Pioneer Woman Taco Casserole Recipe

This easy Pioneer Woman Taco Casserole is a delicious, hearty meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights. With layers of seasoned beef, crispy tortilla chips, and melted cheese, it’s quick to make and packed with flavor. You can easily customize it with your favorite toppings or ingredients for a fun twist!

Ingredients Needed

For the Casserole:

• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 red and/or yellow bell peppers, stemmed, seeded, and thinly sliced
• 1 yellow onion, thinly sliced
• 1 poblano pepper, stemmed, seeded, and chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 1/2 lb lean ground beef
• 1 (1 oz) packet taco seasoning
• 1 (10 oz) can mild diced tomatoes and green chiles (like Rotel), drained
• 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup corn kernels (fresh or frozen)
• 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• Nonstick cooking spray
• 1 (13 oz) bag round tortilla chips, plus more for serving
• 1 (8 oz) bag shredded Mexican-style cheese blend

To Serve:

• Shredded lettuce
• Pico de gallo
• Avocado
• Chopped cilantro
• Sour cream
• Sliced black olives
• Hot sauce

How To Make Taco Casserole Recipe

1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F.
2. Cook the Vegetables: In a large Dutch oven, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat. Add the bell peppers, onion, poblano pepper, and garlic. Cook for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened.
3. Cook the Ground Beef: Add the ground beef and taco seasoning packet. Cook, breaking up the beef into small crumbles with a spoon, until browned (6 to 8 minutes). Stir in the diced tomatoes, green chiles, black beans, corn, and salt. Cook for another 2 minutes, stirring to combine, then remove from heat.
4. Prepare the Baking Dish: Lightly grease a 13×9-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Arrange about 35 tortilla chips in a slightly overlapping layer at the bottom of the dish. Add half of the ground beef mixture on top, then sprinkle with half of the shredded cheese. Repeat the layers, ending with cheese on top. Set aside the remaining chips for serving.
5. Bake the Casserole: Bake the casserole for 16 to 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and starting to brown. Let it cool for 10 minutes before serving.
6. Serve: Top with shredded lettuce, pico de gallo, avocado, cilantro, sour cream, black olives, and hot sauce. Serve with extra tortilla chips on the side.

Recipe Tips

• Use Fresh Tortilla Chips: For the best texture, use fresh tortilla chips instead of stale ones. They will hold up better in the casserole and stay crispier when baked.
• Drain Canned Ingredients Well: Make sure to drain the diced tomatoes, green chiles, and black beans thoroughly. Excess liquid can make the casserole soggy.
• Layer Evenly: When adding the beef mixture and cheese, try to spread them evenly. This will ensure each bite has a perfect balance of flavor and texture.
• Add Toppings Right Before Serving: To keep your toppings fresh, like shredded lettuce and avocado, add them just before serving the casserole.
• Customize with Your Favorite Veggies: Feel free to swap in other vegetables like zucchini or mushrooms to suit your tastes and make the dish even more nutritious.

How To Store & Reheat Leftovers

• Refrigerate: Store leftovers taco casserole in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
• Freeze: Wrap leftovers taco casserole tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight, then reheat.
• Reheating: Reheat leftovers taco casserole in the oven at 350°F for 15 minutes, or until hot and the cheese is melted. You can also microwave individual portions for 1-2 minutes, but the oven keeps it crispier.

Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 328
• Total Fat: 19g
• Saturated Fat: 8g
• Cholesterol: 45mg
• Sodium: 600mg
• Potassium: 400mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 22g
• Dietary Fiber: 2g
• Sugars: 3g
• Protein: 20g

More Pioneer Woman Recipes:

• Pioneer Woman​ Crockpot Breakfast Casserole
• Pioneer Woman Nacho Cheese Casserole Recipe
• Pioneer Woman Reuben Casserole Recipe
• Pioneer Woman Sloppy Joe Casserole Recipe
• Pioneer Woman Stuffed Cabbage Casserole