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Easy One-Pan Cheesy Taco Casserole: Best Busy Night Dinner

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A quick and easy one-pan cheesy taco casserole perfect for busy weeknights. Made with simple ingredients like ground beef, salsa, cheese, and tortilla chips, this crowd-pleasing dinner comes together in about 30 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb ground beef (85/20 works well for flavor, or use ground turkey for a lighter option)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil (if using lean meat)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 packet (1 oz) taco seasoning (McCormick or homemade)
  • 1 can (10 oz) diced tomatoes with green chilies (like Rotel), undrained
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 3 cups tortilla chips (Tostitos scoops or restaurant-style)
  • 2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese (or a mix of cheddar and Monterey Jack)
  • 1/2 cup sour cream (for serving, optional)
  • Fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
  • 1 jalapeño, sliced (optional, for heat)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Cook the beef and aromatics: Place your large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and diced onion. Cook, breaking the meat up with a wooden spoon, until the beef is browned and the onion is softened—about 6-8 minutes. If there’s a lot of excess fat, carefully spoon it out, leaving about a tablespoon in the pan for flavor.
  3. Add the garlic and seasonings: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Then, sprinkle the taco seasoning over the meat and stir to coat everything evenly.
  4. Add the tomatoes and water: Pour in the undrained can of diced tomatoes with green chilies and the 1/2 cup of water. Stir everything together, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Let it come to a simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes, until the liquid has slightly thickened.
  5. Remove from heat and layer: Take the skillet off the burner. Gently press half of the tortilla chips into the top of the meat mixture. Don’t stir them in—just nestle them down so they’re partially submerged.
  6. Top with cheese and remaining chips: Sprinkle about 1 1/2 cups of the shredded cheese evenly over the top. Then, arrange the remaining tortilla chips on top of the cheese in a single layer. Sprinkle the last 1/2 cup of cheese over those top chips.
  7. Bake until bubbly: Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until the cheese is completely melted and bubbly, and the edges are just starting to brown.
  8. Rest and serve: Carefully remove the skillet from the oven. Let it rest for 5 minutes. Top with dollops of sour cream, a sprinkle of fresh cilantro, and jalapeño slices if you like heat. Serve straight from the skillet!

Notes

Don’t skip the rest time after baking—it allows the casserole to set. For extra crunch, toast the tortilla chips in the oven at 350°F for 3-4 minutes before layering. Use full-fat cheese for the best melt. Make your own taco seasoning for less sodium.

Nutrition

Keywords: taco casserole, one-pan dinner, cheesy taco casserole, busy night dinner, ground beef casserole, easy weeknight dinner

Find it online: https://norasfoods.com/easy-one-pan-cheesy-taco-casserole-best-busy-night-dinner/