Walking Taco Casserole (Easy Frito Pie)
This Walking Taco Casserole is everything you love about the classic “taco in a bag,” made into an easy casserole. It’s always a big hit and is a quick one pot meal full of seasoned ground beef, melty cheese, and crunchy corn chips. Top it off with all of your favorite taco toppings for a delicious easy meal everyone will LOVE!
For more family favorite Casserole Recipes, be sure to check out my Easy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole, Cinnamon Roll Casserole, and Million Dollar Chicken Casserole.
Have you ever had a walking taco before? If you have, then you know how delicious (and fun!) they are to eat. This Walking Taco Casserole (or Frito Pie) is a simplified version that involves just one pan, making it perfect for an easy weeknight meal.
Now if you’ve never heard of a walking taco, it is essentially a taco made for “walking around,” and eating with a fork. Instead of a tortilla, it uses an opened, individual bag of chips as the base, then is topped with the meat, cheese, and other classic taco toppings. You might have had one at a sporting event or potluck. They’re also really great for camping!
What I love about the casserole version is how easy it is to put together. It’s made in one pan before baking in the oven then serving with all the fixings of a traditional taco or walking taco. All three of my kids LOVE this and really enjoy adding the toppings on at the end.
Ingredients for Walking Taco Casserole (Easy Frito Pie)
- Olive oil – you will need this for cooking the onion and garlic.
- Onion and garlic – you will need one medium yellow or sweet onion, as well as 3 cloves of fresh minced garlic.
- Beef broth – adds moisture to the taco filling. It’s a very small amount so if you don’t have beef broth on hand then you can just use water.
- Diced Tomatoes with green chiles – like Rotel. You can use whichever level of spice you prefer; I usually buy mild for my family.
- Ground Beef – you will need one pound of lean ground beef. You could also use ground turkey instead.
- Cheese – feel free to use any kind of shredded cheese you like. I used Colby Jack but you could also use cheddar cheese, Monterey jack, or a Mexican blend.
- Beans – I use black beans in my walking taco bake, but you can also use pinto beans or red kidney beans. Just be sure to rinse and drain them well first.
- Taco seasoning – you will only need about half of a packet of seasoning. If you buy yours in a large container (like I do from Costco) or are using homemade taco seasoning, you’ll use 2 Tablespoons.
- Sour cream – adds a rich creaminess to the taco meat mixture. If you have time to let the sour cream come to room temperature, it will blend in much better.
- Frito corn chips – one small bag of Fritos works well here, or roughly two cups. I use regular Fritos, but you could use a flavored version. You could also use tortilla chips instead.
A full list of ingredients, measurements, and instructions are located in the recipe card below.
How to Make Walking Taco Casserole Recipe – Step by Step
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat oil in a large, oven-safe skillet over medium heat, then add onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds, until fragrant. Add the ground beef and cook until crumbled and browned, about 5 minutes. Drain excess grease.
Stir in broth and taco seasoning and cook until simmering, about 3 minutes. Turn the heat off and add the Rotel, black beans, and sour cream to the beef mixture and stir to combine.
Stir in half of the cheese until melted and sprinkle the remaining half on top of the casserole.
Spread the Fritos corn chips evenly over the top and bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Serve warm with your favorite toppings like shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sour cream, sliced jalapeños, minced cilantro, and more crunchy chips if desired.
Tips and Notes
- If you don’t have an oven-safe skillet, you can use a baking dish instead. Prepare the beef mixture as directed (through the step of mixing in the shredded cheese) using a large skillet. Then transfer the filling to a greased casserole dish and top with the remaining cheese and Frito corn chips. Bake as directed.
- Add your favorite taco toppings: feel free to get creative with your toppings! Add some shredded lettuce, Homemade Pico de Gallo, sliced jalapeño peppers, green onions, chopped cilantro, or avocado to make your walking taco casserole suit your tastes.
- Make it spicier by using hot taco seasoning, adding spicy Rotel, or using shredded pepper jack cheese. I also love topping mine with pickled or sliced jalapeños.
- Any leftover casserole can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. The corn chips will be soften in the fridge, but the leftovers still taste amazing!
More Easy Taco Recipes You Should Try!
If you try this recipe, please leave a comment and rating below. I love to hear from you and always appreciate your feedback!
Recipe: Walking Taco Casserole (Easy Frito Pie)
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1/4 cup beef broth, or water is fine
- 2 Tablespoons taco seasoning
- 10 ounce can Rotel tomatoes, I use mild
- 1 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 cups shredded Colby Jack cheese
- 2 cups Fritos corn chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat oil in a large, oven-safe skillet over medium heat, then add onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds, until fragrant. Add the ground beef and cook until crumbled and browned, about 5 minutes. Drain excess grease.
- Stir in broth and taco seasoning and cook until simmering, about 3 minutes. Turn the heat off and add the Rotel, black beans, and sour cream to the beef mixture and stir to combine.
- Stir in half of the cheese until melted and sprinkle the remaining half on top of the casserole.
- Follow it with the Fritos corn chips and bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve warm with your favorite toppings like shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sour cream, sliced jalapeños, minced cilantro, and more crunchy chips if desired.
Notes
- If you don’t have an oven-safe skillet, you can use a baking dish instead. Prepare the beef mixture as directed (through the step of mixing in the shredded cheese) using a large skillet. Then transfer the filling to a greased casserole dish and top with the remaining cheese and Frito corn chips. Bake as directed.
- Add your favorite taco toppings: feel free to get creative with your toppings! Add some shredded lettuce, Homemade Pico de Gallo, sliced jalapeño peppers, green onions, chopped cilantro, or avocado to make your walking taco casserole suit your tastes.
- Make it spicier by using hot taco seasoning, adding spicy Rotel, or using shredded pepper jack cheese. I also love topping mine with pickled or sliced jalapeños.
- Any leftover casserole can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. The corn chips will be soften in the fridge, but the leftovers still taste amazing!
