is browned, 7 to 10 minutes; drain grease.
   

3. Stir in water and taco seasoning; cook, stirring often, until thickened, about 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low and add refried beans, olives, green chiles, and salsa. Cook and stir until ingredients are warmed through, 3 to 4 minutes.
   

4. Place 1/2 of the broken taco shells in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Pour in 1/2 of the ground beef mixture over broken taco shells.
   

5. Sprinkle 1/2 of the Cheddar cheese over top. Repeat layers once more.
   

6. Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted and bubbly, 20 to 25 minutes.
   

7. Serve hot and enjoy!
   

How to Make Taco Bake

You'll be shocked at how easy it is to make this taco bake. The full, step-by-step recipe is below — but here's a brief description of how to make this casserole:

Brown the Beef

Cook the ground beef and onions until beef is browned. Drain the grease and add water and taco seasoning. Cook until the water and seasoning mixture has thickened.

Cook the Taco Mixture

Add refried beans, olives, green chiles, and salsa to the ground beef mixture. Cook until all the ingredients are warmed through.

Assemble the Casserole

Sprinkle broken taco shells over the bottom of a casserole dish. Top with a layer of ground beef mixture, then a layer of cheese. Repeat all three layers.

Bake

Bake the casserole until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

How Long to Cook Taco Bake?

We like to follow this recipe, which calls for a 20 to 25 minute bake time. You'll know the taco bake is done when the casserole is warmed through and the cheese is melted and bubbly.

What to Serve With Taco Bake

You can top this taco bake just like you would top traditional tacos. Try adding shredded lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, salsa, guacamole, or taco sauce.

How to Store Taco Bake

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days. Reheat in the microwave or in the oven until warmed through.

How to Freeze Taco Bake

Assemble the casserole in a baking dish (use a disposable baking dish for easy freezing). Wrap the entire thing (pan and all) in a layer of storage wrap then a layer of aluminum foil. Freeze the casserole for up to three months.

Thaw in the fridge overnight, then bake as directed. You may need to add a few minutes to the bake time to account for the cold temperature.