Taco Potato Casserole is a delightful blend of hash brown potatoes combined with seasoned ground beef and gooey melted cheese for the ultimate comfort food experience. Add your favorite taco toppings, and you will have a meal that your family will ask for again and again. You can bake this easy casserole in the oven or make it in your slow cooker.
Craving for a meal that's both delicious and easy to whip up? Then, you're going to fall head over heels for our Taco Potato Casserole!
This recipe takes comfort food to a whole new level with the perfect blend of hash brown potatoes, zesty taco beef, and oodles of melted cheese. The best part? It requires just 10 minutes of hands-on time, and then your oven or slow cooker does the rest of the work.
So, get ready to embrace the cheesy goodness of this mouth-watering casserole and create a meal your family will request time and again. Trust me, it doesn't get easier or yummier than this!
Ingredients
- Ground Beef: You could use ground turkey or spicy sausage if you prefer.
- Taco Seasoning: This flavorful packet is what gives our ground beef its classic, spicy taco taste. Feel free to use your favorite brand or even a homemade blend!
- Onion: Chopped onion brings a subtle sweetness that perfectly complements the spiciness of the other ingredients.
- Red Pepper: This vibrant veggie adds a pop of color and a sweet, slightly smoky flavor to the mix.
- Jalapeno: For those who like a bit of heat, chopped jalapeno peppers are a must! If you're not a fan of spice, feel free to leave this one out.
- Garlic: Minced garlic infuses our casserole with a depth of flavor that can't be beaten.
- Hash Browns: Shredded hash browns form a crispy, golden crust that's the perfect counterbalance to the creamy filling.
- Sharp Cheddar Cheese: We use sharp cheddar for its intense, tangy flavor, but feel free to substitute with your favorite cheese.
- Sour Cream: This ingredient adds a creamy, tangy touch that pairs perfectly with the spicy taco seasoning.
- Cream of Celery Soup: A secret weapon in our casserole, cream of celery soup adds richness and a unique flavor profile. Homemade is great, but store-bought works too!
- Sea Salt: A pinch of sea salt enhances all the other flavors in our dish.
- Toppings - Tomato, Avocado, Cilantro: Fresh, bright, and full of flavor, these toppings add a refreshing contrast to the hearty casserole. Feel free to get creative with your toppings based on what you have on hand.
Tips and Tricks
- Get Creative with Toppings: Don't limit yourself to just tomatoes, avocados, and cilantro. Feel free to top your casserole with olives, green onions, or even a dollop of guacamole for added flavor.
- Go Homemade: If you have the time, consider making your own taco seasoning and cream of celery soup. It's a surefire way to control the flavors and make this dish truly your own!
- Choose Your Cheese Wisely: We love sharp cheddar in this recipe for its tangy punch, but feel free to experiment with other cheeses like Monterey Jack or Pepper Jack for a different spin.
- Make it Vegetarian: Swap out the ground beef for a plant-based alternative or try adding black beans for a vegetarian version of this dish.
- Leftovers are a Lifesaver: This casserole is a great make-ahead meal. It reheats beautifully and can be a real lifesaver on busy weeknights.
Step by Step
For the full recipe with measurements, see the recipe card at the end of the post.
- Start by spraying your slow cooker with cooking spray.
- Next, spray a skillet with cooking spray and add the ground beef, 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning, onion, red pepper, and jalapeño.
- Cook these ingredients until the ground beef is fully cooked. Add the garlic and let it cook for an additional 30 seconds before removing from heat and draining.
- Combine potatoes, a third of the cheddar cheese, sour cream, cream of celery soup, and salt in a large bowl.
- Layer half of this potato mixture on the bottom of your prepared slow cooker.
- Add half of the cooked meat and vegetable mixture on top, followed by another third of the cheddar cheese.
- Now, layer the remaining hash brown mixture, the rest of the meat, and finish off with the last portion of cheese.
- Let your casserole cook on low for 4-6 hours.
Tools for Making Cheesy Crockpot Hash Brown Casserole
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- Slow Cooker
- Skillet (unless your slow cooker has a saute' function)
- Mixing bowls
You May Also Like
- Try our Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole for a delightful dish that brings the comforting warmth of potatoes and cheese together in an irresistibly crunchy bake.
