This easy Taco Casserole is the perfect dinner recipe for a hungry family! Made with simple ingredients, this is a skillet dinner everyone will love.
I am really excited to share this dinner with you guys! I think it is going to be a total winner in your house, and I can’t wait for you to try it.
WHY I LOVE THIS CASSEROLE RECIPE
Obviously I love every recipe that makes its way to your in box. If it’s not good, it doesn’t make the cut. But there are a couple reasons I really love this recipe.
- It is very easy to make.
- This casserole has minimal clean up at the end.
- My Taco Casserole is made with simple ingredients.
- It is serious comfort food and so delicious.
You know I could go on and on.
TACO CASSEROLE INGREDIENTS
As I mentioned, this recipe has really simple ingredients. So much of this you can easily keep in your pantry. This is a great dinner to fall back on.
- Ground Beef
- Taco Seasoning
- Salsa
- Beef Stock
- Rice
- Canned Black Beans
- Frozen Corn
- Cheese
BEEF VS. TURKEY
If your family likes the taste of ground turkey more than ground beef, you can definitely use that in place of the ground beef. If you use use lean ground turkey, you will need more olive oil to start with.
SPICINESS
How spicy this taco rice casserole is really depends on what salsa you use. My kids can’t tolerate much spice, so for them I make this with a mild salsa.
If you love heat, make it with a hot salsa.
Additionally, you can control the heat level by making your own taco seasoning. I have a whole post about my taco seasoning recipe, and it goes over spice in there.
I love that recipe because it is customizable and you can make a big batch to keep on hand.
MAKING AHEAD
I know how much you love casseroles that you can make ahead, and that totally works with this one.
To make ahead:
- Follow the instructions up to the point of putting on the cheese.
- Allow the casserole to cool and then cover with aluminum foil.
- Put the skillet in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
- Before baking, add the cheese.
- Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.
Please note that depending on the type of salsa you use, you may need to add more before baking. Putting it in the oven for that length of time can dry it out if your salsa is light on the liquid and heavy on the chunks.
You can also make this ahead and freeze. After making it on the stove top, transfer to a baking dish. Wrap very well and store in the freezer for up to three months.
When ready to bake, top with cheese and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
Please note that transferring a ceramic or glass baking dish right from the freezer to the hot oven can result in it breaking. I suggest using an aluminum baking dish.
STORING
Store any left overs in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Eat or discard within three days.
SKILLET DINNERS YOU WILL LOVE
I love that this is a one pot dinner, and I have other stove top dinners I know you will love:
- My Black Bean Tacos are done in less than 20 minutes and are a great pantry dinner!
- This One Pot Creamy Shrimp Pasta is a hit by everyone who makes it.
- My middle kiddo LOVES this Beef and Broccoli!
If you make this taco casserole recipe or any of my other recipes, come back and tell me what you think!
Taco Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef or turkey (see post for notes)
- 3 tablespoons taco seasoning (or a 1 ounce store bought packet)
- 2 cups salsa
- 3 cups beef stock
- 1 cup uncooked long grain rice
- 15 ounces black beans drained and rinsed
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 2 cups cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Add 2 teaspoons olive oil to a hot oven-proof skillet. Add in the ground beef and saute until browned.
- Drain the fat from the pan. Stir in the taco seasoning, salsa, beef stock, and rice.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, and cover, stirring occasionally for 20 – 25 minutes or until the rice is cooked through.
- Stir in the black beans and the frozen corn. Top with cheddar cheese and put under the broiler in the oven until the cheese is melted, about 5 minutes.
Robert says
Can you correct when the rice gets added . Is added in step 2 then again in step 4 with the corn .
Lisa Longley says
Thanks for catching that Robert! In step four where it said rice, it should have said black beans. It is corrected now.
Hamelin Joanne says
Can’t wait to make this 🤣❤❣
Sandy Jones says
so how does the corn get done if its only under the broiler to melt the cheese for 5 min??
Lisa Longley says
Frozen corn is cooked through when it is frozen. So you are really just heating it up. The dish is so hot that this happens very quickly.
Shirley Schuurman says
Have corn tortillas to use. Maybe I could layer using them— & bake ?
Lisa Longley says
Sounds like it would be delicious! Let me know how it goes!
Kate says
Thanks for sharing the recipe. Just a quick question as I think there may be a typo- do we add the rice in step 2 or step 4?
Lisa Longley says
Thanks for catching that Kate! In step four where it said rice, it should have said black beans. It is corrected now.
Johnnetta Milberry says
Is this the quick cook rice?
Lisa Longley says
No, this is not instant rice, this is long grain rice.
Sherree says
Can we use some type of pasta instead of rice, not a fan of rice
Lisa Longley says
Hi Sherree! Yes, a pasta would likely work, but you might need to adjust the liquids. I would have to try it to say for sure. If you give it a go let me know how it works for you!
Susan Rozier says
I’m not a hugh rice fan, can I leave it out?
Lisa Longley says
I haven’t tried it without rice, but if I were making it without rice, I would leave out the beef stock, and possibly add more beans or corn to fill it out more.
Jane Curran says
Wow, made this today and my husband loved it. He’s not a big casserole fan but the spice and then the corn, which gave it a contrast, impressed him. It was a success.
He said maybe he could make a burrito out of it. What do you think, would it need anything else or delete something? A lot left so covered in foil in fridge. Guess what’s cooking at our house tomorrow😉
Lisa Longley says
I’m so happy you liked it Jane! Yeah, I think this would totally work inside of burritos. You could even pour salsa in the bottom of a baking dish, roll it into burritos, put them in the pan, more salsa and cheese on top, cover it up and bake it for 30 minutes or until the cheese is melty.
Sandra says
Made this tonight. It makes a lot for 2 seniors but we enjoyed it. Enough for 2 or 3 more meals. I may try it in Tacos . Next time I will cut back on the taco seasoning but that is just a personal choice.
Linda Weidenkeller says
Delicious 😋 It made a lot ! Since it’s only me, I gave half away. Next time I will cut the recipe down. Definitely a keeper. Thank you 🙏
Lisa Longley says
So glad you liked it Linda!
Pina Della Rocchetta says
I have made this recipe three times exactly as is and all of my family loves it! It makes great leftovers too!
Lisa Longley says
I’m so glad to hear that your family likes this recipe! Thank you for taking the time to come back and let me know!