The Best Taco Casserole Recipe

If you are craving tacos but feel like making something different, then this Taco Casserole Recipe is a meal you need to try! It has earned a spot in our family’s collection of Easy Casserole Recipes!

With all the ingredients of a normal taco, it makes quite a few servings so you do not have to worry about doubling the ingredients to feed a crowd.

A yellow baking dish filled with the best Taco Casserole Recipe, topped with tomatoes and cilantro.

Crushed Doritos give the base of the casserole a twist. Layers of sour cream, corn, fiesta cheese, and meat come together to form an alliance that can only be found in a regular taco. It will have taco lovers going back for seconds!

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Reasons why you need to make this Taco Casserole Recipe

  • It makes a copious amount so it’s perfect for feeding a crowd
  • The toppings are versatile so you can switch them out to your preference
  • It is less then 8 ingredients which means your wallet will thank you
  • Taco lovers will enjoy it

Ingredients and tips for making this casserole dish

Wondering what you need to make this meal? I got you covered below!

  • Hamburger: We like to use 90% lean, however, any precentage will suffice.
  • Spaghetti Sauce: The recipe calls for Hunt’s Traditional Pasta Sauce, however, you can certainly try another brand or form of sauce.
  • Taco Seasoning: Do not skip this! It combines with the pasta sauce to make a really delicious Mexican sauce.
  • Whole Kernel Corn: If you aren’t a fan of corn, you can leave this out. However, it does pair well with the rest of the ingredients.
  • Sour Cream: Just like the taco seasoning, do not leave this ingredient out. If you aren’t a fan of sour cream, you can use plain Greek Yogurt.
  • Doritos: The base of this casserole depends on these chips. Do not skip this ingredient.
  • Fiesta Style Cheese: This meal would not be complete without this trio of cheese. It’s an important ingredient so I would not omit it.
Taco Casserole Recipe in a baking dish with a silver serving spoon.

Can I substitute Greek Yogurt for sour cream?

It is common to substitute Greek yogurt for sour cream in plenty of recipes. Both items are similar in consistency and taste. Make sure to stay away from sweet yogurt flavors and stick with a plain one.

Can I freeze this Taco Casserole Recipe?

Due to the sour cream and chips, I recommend avoiding freezing. The consistency of sour cream changes when frozen and freezing chips will give the casserole a soggy texture.

What is a good substitution for Doritos?

If you aren’t a fan of Doritos, you can try using Fritos or tortilla chips in it’s place. For a healthier version, try using the Simply brand version of Doritos.

What size dish can you use to make this Taco Casserole Recipe?

To hold the proper amount of ingredients, it is recommended to use a standard 9×13 inch size dish when you create these recipes. We enjoy using these Emile Henry casserole dishes to make ours. They come in different colors and are made with Burgundy clay for best baking/cooking results.

Another great bakeware brand are these Pyrex 9×13 casserole dishes. These are wonderful to use due to their glass exterior. Each set also comes with lids which makes it convenient for transport.

More of our favorite hamburger casserole recipes

If you are looking for recipes that use hamburger, then check out a few more of our favorite ones on the site and from our friends:

A horizontal picture of a Taco Casserole Recipe topped with cilantro, diced tomatoes, and shredded cheese.

Turn this Taco Casserole into a full meal:

The following recipes on the site will be great to serve with this dish:

Helpful Kitchen Tools

The following items are what I use daily and/or weekly in my kitchen. They are affiliate links and will not change the sale price.

A horizontal picture of a Taco Casserole Recipe topped with cilantro, diced tomatoes, and shredded cheese.

The Best Taco Casserole Recipe

This Taco Casserole Recipe is less then 8 ingredients, tastes wonderful, and will be the hit at your next dinner.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican/Spanish
Keyword: casserole
Serves: 12 servings
Calories Per Serving: 548

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs ground hamburger meat
  • 24 oz Pasta Sauce Hunt's Traditional
  • 1 oz Taco Seasoning
  • 1.5 cups whole kernel corn
  • 16 ounce sour cream
  • 14.5 ounce Doritos
  • 1.5 cups Monterey jack cheese shredded
  • 1.5 cups cheddar cheese shredded
  • 1 roma tomato diced (optional)
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro chopped (optional)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
  • In a large skillet, cook the hamburger meat until brown.
  • Stir in the entire can of pasta sauce and add the entire package of taco seasoning. Mix until well blended and set aside.
  • Mix the Monterey Jack cheese with the cheddar cheese in a small mixing bowl.
  • Measure out 2 and 1/2 cups of Doritos. Crush them and place them on the bottom of the baking dish.
  • Pour 1 and 1/2 cups of meat mixture on top of the Doritos.
  • Spread 1/2 cup of the whole kernel corn on top of the meat.
  • Top the corn with 1 cup of the shredded cheese.
  • Repeat steps 4 through 7 until all the ingredients are used.
  • Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the oven, uncovered. Cool for about 15 minutes.
  • Top with additional cheese, diced tomatoes, and chopped cilantro if desired.

Libby’s Notes

Recipe Source: Inspired by a fellow military spouse’s recipe.  

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 548kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 862mg | Potassium: 573mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 908IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 318mg | Iron: 3mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @cooknwithlibby or tag #cookwlib!

9 Comments

  1. A great recipe…and post! I would LOVE this creamy/crunchy dish. Thanks to both of you for sharing. I so remember those first months of cooking for my groom too. ;-}

    1. Don't we all remember those first months of newlywed cookery and bliss? 😉 Love it! <3

  2. This casserole sounds so good! =)
    Thanks so much for sharing! I love Mexican food, so this recipe is going on my Recipe List.

    1. You are welcome for sharing 🙂 Yes…this would be a great one to add to the list 😉

    1. It really does dosen't it? This sounds like a winner 🙂

  3. are we supposed to use spaghetti sauce or just plain tomato sauce?

    1. I have contacted Amy to ask this question and have not yet heard a response. I am guessing you probably could just use the Hunt's spaghetti sauce. If that doesn't work, try it with plain tomato sauce 🙂

  4. Ok, she ended up contacting me and she said to stick to the original recipe, use the spaghetti. But she also said she has used both the plain tomato sauce and the spaghetti…so either one would work 🙂 Hope that helps some 😉

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