I’ve got a fun weeknight dish that doubles as a crowd‑pleaser. This Frito Taco Casserole is packed with seasoned ground beef, hearty refried beans and rice, all baked up in one dish and then topped with crunchy Frito chips and melting cheese. It’s like taco night met comfort‑food casserole — and they got along famously. If you like, you can sneak in diced green chiles, salsa, or extra seasonings to dial it up.
When it’s time to serve, dish it hot from the oven and top it with your favorite taco‐night extras: sour cream, fresh guacamole, shredded lettuce and juicy tomato, maybe some black olives and chopped green onion too. It plays beautifully with a simple side salad or even just a bowl of tortilla chips for dipping.
Frito taco casserole recipe
This Frito Taco Casserole is packed with seasoned ground beef, hearty refried beans and rice, all baked up in one dish and then topped with crunchy Frito chips and melting cheese.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 60 minutes
- Yield: 4 Servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Oven-baked
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
- 1 1/4lbs ground beef
- 1 (16 ounces) can refried beans
- 1 (4 ounces) can dice green chiles
- 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend
- 2 cups cooked rice
- 1 cup frito corn chips
- 1 cup of salsa
- 1/4 cup of water
- 1 medium yellow onion (chopped)
- 1 (1.25 ounce) packet taco seasoning
- salt and pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven. Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C).
- Cook the beef and onion. Brown the ground beef and onion in a large skillet over medium-high heat while breaking up into chunks with a spatula until cooked through and no longer pink. Drain fat.
- Season and simmer. Season with salt and pepper and taco seasoning. Add salsa, chiles, and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Mix in rice, cheese, and beans. Remove from heat and stir in rice, 1 cup of shredded cheese, and refried beans. Transfer the mixture to a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Bake and finish. Place into the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the dish is warmed through. During the last few minutes of cooking, top the dish with shredded cheese and tortilla chips. Cook until the cheese has melted.
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 423
- Sugar: 4.1 g
- Sodium: 1684.5 mg
- Fat: 18.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 15.1 g
- Protein: 48.4 g
- Cholesterol: 121.3 mg