Fiesta Taco Casserole
A hearty, family-friendly weeknight meal that brings bold Mexican-inspired flavors to the table in under an hour. This delicious casserole layers seasoned lean ground beef, spicy chili beans, and zesty salsa over a crunchy bed of tortilla chips, all topped with a bubbling blanket of melted cheese. Perfect for busy evenings, it offers all the fun of taco night with minimal cleanup, making it a reliable comfort food that holds up beautifully for leftovers.
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 15-16 oz spicy chili beans (undrained)
- 1 cup thick and chunky salsa
- 2 cups tortilla chips (coarsely broken)
- 4 medium green onions (thinly sliced)
- 1 medium tomato (chopped)
- 1 cup cheddar or monterey jack cheese (shredded)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Brown the ground beef in a 10-inch skillet over medium heat for 8-10 minutes.
- Drain the excess fat thoroughly from the skillet.
- Stir the spicy chili beans and salsa into the beef mixture.
- Bring the mixture to a gentle boil while stirring to combine.
- Spread the broken tortilla chips evenly over the bottom of a 2-quart casserole dish.
- Spoon the beef and bean mixture over the chip layer.
- Top the casserole with fresh green onions, chopped tomatoes, and shredded cheese.
- Bake uncovered for 20-30 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and the edges are set.
- Serve hot with extra chips and fresh lettuce if desired.
Notes
This dish is perfect as a freezer meal; simply assemble and freeze before baking. Leftovers keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and often taste even better the next day as the flavors meld. Adjust the heat level by choosing a hot salsa or adding pickled jalapeños.