Layered Taco Casserole

Fabulously amazing recipe! Just awesome! It’s super easy to put together and has become a favorite at home. Thanks so much for sharing! <3

— Anne

Looking for an easy man-child-family-everyone-friendly dinner? Well, look no further. This taco bake recipe is one of those easy weeknight meals that the entire family gets excited about when they see it come out of the oven, all steamy and cheesy and gooey.

I made this version of my favorite Mexican casserole a little lighter by using ground turkey and reduced fat cheese. I also packed it full of other nutritious, tasty ingredients, like black beans, tomatoes, corn and salsa.

We actually enjoy this healthier version of taco bake so much more than the original! It’s perfectly spicy, cheesy and satisfying without being too greasy and heavy. Add some Mexican rice and guacamole on the side and you’ll have a meal that will earn you rave reviews.

Why you’ll love this recipe

• Simple ingredients. This recipe only requires everyday ingredients that are mostly pantry staples, inexpensive, and easy to find. They all cook together to make this incredibly tasty taco bake.
• Delicious flavors. You have all the flavors of tacos but in layered casserole form! When combined, seasoned meat, Mexican spices, tortillas, and melty cheese create an amazing dish that you won’t be able to stop eating.
• Family favorite. Everyone loves a cheesy casserole! Kids too! This recipe is sure to become one of your family’s most requested weeknight meals.

Ingredients needed

Taco casserole includes all of the typical ingredients that are found in most Mexican dishes. It’s really versatile too! You can easily change the ingredients based on your taste preferences. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Lean ground turkey. We like to use lean ground turkey for this recipe, but any ground meat will work great. However, be aware that if you’re using ground beef with higher fat content, you’ll want to drain off any excess grease after it’s cooked.
• Spices. For delicious Mexican flavor, we’re using a taco seasoning blend of chili powder, ground cumin and salt. If you’d like a bit of heat, add in a dash or two of cayenne pepper.
• Black beans. Black beans give this recipe a tasty boost of protein and fiber. Sub with kidney, chili, or pinto beans, if you’d like.
• Green chiles. Use medium or mild green chiles for a little kick of heat and boost of flavor.
• Diced tomatoes. I highly recommend fire roasted diced tomatoes rather than regular diced tomatoes because they’re much more flavorful.
• Corn. We typically use frozen corn, and there’s no need to thaw. Canned or fresh will work too.
• Salsa. Use any favorite salsa, but be aware if you use a “hot” salsa, it could make this dish pretty spicy.
• Tortillas. We use corn tortillas in this casserole because they are lighter and my family prefers them. However, feel free to use flour tortillas instead. Use gluten free tortillas as needed.
• Cheese. Any favorite shredded cheese works great. We like cheddar, pepper jack or Monterey Jack cheese in this recipe. Reduced fat cheese is great, if you’d like to decrease the fat and calories.
• Optional for serving. We like to serve this with sour cream or Greek yogurt, sliced avocado or guacamole, salsa and tortilla chips

• Layer time! Spread turkey mixture on the bottom of your baking dish. Top with a heavy sprinkle of cheese and four tortilla strips. Repeat this process three times until all of the ground turkey has been used. After laying on your last tortilla strips, spread the salsa over top along with the remaining cheese.

• Bake. Place the casserole in the oven and bake until it’s bubbling and the cheese is melted, then serve with your favorite taco toppings.

Tips for recipe success

• Serving a crowd? This casserole can easily be doubled and made in a 9×13″ casserole dish.
• If you have the time, we recommend grating your own cheese. The bagged pre-shredded cheeses are coated in anti-caking agents and just don’t melt as smoothly.
• You can serve your casserole as-is, or add some yummy toppings such as diced tomatoes, cilantro, sour cream, avocado, guacamole or sliced black olives or jalapeños.
• This meat blend is wonderful served over lettuce as a taco salad or as tacos!

Variations

This casserole is very versatile and works well with many different ingredients, depending on what you have on hand and what you’re craving. You can easily customize this recipe to your family’s preferences. Here’s some options:

• Crushed tortilla chips. Try using crushed tortilla chips rather than tortillas.
• Meat options. Instead of using lean ground turkey, you can certainly use lean ground beef, ground chicken or bison, if you prefer.
• Add-ins. You can leave any of the ingredients out or swap them for another favorite Mexican ingredient. For example, leave the black beans out or swap them for diced onion and/or red bell pepper. There are endless options!
• Spicy. You control the heat in this dish depending on what salsa you choose. Be sure to leave out the cayenne pepper and use a mild salsa if your family is sensitive to spice.

Frequently asked questions

Storing leftovers

• Store leftovers should be refrigerated in an airtight container and are best within 4 to 5 days.
• Reheat in a microwave or an oven heated to 350°F until warmed through.

Tip: Leftover taco casserole is delicious as a dip with tortilla chips or as a filling for burritos and crunch wraps!

Freezing

• Baked taco casserole freezes well and can be stored for up to 3 months.
• To enjoy after freezing, let it defrost overnight in the fridge and reheat in a microwave or an oven heated to 350°F until warmed through.

This is a great recipe to have for those busy nights when you don’t have a ton of time to get dinner on the table. It’s a crowd pleaser for both kids and adults! I hope y’all enjoy this dinner as much as my family did!

If you try this recipe, let me know! Leave a comment and if your family loves it as much as mine does, be sure to give it a five star ⭐️ rating! Also, tag @kimscravings on Instagram with a picture of your creation. It’s so fun to see what you’re cooking! Be sure to subscribe to our mailing list to receive more healthy delicious recipes straight to your inbox.