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    Home » Recipes » Casseroles

    Walking Taco Casserole with Fritos

    Published: Feb 25, 2023 · Modified: Oct 31, 2023 by Cara Lanz · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    walking taco casserole with fritos in a skillet
    walking taco casserole with fritos in a skillet
    walking taco casserole with fritos in a skillet
    walking taco casserole with fritos in a skillet

    Walking Taco Casserole with Fritos has all the flavors of delicious tacos in an easy one pan dinner you can make in about 25 minutes. A quick, simple casserole recipe that tastes anything but.

    walking taco casserole with fritos in a skillet.

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    Jump to:
    • Why You're Going to Love This Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Substitutions
    • Step-by-Step Instructions
    • Make Ahead
    • Expert Tips
    • FAQs
    • More Easy Dinner Recipes
    • 💌Let's Stay in Touch
    • 📖 Recipe

    This Walking Taco Casserole recipe is an easy one pan weeknight dinner the entire family is going to DEVOUR ... and then request every taco Tuesday.

    The base of this Frito taco bake is a spicy, creamy mixture of ground beef, black beans, green chilis, enchilada sauce, taco seasoning, and cream cheese. Next, a layer of gooey melted cheese. And finally, the good stuff: Crunchy, salty Frito corn chips and all your favorite toppings like tomatoes, green onions, shredded lettuce, and sour cream.

    This delicious taco casserole comes together in one skillet for easy prep and easy clean-up.  

    For more delicious taco Tuesday recipes, try Chicken Taco Hash Brown Casserole, One Pot Taco Spaghetti, or Enchiladas Verdes.

    Why You're Going to Love This Recipe

    • Delicious casserole version of yummy walking tacos
    • Easy weeknight meal you can make in one skillet in about 25 minutes
    • Great recipe for taco night or Cinco de Mayo

    Ingredients

    walking taco casserole with fritos ingredients.

    Ground beef. Regular or lean ground beef will both work well. You can also use leftover taco meat.

    Taco seasoning. You can use a packet of taco seasoning mix or make your own taco seasoning. Homemade taco seasoning is really easy to make with chili powder, cumin, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, salt, and pepper. You can my recipe here.

    Green chilis. One 4 oz. can of diced green chiles -- mild or hot -- whatever you love.

    Black beans. One can of drained and rinsed black beans add creamy texture and are in an inexpensive way to stretch a pound of hamburger.

    Red enchilada sauce. Enchilada sauce is a smooth sauce made from tomatoes, chiles, and other spices. Choose mild, medium, or hot. You can even make your own homemade enchilada sauce.

    Cream cheese. A little cream cheese melted into the meat mixture makes it creamy and delicious.

    Sharp cheddar cheese. Cheddar cheese melts beautifully and tastes great in this recipe for walking taco casserole. Use freshly shredded cheese, if possible.

    Fritos. Walking tacos are traditionally made in a bag of Fritos. You can use plain or Chili Cheese Fritos or crushed up tortilla chips.

    Toppings. Lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, and green onions are my go-tos. Use whatever your family loves on their tacos like guacamole, sliced olives, pico de gallo.

    Substitutions

    Ground beef. You can use ground turkey or ground chicken in this Frito taco casserole.

    Black beans. Any kind of canned beans like kidney beans, chili beans, or pinto beans are great substitutes.

    Enchilada sauce. Salsa, picante sauce, or taco sauce should all work well as substitutions for enchilada sauce.

    Cheddar cheese. You can use your favorite cheese like Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, or a Mexican blend cheese.

    Fritos. Crushed tortilla chips, crunchy Doritos, or any kind of corn chips are all great options to use instead of Fritos.

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    ground beef and black bean taco mixture in skillet.

    Step 1: Brown ground beef, with diced onion, salt, and pepper in a large oven-safe skillet over medium to medium-high heat until it is no longer pink. Drain excess grease.

    Add the taco seasoning, green chilis, black beans, enchilada sauce, and cream cheese. Stir until the cream cheese has completely melted into the meat mixture.

    walking taco casserole with melted cheese in skillet.

    Step 2: Sprinkle shredded cheese on top of the beef mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 5-10 minutes or until the cheese has melted.

    walking taco casserole with fritos in a skillet.

    Step 3: Add a layer of Fritos over the melted cheese. Top with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, green onions, and sour cream. 