- If you're a fan of set-it-and-forget-it meals, our Crockpot Hashbrown Casserole is a no-fuss option that'll have everyone at the dinner table asking for seconds.
- Our Crockpot Scalloped Potatoes are a creamy, dreamy side dish that lets you enjoy the rich flavors of this classic recipe without spending hours in the kitchen.
- Lastly, our Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes are a tried-and-true favorite that pairs perfectly with any main dish and never fails to impress at family gatherings.
Taco Potato Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 package taco seasoning divided
- 1 onion chopped
- 1 red pepper chopped
- 1 jalapeno chopped
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 40 oz Hash Browns shredded
- 12 ounces sharp cheddar cheese divided
- 8 oz sour cream
- 2 cups cream of celery soup recipe here
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- For topping: tomato avocado, cilantro
Instructions
- Spray a slow cooker or 13 x 9 baking dish well with cooking spray. If baking, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
- Spray a skillet with cooking spray. Add ground beef, 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning, onion, red pepper and jalapeño.
- Cook until ground beef is cooked through. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds longer. Remove from heat and drain.
- In a large bowl combine potatoes, ⅓ of the cheddar cheese, sour cream, cream of celery soup, and salt. Spread ½ of the mixture on the bottom of your prepared slow cooker or baking dish.
- Top with half of the meat and vegetable mixture and â…“ of the cheddar cheese.
- Spread remaining hash brown mixture, meat and last of the cheese. Slow cook on low for 4-6 hours or bake for 30 minutes.
Kelsey Ayala
That recipe and slow cooker idea looks awesome. I am blown away by all the recipes and food that be created in a slow cooker. I don't have a slow cooker, but you give me such great ideas on how to use it..would love to be the lucky winner 🙂 Thanks!
Wendy Polisi
Thanks so much! You would love having a slow cooker.
Tonia
There isn't a link for the cream of celery soup recipe. Maybe it's because I'm viewing this on iPad?
Kayren Brendle Evers
I'm on my pc can't click on it either
Wendy Polisi
It is in the recipe - let me know if you are still having issues.
Carrie Duran
I love Simply Potatoes products; I have some hash browns in my fridge right now. And I was just cruising amazon for a slow cooker. Mine is too small and on its last leg. Thanks for the recipe and for doing the giveaway!
Wendy Polisi
Me too - such a time saver!
Carrie Duran
I thought I posted, but it disappeared. Sorry if this shows up twice! I have a package of Simply Potatoes hash browns in my fridge right now. Thanks for the recipe and the giveaway!
Martha C.
My old slow cooker's lid top broke off a while back, when the lid slipped off the counter, but I still use it because i haven't been able to get a new one. I keep burning my fingers trying to take the lid off by its sides instead of the lid top, wihch is no longer there! Lol! I despereately need a new one! I love to make beef stews in the slow cooker! 🙂
Wendy Polisi
I would do the same! I couldn't live without my slow cooker.
Wendy Polisi
Martha - You were the winner of this giveaway! Email me with your contact information at [email protected]!
Martha C.
Thanks Wendy! I just checked my email! I just emailed you my contact info! That's great news!!!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Jennyleigh
This recipe sounds great and I can't wait to try it. However, there is no recipe for the cream of celery soup. Can one just use canned? I do prefer home made when possible.
Wendy Polisi
There is a link in the recipe. I triple the soup and keep it in the freezer.
Kayren Brendle Evers
Can't print out recipe, just says Ingredients & instructions, nothing else
Wendy Polisi
It should be fine now.
Deidre Artist-Schultz
I am interested in trying the Simply Potatoes products. My crock pot is probably 50 years old...it belonged to my mother many years ago. Thanks for all the great recipes and for doing this giveaway. Blessings
Wendy Polisi
My pleasure! It is amazing that your crock pot has lasted that long.
Diana Gonzalez
Sounds yummy! I can make a vegetarian version of this recipe!
Wendy Polisi
It would be great with black beans! Or Beyond Meat crumbles which are really good if you can find them.
Lisa Brown
I sure would like the crock pot......I love youre recipes!
jen
Hi!-How do I cook this without a slow cooker please? I don't have one and this sounds TASTY!!! Any ideas, please? Thanks!