2013 – Gluten Free Living

Years ago I found this really simple Taco Bake recipe from allrecipes.com with very few ingredients. It’s so quick and easy to assemble and in about 15 minutes you can have this casserole ready to put in the oven.

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It’s quite adaptable too if you want to add a few other ingredients, such as green onions, corn, black or pinto beans, jalapeno pepper slices or olives. I made this recipe last week for a young family who just had a newborn. If you’re family is into anything Tex-Mex they will adore this wonderful, comforting main dish. It is a little like eating nachos in casserole form.

Taco Bake has tortilla chips on the bottom, then a layer of ground beef mixed with taco seasoning, sour cream and green chilies, followed by a layer of shredded cheese. The layers are repeated a time or two ending with more cheese on top. It is SOOOOO easy. Choose a gluten free, MSG free taco seasoning or make up my Homemade Taco Seasoning recipe from scratch for healthier options.

If you need a quick and easy main dish recipe to throw together quickly because you are at ball practices, doctor’s appointments, or other venues late in the day, consider having these ingredients on hand and whip up this easy casserole. You can be ready to eat in about an hour!

This is a great recipe to teach your kids how to cook, too. It has so few steps and turns out so wonderfully–they will be greatly encouraged in cooking after making this tasty entree for dinner. This only has seven ingredients so it is an easy recipe even for a novice cook!

When I initially posted this recipe in June 2012, I had just begun my blog. I made Taco Bake a second time that year and retook the pictures, but they were taken with a small iPhone camera so the pictures were not of the quality I would have liked. Plus, I had baked the recipe in foil pans which are so hard to photograph because of the glare.

I’ve been remaking all my first year pictures as a result, and reshooting pictures that are more pleasing. I remade Taco Bake in October 2015 for a church potluck and it again was a real winner with everyone. I believe you’ll think so too.

Taco Bake is not only quick and easy, it’s a sumptuous feast! Add some cornbread and a side salad and you have a really tasty meal.

Taco Bake is a delightful Tex-Mex dish.

Taco Bake is a great Tex-Mex casserole you’re sure to love.

Here’s what I did.

I used these ingredients. I made up my own Homemade Taco Seasoning in the plastic bowl.

Brown ground beef. Drain if necessary. Add a can of undrained diced tomatoes and chilies, taco seasoning, sour cream and water.

Stir together and heat through about 5-10 minutes. If you want to bump up the recipe, this is when it’s time to add drained pinto or black beans and fire-roasted corn.

Spray casserole dish with cooking spray. Spread a layer of corn tortilla chips on the bottom.

Crumble a little of the ground beef mixture over top of the tortilla chips.

Sprinkle with a layer of cheese.

Repeat layers: add another layer of corn tortilla chips, then meat mixture, finally cheese.

Repeat layers once again making sure cheese is on top.

Bake at 350 for 20 minutes until cheese is bubbly. 

Taco Bake is a wonderful dish for company, especially if you enjoy Tex-Mex entrees with lots of cheese.

Doesn’t Taco Bake look marvelous?

Here’s the recipe.

TACO BAKE

(Recipe adapted from  allrecipes.com as Taco Bake II)

Taco Bake

Teresa Ambra

Taco Bake is one of those main dish recipes that you can't get enough of! This amazing 7-ingredient Tex-Mex casserole is filled with a tasty beef mixture, cheese and tortilla chips. It's so quick and easy to make that you can whip it up for week night dinners. Kid-friendly and gluten free.

3.55 from 416 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Course Beef Main Dish

Cuisine Tex-Mex

Servings 8

Calories 478 kcal

Equipment

• 1 9x13" glass baking dish
• 1 large skillet
• 1 hamburger chopper to cut meat down in small pieces while frying
• 1 spatula
• 1 wooden spoon
• measuring cups

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 1/2 lbs. 93% to 96% lean ground beef
• 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes with green chilies
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 pkg. taco seasoning or Homemade Taco Seasoning
• 8 to 12 oz. pkg. Colby-Monterey Jack cheese shredded (use more if you like a lot of cheese)
• 1 bag Corn tortilla chips

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• In a medium skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef and drain fat.
• Use a hamburger chopper to break meat down in small pieces while frying.
• Add the diced tomatoes with green chilies, water, sour cream and taco seasoning mix.
• Let simmer for 5-10 minutes.
• In the bottom of a greased 9x13” baking dish, place a layer of tortilla chips.
• Cover with a layer of meat mixture then a layer of cheese.
• Repeat this process until the last layer is cheese.
• Bake for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly.

Notes

NOTE: Taco Bake is a very simple recipe with limited ingredients. If you want to amp up the flavors and texture of this casserole, add a layer of any or all of the following: drained, whole kernel corn, drained pinto or black beans, sliced olives, diced red & green bell peppers, sliced jalapeno peppers, and green onions after the first layer of cheese is applied.

 

NOTE: A small amount of diced, seeded jalapeno peppers can be added to the meat mixture if you want more heat.

 

NOTE: If you want to increase the heat in the recipe try Pepper Jack cheese for all or part of the cheese.

 

NOTE: Do not overcook the recipe or the casserole can dry out.

 

NOTE: Extra cheese helps prevent the casserole from getting too dry.

 

Recipe adapted from All Recipes.

 

^© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 478kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 29gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 97mgSodium: 380mgPotassium: 534mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 534IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 288mgIron: 3mg

Keyword beef, casserole, cheese, taco bake, Tex Mex

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

If you’re looking for a quick and easy entree, Taco Bake sure fits the bill.

Taco Bake is so easy to prepare, even your kids can make it! But it’s also very easy to amp up the flavor and texture by adding other ingredients like corn, black beans, olives, green onions, bell peppers, jalapeno pepper slices or substituting Pepper Jack cheese for part or all of the cheddar cheese in the recipe.

You may also enjoy these delicious recipes!

Mexican Beef and Rice Skillet

Tex Mex Beef and Rice Skillet

Mexican Chicken, Beans and Rice Skillet

Taco Bake

Teresa Ambra

Taco Bake is one of those main dish recipes that you can't get enough of! This amazing 7-ingredient Tex-Mex casserole is filled with a tasty beef mixture, cheese and tortilla chips. It's so quick and easy to make that you can whip it up for week night dinners. Kid-friendly and gluten free.

3.55 from 416 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Course Beef Main Dish

Cuisine Tex-Mex

Servings 8

Calories 478 kcal

Equipment

• 1 9×13" glass baking dish
• 1 large skillet
• 1 hamburger chopper to cut meat down in small pieces while frying
• 1 spatula
• 1 wooden spoon
• measuring cups

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 1/2 lbs. 93% to 96% lean ground beef
• 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes with green chilies
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 pkg. taco seasoning or Homemade Taco Seasoning
• 8 to 12 oz. pkg. Colby-Monterey Jack cheese shredded (use more if you like a lot of cheese)
• 1 bag Corn tortilla chips

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• In a medium skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef and drain fat.
• Use a hamburger chopper to break meat down in small pieces while frying.
• Add the diced tomatoes with green chilies, water, sour cream and taco seasoning mix.
• Let simmer for 5-10 minutes.
• In the bottom of a greased 9×13” baking dish, place a layer of tortilla chips.
• Cover with a layer of meat mixture then a layer of cheese.
• Repeat this process until the last layer is cheese.
• Bake for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly.

Notes

NOTE: Taco Bake is a very simple recipe with limited ingredients. If you want to amp up the flavors and texture of this casserole, add a layer of any or all of the following: drained, whole kernel corn, drained pinto or black beans, sliced olives, diced red & green bell peppers, sliced jalapeno peppers, and green onions after the first layer of cheese is applied.

 

NOTE: A small amount of diced, seeded jalapeno peppers can be added to the meat mixture if you want more heat.

 

NOTE: If you want to increase the heat in the recipe try Pepper Jack cheese for all or part of the cheese.

 

NOTE: Do not overcook the recipe or the casserole can dry out.

 

NOTE: Extra cheese helps prevent the casserole from getting too dry.

 

Recipe adapted from All Recipes.

 

^© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 478kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 29gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 97mgSodium: 380mgPotassium: 534mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 534IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 288mgIron: 3mg

Keyword beef, casserole, cheese, taco bake, Tex Mex

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!