Remember a few years back when walking tacos were all the rage? They were so much fun! Well, think of this easy Taco Bake Recipe as like a walking taco casserole.
It’s got layers of all the best taco ingredients like seasoned ground meat and sharp cheese and it’s topped with your favorite taco toppings like lettuce, tomato, green onions and salsa. Best of all, it’s got a crunchy layer of Fritos inside, plus more on top to give it just the right amount of salty, satisfying texture.
This is one of the easiest weeknight meals yet, and the whole family will love it!
Ingredients for this Fritos Taco Bake Recipe
Nothing exotic in this easy weeknight meal! We’re using simple ingredients, many of which you probably already have at home. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Ground meat. I use turkey but you could also use lean ground beef or ground chicken.
- Refried beans. These are cooked pinto beans that have been mashed and canned. They form a creamy, flavorful base for our taco casserole.
- Onions
- Frito corn chips. We’re going to crush half of them for the actual casserole and leave the other half whole for garnishing the top.
- Sharp cheddar cheese
- Taco sauce. This is the kind that comes in a jar. You could also substitute enchilada sauce for taco sauce in this recipe.
- Salsa
- Lettuce, tomato and green onions for garnishing the top of the taco bake.
How to make this Easy Taco Bake Recipe
Assembling this Frito pie recipe is easy. First, combine the refried beans and salsa and spread them onto the bottom of a baking dish or cast iron skillet.
Crush up the Fritos and sprinkle them over the beans.
Now, brown your ground meat and onions together, and stir in the taco sauce. Then layer the meat mixture over the beans.
Top it all off with lots of grated cheddar cheese. Now you’re ready to bake!
How to Serve this Easy Taco Bake with Fritos
Once your taco bake is cooked and the cheese is melted, load it up with your favorite toppings. Mine are shredded lettuce, tomatoes, green onions and black olives.
You could also add a dollop of sour cream, pico de gallo, sliced avocados or even some sweet corn.
Serve this taco casserole warm with extra corn chips for dipping, or scoop the casserole into warm taco shells.
If you’re looking to increase your veggie intake, scoop this Frito pie casserole over bowls of shredded lettuce for quick and easy taco salads.
Can you make this taco casserole recipe ahead of time?
This easy taco bake casserole is the perfect thing for busy weeknights. Make the entire dish ahead of time, cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate it until you’re ready to bake it.
The make-ahead quality of this casserole makes it a great recipe for potlucks and game day too!
How to Store this Frito Taco Casserole
I’m betting you won’t have any leftovers after the entire family devours this taco bake! But if you do, it’s easy to store for later.
Scoop off any of the cold toppings, and cover the baking dish with plastic wrap. You could also transfer the leftovers to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator.
The next time you want to enjoy it, simply reheat in the microwave or oven.
Variations on this easy taco bake
Here are some fun twists on ways to enjoy this Frito taco pie:
- Change up the beans. Some people don’t dig on the creaminess of refried beans. That’s ok! Try black beans instead. Mash them with a fork or leave them whole, and combine them with the salsa per the recipe instructions.
- Change up the protein. Shredded chicken or pork is a nice alternative to ground meat. Cook it whole, then remove it from the heat and shred it with forks. Return it to the pan and season it the same way you would ground meat.
- Do a chip swap. Try regular tortilla chips or even Doritos instead of Fritos corn chips.
When you make this Easy Taco Bake Recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Drop a rating or leave a comment below. Enjoy!
For more Mexican-inspired recipes, try these:
- Sheet Pan Chicken Fajita Bowl
- Baja Fish Tacos with Chili Lime Crema
- Rolled Tacos with Chicken and Cheese
For more easy weeknight meals, try these:
- Sushi Bake Recipe with Spicy Tuna
- Gluten Free Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese
- Chipotle Chicken Melts with Avocado
Easy Taco Bake Recipe
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs. ground turkey, chicken or beef
- 1 16 oz. can refried beans
- 1 large onion diced
- 3 cups sharp cheddar cheese grated
- 1 9 1/2 oz. bag Fritos
- 1/2 cup taco sauce
- 1/4 cup salsa
- shredded lettuce optional
- diced tomatoes optional
- black olives optional
- diced scallions (green onions) optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Heat diced onions and ground meat in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook until meat is browned and onions are soft. Drain any excess liquid.
- Lower the heat and stir in the taco sauce. Use a potato masher to break the meat into smaller pieces. Remove from heat.
- In a medium sized bowl, combine the refried beans and salsa. Spread the bean mixture onto the bottom of a 9×9 inch baking dish or 9" cast iron skillet.
- Place 1/2 of the bag of Fritos into a plastic bag and crush them with your hands. Sprinkle crushed Fritos evenly over the bean mixture.
- Layer the meat over the crushed Fritos, followed by the shredded cheese. Bake 15 minutes until cheese is melted.
- Remove from oven. Top with remaining Fritos and your toppings of choice (shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, chopped scallions, etc.)
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