    Pro Tip: To drizzle the sour cream like I did in the photos, thin it with a little bit of water.

    Make Ahead

    To make walking taco bake ahead: 

    • Prepare through the step of adding the shredded cheese, just don't bake it yet. Store covered in the refrigerator for a day or two.
    • When you're ready to heat it up, remove it from the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for about an hour.
    • Bake at 350 until the meat is warmed through and the cheese has melted -- you may need to add a few extra minutes. Add Fritos and taco toppings.

    Expert Tips

    • No oven-safe skillet? Transfer the cooked meat mixture to a baking dish, add the cheese, and bake until melted.
    • To avoid leftovers with soggy chips and lettuce, add the Fritos and toppings to individual servings or the portion of the pan you know you'll eat right away. When you warm up leftovers, add fresh Fritos and toppings.
    • It's so easy to make your own taco seasoning with simple spices you probably already have. Here's my recipe.

    FAQs

    How long does leftover walking taco bake last in the fridge? 

    Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. 

    How do I keep leftover walking taco casserole with Fritos from getting soggy?

    If you know you're going to have leftovers, don't cover the entire casserole with Fritos and toppings -- the chips and lettuce will get soggy overnight in the fridge. Instead top individual servings with chips and fixings as you go.

    What is the best way to reheat walking taco casserole with Fritos?

    Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or in a 350 degree oven for 15-20 minutes or until warmed through.

    Why is it called walking taco casserole?

    A walking taco is a single-serve bag of Fritos filled with chili or taco meat, cheese, onions, and other toppings.

    The casserole form of this popular portable dish, sometimes called Frito pie, is a skillet or baking dish with a layer of taco seasoned meat topped with Fritos and taco fixings. All the same flavors are in the casserole -- the only difference is you need a plate before you dig in.

    Can I make a taco salad out of taco casserole with Fritos?

    Sure! Just fill your plate with lettuce first, then top it with the meat, Fritos, tomatoes, cheese, onions, sour cream, and salsa.

    walking taco casserole with fritos in a skillet.

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    📖 Recipe

    walking taco casserole with fritos in a skillet

    Walking Taco Casserole with Fritos

    Cara Lanz
    Walking Taco Casserole with Fritos has all the flavors of delicious tacos in an easy one pan dinner you can make in about 25 minutes. A quick, simple casserole recipe that tastes anything but.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved Recipe!
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 25 minutes mins
    Total Time 35 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6
    Calories 690 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 pound ground beef
    • 1 small onion, diced
    • 3 tablespoons taco seasoning, or one packet
    • 1 4 oz. can green chilis, drained
    • 1 15 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed
    • 1 10 oz. can enchilada sauce
    • 4 ounces cream cheese
    • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
    • 2-3 cups Fritos
    • 1 cup shredded lettuce
    • 1 cup diced tomatoes
    • ¼ cup sliced green onions
    • ¼ cup sour cream
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    Instructions
     

    • Heat oven to 350.
    • In a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat, brown ground beef with onion. Season with salt and pepper. Drain excess fat.
    • Add taco seasoning, green chilis, black beans, enchilada sauce, and cream cheese. Stir until cream cheese has melted.
    • Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the beef mixture.
      Bake for 5-10 minutes or until the cheese has melted.
    • Top with Fritos, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, and green onions.

    Notes

    STORAGE: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
    If you know you're going to have leftovers, don't cover the entire casserole with Fritos and toppings -- the chips and lettuce will get soggy overnight in the fridge. Instead top individual servings with chips and fixings as you go.
    REHEATING: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or in a 350 degree oven for 15-20 minutes or until warmed through.
    MAKE AHEAD: To make walking taco bake ahead, prepare through the step of adding the shredded cheese, just don't bake it yet. 
    Store covered in the refrigerator for a day or two.
    When you're ready to heat it up, remove it from the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for about an hour.
    Bake at 350 until the meat is warmed through and the cheese has melted -- you may need to add a few extra minutes. Remove from oven and add Fritos and taco toppings.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 690kcalCarbohydrates: 39gProtein: 31gFat: 46gSaturated Fat: 19gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 116mgSodium: 1370mgPotassium: 658mgFiber: 8gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 2081IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 391mgIron: 4mg
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    Hi, I'm Cara!

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