Taco Casserole

We love tacos around here (really anything Southwestern), but tacos can be pretty messy to eat, as you probably know.  Especially with hard taco shells, you pick them up and bite into them, and crunch, bits and pieces start falling, and hopefully land on your plate and not your lap!  This simple recipe solves that problem for you!  It has the “scrumptiousness” of a taco, but in easier to eat casserole form, plus you can stretch out the beef with refried beans!

This taco casserole is crunchy, cheesy, and includes beef, tomato sauce and beans all in one dish!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 to 1 1/2 pounds ground beef, cooked thoroughly and fat drained off
• 16 ounces canned tomato sauce
• 3/4 cup refried beans
• 1 package or 1 Tablespoon taco seasoning (I use mild)
• 6 ounce bag tortilla chips
• 2 cups (8 oz) sharp Cheddar cheese

Mix together your cooked and drained ground beef, tomato sauce, taco seasoning and refried beans.

In a greased 11 x 7 baking dish, start layering.

Gently crumble about half of the tortilla chips, and that is layer one in your baking dish.  You want bite size pieces, not crumbs.

Then make a layer out of half of the meat mixture, and on top of that, a layer of half of the cheese.  I like sharp Cheddar because it just gives a lot more flavor for the fat and calories, but if your family prefers a milder cheese, you can always substitute Monterey Jack or another mild yellow cheese.

Finally do one more layer of broken up chips, then the remainder of the meat mixture, and last, a layer of cheese, and you’re ready to bake uncovered in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes, or till it’s all heated through, and the cheese is melted and yummy looking!

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Taco Casserole

Course dinner, Southwestern

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Servings 4

Author Joyful Homemaking

Ingredients

• 1 to 1 1/2 pounds ground beef (cooked thoroughly and fat drained off)
• 16 ounces canned tomato sauce
• 3/4 cup refried beans
• 1 package or 1 Tablespoon taco seasoning (I use mild)
• 6 ounce bag tortilla chips
• 2 cups 8 oz sharp Cheddar cheese

Instructions

• Mix together your cooked and drained ground beef, tomato sauce, taco seasoning and refried beans.
• In a greased 11 x 7 baking dish, start layering.
• Gently crumble about half of the tortilla chips, and that is layer one in your baking dish. You want bite size pieces, not crumbs.
• Then make a layer out of half of the meat mixture, and on top of that, a layer of half of the cheese. I like sharp Cheddar because it just gives a lot more flavor for the fat and calories, but if you’re family prefers a milder cheese, you can always substitute Monterey Jack or another mild yellow cheese.
• Finally do one more layer of broken up chips, then the remainder of the meat mixture, and last, a layer of cheese, and you’re ready to bake uncovered in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes, or till it’s all heated through, and the cheese is melted and yummy looking!
• You can add any toppings you might normally like with your tacos, such as sour cream, lettuce and tomato, hot sauce or salsa!
• This dish is best served right away.

You can add any toppings you might normally like with your tacos, such as sour cream, lettuce and tomato, hot sauce or salsa!  I added a little sour cream to my serving, and it was scrumptious!  This dish is best served right away, but I had leftovers for lunch two days later, and it was still yummy!  Hope you enjoy!