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Cheesy taco casserole topped with avocado, tomatoes, cilantro, green onions, and sour cream served fresh from a baking dish.

Ground Beef Taco Casserole Recipe

Easy Ground Beef Taco Casserole loaded with seasoned beef, melty cheese, tortillas, salsa, and Tex-Mex flavor. This cheesy taco bake is the perfect easy weeknight dinner recipe for families. See notes for my low-fat, high-protein version!
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 29 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 8
Calories 520 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1½ lbs ground beef
  • 1 onion diced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tbsp taco seasoning recipe below or 1 taco seasoning packet
  • ½ cup water
  • 1 cup salsa any
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 8 flour tortillas
  • 2 cups Shredded cheddar cheese
  • 2 cups Shredded Monterey Jack cheese
  • 1 cup sour cream fat-free, low-fat, or full-fat
  • 4 oz cream cheese softened
  • 1 can black beans drained, rinsed
  • 1 cup corn
  • 1 can green chilies

Toppings

  • avocado
  • cilantro chopped
  • lime wedge
  • tomatoes diced, deseeded

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 375°F.
  • Brown beef and onions.
  • Add garlic, seasoning, salsa, tomato paste, and water.
  • Simmer until thickened.
  • Stir in beans, corn, and chilies. Mix sour cream and cream cheese.
  • Toast tortillas lightly.
  • Layer tortillas, beef mixture and cheese.
  • Repeat layers.
  • Bake uncovered 20–25 minutes.
  • Broil Hi 1-2 minutes or until golden.
  • Rest 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe

Skip the packets if you want even more flavor.

 

Homemade Taco Seasoning

  • 2 tbsp chili powder
  • 2 tsp cumin
  • 2 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp cayenne

This equals about 1 store-bought packet.

 

Want to make this Ground Beef Taco Casserole lighter and higher in protein? 

Swap the cream cheese and sour cream for cottage cheese and Greek yogurt. Blended cottage cheese creates an ultra creamy texture while adding extra protein and reducing fat, and plain Greek yogurt gives the casserole that tangy, creamy taco flavor without the heaviness. For best results, blend the cottage cheese until smooth before mixing it with the Greek yogurt so the layers stay rich, creamy, and velvety. This easy healthy swap keeps all the cheesy taco casserole vibes while making it a little more macro-friendly for weeknight dinners and meal prep.

Nutritional Information (Approximate Per Serving)

  • Calories: 520
  • Protein: 31g
  • Carbohydrates: 24g
  • Fat: 32g
  • Fiber: 5g
  • Sugar: 4g
Keyword ground beef, taco casserole