When you need a weeknight meal that the whole family is sure to love, this Ground Beef Taco Casserole recipe fits the bill. Juicy ground beef mingles with zesty Ro-tel tomatoes, creamy refried beans, and a generous sprinkle of your favorite taco seasoning; all layered with crunchy Doritos and gooey cheddar cheese. It delivers everything you love about taco night, all packed into a delicious, cheesy dish.
Taco night and casserole night had a baby, and it's covered in crushed Doritos. This taco casserole with Doritos layers ground beef, refried beans, Rotel, and cheddar, all under a crunchy chip layer that actually stays crunchy.
It's the kind of dinner that disappears fast. Kids love it, it feeds a crowd, and it comes together with pantry staples.
Serve this Dorito taco bake with slow cooker black beans and a scoop of guacamole and you've got a full spread. And if your are looking for more recipes with southwestern flair, don't miss my don't miss my Crockpot taco soup.
How to Keep the Doritos Crunchy
Don't bury all your chips. We do use a middle layer. They give texture and structure, but won’t stay crunchy. For crunch, add them on top and then top with cheese just before baking. I like to add more chips on top after it comes out of the oven.
Serve it soon after it bakes for maximum crunch. And if you know you'll have leftovers, keep a bag of chips on the side and add fresh ones just before serving.
Ingredients
- Ground beef: Use ground turkey for a lighter version.
- Onion: I recommend yellow or white onion.
- Minced garlic: Use fresh minced, jarred, or frozen garlic.
- Taco seasoning: I used pre-made for convenience, but you can make your own with a blend of chili powder, cumin, paprika ( I recommend smoked), garlic powder, onion powder, Mexican oregano, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper.
- Apple cider vinegar: Red wine vinegar could be substituted.
- Ro-tel diced tomatoes & green chilies: You could use 3 cups of salsa instead.
- Refried beans: Use your favorite canned brand or make your own.
- Cheddar cheese: You could substitute Monterey jack cheese if you prefer.
- Crushed Doritos: We love Doritos here, but feel free to use your favorite tortilla chips.
- For serving: diced tomatoes, scallions, black olives, sour cream, more Doritos, avocado, shredded lettuce, hot sauce, and/or cilantro
Tips and Tricks
- Want to lighten it up a bit? Swap the ground beef in this Dorito taco casserole with ground turkey or chicken.
- Use freshly grated cheese for better meltability and flavor.
- If you prefer more heat, choose a spicier variety of Ro-tel or add a pinch of cayenne pepper.
- For extra crunch, reserve some Doritos to sprinkle on top just before serving.
- Customize your toppings and add-ins to suit personal preferences; try adding sliced jalapeños, black beans, bell peppers, green onion, corn, or black olives.
- Want to make this with chicken? Use my Crockpot Salsa Chicken adding taco seasoning, and then build the casserole as directed.
- Store the leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will keep for about 3 days.
Step by Step
More Casserole Recipes
- Baked Spaghetti with Cream Cheese is a creamy twist on a classic favorite.
- Let your slow cooker do the work with Crockpot Pizza Casserole, a family-friendly dish that's perfect for busy nights.
- Cornbread Casserole is a sweet and savory delight that pairs well with any meal.
- Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole is a hearty dish that combines all your favorite tastes in one bake.
Ground Beef Taco Casserole with Doritos
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 onion chopped
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- ¼ cup taco seasoning
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 (10-ounce) cans Ro-tel diced tomatoes & green chilies divided
- 1 (16-ounce) can refried beans
- 12 ounces shredded cheddar cheese divided
- 6 ounces crushed Doritos
- For serving: diced tomatoes scallions, sour cream, more Doritos, avocado, shredded lettuce, cilantro
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9 x 13 casserole dish with cooking spray.
- Spray a large skillet with cooking spray and set to medium-high heat. Add the ground beef. Cook, breaking up with the back of a spoon, for 5 minutes. Add the onion, and cook for another 5 minutes, until the onion is tender and the ground beef is browned. Drain any excess grease if necessary.
- Add the garlic, and cook for another 30 seconds. Sprinkle with the taco seasoning and salt, and stir in the vinegar. Add one can of the Ro-tel tomatoes and cook for another 3 minutes. Remove from the heat.
- In a bowl, stir together the other can of Rotel and the refried beans.
- Spread on the bottom of the prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle 1 ½ cups of the cheese on top.
- Sprinkle half of the Doritos on top of the cheese, and then add the meat mixture on top.
- Add the remaining chips, and then sprinkle with cheese.
- Bake for 20 minutes, until bubbly. Garnish with more chips before serving if desired.
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