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Baked Walking Taco Casserole Recipe with Enchilada Sauce

This Baked Walking Taco Casserole is the easiest one pot mexican dinner idea and it is loaded with flavor from the taco seasoning, green chiles, and enchilada sauce. And…

Baked Walking Taco Casserole Recipe with Enchilada Sauce

This Baked Walking Taco Casserole is the easiest one pot mexican dinner idea and it is loaded with flavor from the taco seasoning, green chiles, and enchilada sauce. And the best part is all of the fritos and melted cheese on top. SO good.

overhead of garnished casserole

If you love Mexican comfort food, try my Easy Chicken Enchiladas with Green Sauce.

Looking for another one pot dinner with chicken? Try my cajun style creamy One Pot Chicken & Rice.

Table of Contents

Highlights

  • Easy one pot hearty dinner
  • Kid friendly
  • Extra crunch from the fritos on top
  • Upgraded take on a classic
  • Turns 1 pound of meat into 6 servings (cost effective)

Ingredients

overhead of ingredients
  • Ground Beef: Substitute ground turkey or chicken.
  • Taco Seasoning: My favorite kind is the mild taco seasoning by Simply Organic. It is sold at Whole Foods.
  • Beef Broth: Substitute chicken broth.
  • Fritos: Substitute tortilla chips.
  • Colby Jack: Substitute monterey jack or cheddar.

Complete list of ingredients and amounts is located on the recipe card below.

Instructions

before you start

  • Make sure you are using a skillet that is stove and oven safe. Some nonstick skillets are and most enameled cast iron is.
  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Step 1: In a large oven safe skillet with lid, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the ground beef and onion. Cook until beef is brown, stirring frequently.

Step 2: Reduce heat to medium. Stir in salt, taco seasoning, garlic, and paprika. Cook for 1-2 to minutes until fragrant.

steps 1 & 2 ground beef and onions cooked ground beef with seasoning mixed in

Step 3: Add the enchilada sauce, broth, green chiles, and rice. Bring to a boil. Cover and cook on low for 15-20 minutes or until the rice has absorbed most of the liquid. Remove from heat and stir in the sour cream.

Step 4: Sprinkle about half of the cheese on top.

steps 3 & 4 casserole without topping casserole with first layer of cheese

TIP – After you bring the liquid to a boil, be sure to turn down the heat to the lowest setting. You do not want the bottom to burn.

TIP – The rice does not need to have absorbed all of the liquid. It will continue to do so in the oven.

Step 5: Then add a layer of fritos and finish the top with the rest of the cheese.

Step 6: Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Garnish with lettuce, cilantro, tomato, and pickled jalapeños if desired.

steps 5 & 6 casserole with Fritos and cheese on top baked finished casserole

Expert Tips

  • If you are sensitive to heat, be sure the taco seasoning and enchilada sauce you buy is mild. This dish is not meant to be spicy.
  • Make sure you are using a skillet that is stove and oven safe. Some nonstick skillets are and most enameled cast iron is.
  • Whenever you reduce the heat to low and cover the rice and meat, be sure the burner is on the lowest setting. This ensures the bottom does not burn.
  • Don’t forget about the garnish. I think adding some fresh veggies on top really brightens up this dish. At a minimum I recommend some crisp lettuce.
finished casserole

FAQs

How do you store leftover walking taco casserole?

Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. The fritos will get soggy so it is best served fresh. But I personally still think it is tasty leftover.

What does walking taco mean?

A walking taco is traditionally a taco made in a mini bag of fritos. So you open your individual size frito bag, add ground meat, and all the taco fixing. You eat it with a fork so it is perfect for on the go. Also known as frito pies

Can you make this dish gluten free?

Yes, just be sure the corn chips are gluten free. Tortilla chips will also work.

What do you serve with a walking taco casserole?

If you garnish the dish with lettuce, tomatoes, cilantro, and jalapeños, I think the casserole is a complete meal on its own.

Overhead photo of grilled Caesar chicken breasts topped with herbs and served with Caesar sauce.

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Finished cheeseburger on a sesame bun with lettuce, tomato, and red onion.

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Best Grilled Hamburger Recipe

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Chicken

Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs (Baked & Crispy)

Baked Walking Taco Casserole Recipe with Enchilada Sauce

Brianna May

This Baked Walking Taco Casserole is the easiest one pot mexican dinner idea and it is loaded with flavor from the taco seasoning, green chiles, and enchilada sauce. And the best part is all of the fritos and melted cheese on top. SO good.

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Servings: 6 people

Ingredients

  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 pound ground beef*
  • 1 onion diced
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 packet taco seasoning*
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
  • 1 3/4 cup (15 ounces) red enchilada sauce
  • 2 cups beef broth*
  • 1 can (7 ounces) mild green chiles
  • 1 cup white rice
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 2-3 cups fritos*
  • 8 ounces colby jack shredded*

Garnish

  • lettuce cilantro, tomato, sour cream, or jalapeños

Instructions

  1. Review all recipe notes and instructions before beginning.
  2. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
  3. In a large oven safe skillet with lid, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the ground beef and onion. Cook until beef is brown, stirring frequently.
  4. Reduce heat to medium. Stir in salt, taco seasoning, garlic, and paprika. Cook for 1-2 to minutes until fragrant.
  5. Add the enchilada sauce, broth, green chiles, and rice. Bring to a boil. Cover and cook on low for 15-20 minutes or until the rice has absorbed most of the liquid. Remove from heat and stir in the sour cream.
  6. Sprinkle about half of the cheese on top.
  7. Then add a layer of fritos and finish the top with the rest of the cheese.
  8. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Garnish with lettuce, cilantro, tomato, and pickled jalapeños if desired.
  9. After you bring the liquid to a boil, be sure to turn down the heat to the lowest setting. You do not want the bottom to burn.
  10. The rice does not need to have absorbed all of the liquid. It will continue to do so in the oven.

Notes

Ground Beef: Substitute ground turkey or chicken. Taco Seasoning: My favorite kind is the mild taco seasoning by Simply Organic. It is sold at Whole Foods. Beef Broth: Substitute chicken broth. Fritos: Substitute tortilla chips. Colby Jack: Substitute monterey jack or cheddar. If you are sensitive to heat, be sure the taco seasoning and enchilada sauce you buy is mild. This dish is not meant to be spicy. Make sure you are using a skillet that is stove and oven safe. Some nonstick skillets are and most enameled cast iron is. Whenever you reduce the heat to low and cover the rice and meat, be sure the burner is on the lowest setting. This ensures the bottom does not burn. Don’t forget about the garnish. I think adding some fresh veggies on top really brightens up this dish. At a minimum I recommend some crisp lettuce.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 752 kcal | Carbohydrates: 59 g | Protein: 29 g | Fat: 44 g | Saturated Fat: 18 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 17 g | Trans Fat: 1 g | Cholesterol: 100 mg | Sodium: 2394 mg | Fiber: 6 g | Sugar: 9 g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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