Description

This hearty Taco Casserole combines seasoned ground beef with black beans, corn, and Rotel tomatoes layered with crushed Doritos and melted cheese. Baked to perfection, it’s an easy and flavorful family-friendly dish perfect for a weeknight dinner or casual gathering. Serve with your favorite taco toppings like lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, and green onions for a satisfying meal.

Ingredients

Meat and Vegetables

1 pound lean ground beef (or ground turkey or chicken)
1 cup yellow onion, diced
1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced

Seasoning and Canned Goods

1 package taco seasoning
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15-ounce) can corn, drained
1 (10-ounce) can Rotel tomatoes with diced peppers

Doritos and Cheese

3 cups Doritos, lightly crushed
2 cups shredded cheese (half cheddar, half Monterey Jack), divided

Toppings (Optional)

Lettuce
Tomatoes
Sour cream
Green onions

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Instructions

Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350ºF (175ºC) to prepare for baking the casserole.
Cook the Ground Beef: In a large skillet over medium heat, add the ground beef. Break it into pieces and cook until it is about half-browned.
Sauté Vegetables with Beef: Add the diced onion, red bell pepper, and minced garlic to the beef. Continue cooking until the beef is fully browned and the vegetables are softened, stirring occasionally.
Add Taco Seasoning: Sprinkle the taco seasoning over the meat and vegetable mixture. Stir well and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly to evenly distribute the seasoning.
Combine Beans, Corn, and Tomatoes: Stir in the drained black beans, corn, and Rotel tomatoes. Mix thoroughly, then add half of the shredded cheese, stirring until just combined.
Prepare Casserole Dish: Place about 2 cups of lightly crushed Doritos evenly into the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish as a base layer.
Layer Meat Mixture: Spoon the prepared meat and vegetable mixture evenly over the Doritos base.
Top with Doritos and Cheese: Sprinkle the remaining crushed Doritos over the meat layer, then top with the remaining shredded cheese.
Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for about 15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the chips on top are toasted and slightly crispy.
Serve: Remove from oven and serve warm with your choice of taco toppings such as shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sour cream, and green onions.

Notes

You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for a leaner protein option.
Using a mix of cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese provides a great balance of flavor and meltability.
For extra crunch, do not over-crush the Doritos; they should still have some texture in the casserole.
Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
This dish can be adapted to be gluten-free by ensuring the taco seasoning and Doritos are certified gluten-free.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Category: Casserole
Method: Baking
Cuisine: Mexican-American