Description
Savory Walking Taco Bake delivers a mouthwatering Mexican-inspired casserole that combines classic taco flavors with comforting layers of cheese and crispy chips. Hearty and satisfying, this dish brings zesty goodness straight to your dinner table for a quick and delicious meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef (90/10 lean)
- 12 ounces (340 grams) Fritos
- 1 8-ounce (226 grams) bag shredded Cheddar cheese
Protein and Vegetable Components:
- 1 sweet or yellow onion, diced
- 1 15-ounce (425 grams) can kidney beans, drained
- 1 15-ounce (425 grams) can tomato sauce
- 1 10-ounce (283 grams) can Rotel or diced tomatoes with green chilies, drained
Seasoning and Toppings:
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- Green onions
- Cilantro
- Tomatoes
- Pickled jalapenos
- Sour cream
Instructions
- Prepare the oven by heating to 350°F, ensuring a consistent temperature for even cooking.
- In a large skillet, sauté ground beef with diced onions over medium heat, breaking meat into small crumbles until fully browned and onions become translucent.
- Incorporate kidney beans, tomato sauce, Rotel, and taco seasoning into the meat mixture, stirring thoroughly to blend all flavors and create a cohesive filling.
- Carefully transfer the seasoned meat mixture into a baking dish, spreading it evenly across the bottom to create a uniform layer.
- Generously sprinkle shredded Cheddar cheese over the meat mixture, ensuring complete coverage for a melty, cheesy topping.
- Crush Fritos chips into coarse crumbs, then distribute them uniformly across the cheese layer to create a crunchy, textured surface.
- Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, watching for melted, bubbling cheese and a golden-brown chip topping.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 2-3 minutes to allow flavors to settle and dish to cool slightly.
- Garnish with optional toppings like chopped green onions, fresh cilantro, diced tomatoes, pickled jalapeños, and a dollop of sour cream before serving.
Notes
- Customize heat levels by selecting mild or spicy Rotel tomatoes depending on your preference for zesty flavors.
- Consider using ground turkey or plant-based crumbles as lean protein alternatives for health-conscious eaters.
- Crush Fritos just before topping to maintain maximum crunchiness and prevent soggy texture during baking.
- Make this dish gluten-free by ensuring taco seasoning and Fritos are certified gluten-free options.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 500 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg