Walking Taco Casserole Recipe (2024)

Last Updated on: March 19, 2024

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Crunchy, fresh, and loaded with seasoned ground beef, the whole family will go nuts for this walking taco casserole.

It comes together in a snap, and it’s so easy to modify.

Walking Taco Casserole Recipe (1)

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What is Walking Taco Casserole?

Walking tacos are a fun campfire dinner. The idea is to make a few taco essentials – ground beef, lettuce, shredded cheese, etc. – then spoon it into a bag of Fritos.

You get the all the flavor of a crunchy taco in a handy bag you can throw out when you’re done.

But walking taco casserole is a little different. Basically, you take all those elements and make a hearty casserole.

Loaded with taco-spiced beef, chips, cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes, it’s a super easy way to feed a table of hungry kids.

Taco Casserole Ingredients

This recipe is so easy to make your own. But if you want my go-to recipe, here’s what you’ll need:

  • Ground Beef. I like to use 90% lean ground beef. It still has lots of flavor but it’s not overly greasy. For a healthier option, you can also use ground turkey.
  • Taco Seasoning Mix. This is what really brings that irresistible Mexican flavor. I know homemade taco seasoning would be even better. But I’m all about saving time in the kitchen. So it’s the Old El Paso Taco Seasoning packet for me.
  • Frito Chips. Gives every bite the perfect amount of crunch. You can also use regular tortilla chips or some nacho cheese chips. Let your taste buds lead the way!
  • Shredded cheese. You can use Cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a Mexican blend. You can even use pepper jack if you want to add a spicy kick!
  • Lettuce. No taco salad would be complete without lettuce. Plus, it always makes me feel like I’m being halfway healthy.
  • Tomatoes. Lettuce and tomatoes are layered on top at the end. Sweet cherry tomatoes pair perfectly with the savory taco flavors. But feel free to use any style of tomato.

(Check the bottom of the post for ingredient amounts.)

How to Make Walking Taco Casserole

This recipe makes eight servings, perfect for an intimate dinner with family and friends. If you’re feeding a bigger crowd, double the recipe to make more.

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. In a large skillet, cook ground beef over medium heat until no longer pink. Drain the liquid.
  3. Stir in taco seasoning mix and water. Cook according to directions on package.
  4. Transfer the mixture into a greased 11×7-inch baking dish.
  5. Top the mixture with Frito chips and cheese. Cover.
  6. Bake for 30 minutes or until the meat is fully heated, and the cheese melted. Uncover the baking dish during the last 10 minutes of cooking.
  7. Top your casserole with tomatoes and lettuce.
  8. There you have it – a walking taco casserole baked to perfection. Serve and enjoy!
Walking Taco Casserole Recipe (2)

Tips & Tricks

  • Make it healthier. Use reduced-fat shredded cheese and reduced-sodium ingredients, plus 80-90% lean ground beef or ground turkey.
  • Try sharp cheddar. It has a richer and more pronounced flavor.
  • Mix it with sour cream. Add a dollop on top, and you’ve got a classic Mexican meal. You can also use plain Greek yogurt.
  • Jazz it up with more Mexican mix-ins. Corn chips and tortilla chips work well here. You can also add other taco ingredients, such as olives, beans, jalapeno, and guacamole.
  • Shred your own cheese. It’s easy and saves money.
  • Crush your chips with a rolling pin. A meat mallet works, too. Use either tool to crush your chips until they’re coarsely crushed, about ¼-inch in size.
  • For additional variations, add bell peppers, corn, or beans into the ground beef mixture.
Walking Taco Casserole Recipe (3)

How to Store and Make Taco Casserole Ahead of Time

What I love about taco casserole is that you can make it two days ahead of time. Meaning, you can make a huge batch, store it, and reheat for dinner.

Here’s how:

To Make Ahead: Brown, drain and season the meat. Then cool, cover, and store in the fridge. To serve, top with chips and cheese, and bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

To Store: Cover the dish with plastic and a layer of foil and store in the fridge for 3-4 days.

To Reheat: Remove leftover lettuce first, then microwave single portions in 30-second increments or bake larger portions at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 5-10 minutes. Place the lettuce back and serve.

More Casserole Recipes for Dinner

Corn Dog Casserole
Easy Dorito Casserole
King Ranch Chicken Casserole
Cowboy Meatloaf and Potato Casserole

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Walking Taco Casserole Recipe (4)

Walking Taco Casserole Recipe

Servings

8

servings

Prep time

20

minutes

Cooking time

30

minutes

Calories

200

kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 lb. lean ground beef

  • 1 onion (chopped)

  • 2 packages (1 oz. each) Taco Seasoning Mix

  • 1 1/2 cups water

  • 2 cups corn chips

  • 1 package 8oz. shredded Colby & Monterey Jack Cheese

  • 2 1/2 cups shredded lettuce

  • 3/4 cup chopped tomatoes

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • In a large skillet, cook ground beef over medium heat until no longer pink. Drain the liquid.
  • Stir in taco seasoning mix and water. Cook according to directions on package.
  • Transfer the mixture into a greased 11×7-inch baking dish. Top the mixture with Frito chips and cheese. Cover.
  • Bake for 30 minutes or until the meat is fully heated, and the cheese melted. Uncover the baking dish during the last 10 minutes of cooking. Top casserole with tomatoes and lettuce.
  • Serve and enjoy!
Walking Taco Casserole Recipe (5)

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Walking Taco Casserole Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How many pounds of ground beef per person for walking tacos? ›

1 oz. cooked ground beef per taco, 2 tacos per person equals 100 oz. of cooked ground beef. 100 oz.'s divvied up by 16 equals, 6 and a quarter lbs.

