Easy Walking Taco Casserole

This Walking Taco Casserole has everything you’d expect from everyone’s favorite Tex Mex snack! A cheesy layer of taco meat is topped with corn chips, more cheese, lettuce and chopped tomatoes. A fun family dinner, potluck recipe or Cinco de Mayo meal!

What Is A Walking Taco?

So, what IS a walking taco? If you haven’t ever heard or tried one, they are pretty awesome. Generally speaking, it’s when you take a bag of Corn Chips (like Fritos) and load in your favorite taco ingredients into the bag. It’s a great way to enjoy a taco on-the-go. They are great for tailgating parties, game day celebrations or camping trips.

Today, we are going to make a Walking Taco Casserole. Why, because, making awesome dishes into casseroles is what we do!

Walking Taco Casserole

This is one of those recipes that you can dress up just about any way you’d like. Really, all you need is a bag of some sort of chips. Otherwise, let your imagination run wild! Below, I’ll include some suggestions of ways to improvise this recipe a bit. But, to get started, here are the ingredients that we use:

• 1lb ground beef
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 3 ounces cream cheese, cubed
• 1 bag, 9.25 oz, corn chips
• 8 ounces shredded cheese
• chopped lettuce
• chopped tomatoes
• sour cream

Can You Make This Casserole Ahead Of Time?

Well… Yes and no. The longer all these ingredients sit together in a casserole dish, the less crunchy those corn chips will be. And we are putting fresh lettuce and tomatoes on top. So this is one I’d really try to make right before serving. If you are really trying to save some time, you can probably brown your ground beef and keep that in your casserole dish. Then load the chips and cheese on just before putting it in the oven.

We often use our Le Creuset Casserole Dish because it comes with a lid! This would be perfect for this recipe.
Or, if you are looking for something a little less expensive, this one works great too!

Storing and Freezing Leftover Walking Taco Casserole

For the same reason listed above, leftovers just won’t be as good on this casserole as maybe some other ones because those corn chips could get soggy. But, if you don’t mind that, this Walking Taco Casserole should be good in your fridge for the standard 3-4 days.

You could also freeze it. I like to freeze my casseroles in individual portions in freezer bags. That way, I can just take out and prepare the portions I need. We love to use these gallon sized freezer bags. They are tough, durable and have new grip and seal technology that makes them super easy to open and close.

Notes, Tips and Variations

• CHANGE TOPPINGS: Corn chips like Fritos are usually used. But you can sub for Doritos or Tortilla Chips as well! In fact, if Doritos sound good to you, you’ve gotta try our Dorito Chicken Casserole!
• MAKE IT HEALTHIER: Trying to trim some calories? Try subbing ground turkey for the ground beef. You can also use low fat cream cheese, low fat shredded cheese or low fat sour cream. Or, instead of sour cream, you could use yogurt.
• ADD TOPPINGS: Some fun toppings you may want to add are: olives, green chilis, avocado, guacamole, green onions, diced onions or cilantro.

I hope you enjoy this Walking Taco Casserole. Let me know how it turns out for you in the comments! Happy eating!

5 from 2 votes

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Walking Taco Casserole

This Walking Taco Casserole has everything you'd expect from everyone's favorite Tex Mex snack! A cheesy layer of taco meat is topped with corn chips, more cheese, lettuce and chopped tomatoes. A fun family dinner, potluck recipe or Cinco de Mayo meal!

Course Main Course

Cuisine Mexican

Keyword casserole, cinco de mayo, family dinner, taco, texmex

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Servings 8 people

Calories 367 kcal

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 3 ounces cream cheese cubed
• 1 bag 9.25 oz, corn chips
• 8 ounces shredded cheese
• chopped lettuce
• chopped tomatoes
• sour cream

Instructions

1. Brown beef in a skillet until no longer pink. Drain grease.
   
2. Add taco seasoning and cream cheese and continue to heat over medium heat, stirring constantly until cheese is melted and completely mixed together.
   
3. Preheat oven to 350 and grease a 9x13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Spread beef in the bottom of the dish.
   
4. Sprinkle with chips and cheese. Bake for 20 minutes or until heated through and cheese is melted.
   
5. Serve topped with shredded lettuce and tomatoes and sour cream on the side.
   

Nutrition Facts

Walking Taco Casserole

Amount Per Serving

Calories 367

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.