What is a walking taco made of? ›

So-called for how easy it is to wander around with them in hand, Walking Tacos are bags of snack-size Fritos—and/or Doritos or any kinds of chips, really—that are garnished with a variety of taco or nacho toppings. The garnishes, ranging from meat to cheese to guacamole, are added right in the bag.

What side dishes go with walking tacos? ›

The best side dishes to serve with walking tacos are guacamole, pico de gallo, spanish rice, refried beans, pineapple salsa, ranchero sauce, tostilocos, churros, chicken burrito bowl, lazy enchiladas, cheese dip, steak fajitas, chicken enchiladas, carne asada, menudo, and sauteed mushrooms.

What size bag of Fritos for walking tacos? ›

WHAT KIND OF CHIPS DO I USE? These are traditionally made with a snack sized bag of Fritos or corn chips but you can also use tortilla chips, Chili Cheese Fritos, Cool Ranch Doritos, or Nacho Cheese Doritos. It's really just personal preference.

How many tacos will 10 pounds of ground beef make? ›

The "conservative" amount of ground beef in a typical taco is 2.5 ounces, but because of the other taco fillings we can estimate 2 ounces of beef for the average taco. So that being said, probably about 8 tacos per pound of ground beef.

How many pounds of taco meat for 50 guests? ›

A portion of meat for one person is considered to be about 1/4–1/3 of a pound. The high end of that is about 35 lbs. Since some people will eat more, especially at a large gathering, I would add another 10 lbs. of meat just to be sure there is enough to satisfy everyone.

How much meat is needed for walking tacos? ›

Ingredients
  1. 1 pound ground beef.
  2. 1 (1 ounce) package taco seasoning mix.
  3. 6 (1.75 ounce) packages nacho cheese-flavored corn chips (such as Doritos)
  4. 1 (8 ounce) package taco cheese blend.
  5. 2 tomatoes, diced.
  6. 1 cup shredded lettuce.
  7. 1 (8 ounce) container sour cream.
Mar 24, 2023

What do Mexicans call walking tacos? ›

Frito pies are sometimes referred to by the name walking taco or Frito boat, and can be made in a small, single-serving bag of corn chips, with chili, taco meat, chickpeas, pork rinds, pepitas, and many other varied ingredients, poured over the top.

What is the real name for walking tacos? ›

The name walking taco is sometimes used synonymously with the term Frito pie or to refer to an on-the-go variation of it. The origin of Frito pie is disputed. Multiple people, several of whom have connections to the Frito-Lay company, have been credited as the inventor.

How much do you sell walking tacos for? ›

Either way, vendors are selling these delicious walking tacos from $3.00 to $7.00 each. At just $3.00, you've tripled your money and made a new happy customer. Sell just 50 of these a day and you've added a cool $100 to your net income daily. And some vendors, they are selling over 100 daily while making $4.11 per bag.

What is in a cookout walking taco? ›

I pull up the cookout, and I see something that says walking Taco, and I just had to get it. It's basically a bag of Doritos, and everything that's on the taco. is inside the bag of burritos. Sour cream, shredded cheese, chili, jalapeno.

Why are walking tacos so good? ›

The combination of crunchy, salty chips and well-seasoned taco filling is so filling and fun to eat. I'm very much like my children, in that any time I get to eat dinner out of a bag of chips, I'm pretty happy. The best part of this dish is that everyone can customize it to their own specifications.

What is Doritos Walking Taco? ›

Introducing The Walking Taco! Inspired by street food, you can add yummy toppings to your favorite chips and eat your creation on the go. Find The Walking Taco in concession stands, convenience stores, colleges and more.

What's the difference between Frito pie and walking taco? ›

Unlike a walking taco, a Frito pie is always made with, you guessed it, Fritos. But that's not even the main difference between the two foods—the thing that sets a Frito pie apart from a walking taco is that a Frito pie is topped with chili instead of taco meat.

What do you call a bag of Fritos and chili? ›

What is Frito Pie? Despite its name, Frito pie is not pie at all but rather a pile of Fritos with chili on top. The humblest version of the dish is served from the chip bag itself: The bag is typically placed in a paper boat and split down the middle, and the chili is poured right inside.

How many servings is 1lb of ground beef for tacos? ›

Using a traditional 6-inch tortilla or traditional size hard taco shell, you can use about 2-3 tablespoons of taco meat per taco. That means that depending on how much you load up the ground beef tacos with other ingredients, one pound of beef could serve between 8 and 12 people.

How many pounds of ground meat for tacos for 20 people? ›

Most people will eat about 1 to 2 ounces of meat per taco. For 20 people figure at least 70 to 80 tacos. That's about 10 pounds of meat roughly. People tend to fill tacos with solid meats like not ground beef or chicken with less meat fillings than ground meats.

How many pounds of ground beef for tacos for 60 people? ›

For instance, plan for about 3-4 ounces of ground beef taco meat per person, which means a pound of ground beef can feed roughly four people. Use a similar scale when shopping for other proteins, and remember, it's easier to have a little extra at the end of the party than to run out of food for your guests!

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