7 Layer Taco Casserole with Ground Beef

Quick and easy, let’s make those delicious layers into a hearty dinner your family will LOVE! This 7 LAYER TACO CASSEROLE is simple to make with everyday ingredients, but packed with flavors that will make this dish a family favorite!

this Recipe

This post is sponsored by Tostitos. All thoughts, opinions, and recipes are cooked up right here at Easy Family Recipes.

There is nothing better than a meal that the whole family can agree is delicious! This 7 Layer Taco Casserole is not only a crowd pleaser, but also super simple to make and perfect for a busy weeknight!

You will find 7 luscious layers in this Taco Casserole:

1. Refried beans (canned or try my homemade crockpot refried beans!)
2. Taco meat
3. Cheese
4. Crispy tortilla chips
5. Lettuce
6. Tomato
7. Sour cream

You take these simple everyday ingredients like ground beef, salsa and cheese, and combine them in a way that will have you saying, “WOW! That was delicious!”

That is winning dinner my friends!

What makes this Taco Casserole recipe so great?

• Everything bakes together in one big casserole dish
• Combines protein and veggies for 7 delicious layers making up a hearty, filling dinner
• Prep takes as little as 10 minutes!
• Crowd pleaser with Mexican flavors that everyone loves
• No crazy ingredients, only simple ingredients combined in delicious ways!

I could keep going, but the point is that this meal is EASY + HEARTY + DELICIOUS! I hope you will agree that it is a keeper.

Recipe Notes

This 7 Layer Taco Casserole recipe is as simple as promised! Less than 10 ingredients and less than 30 minutes for a family friendly meal.

In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use when making this recipe to get the absolute best and most delicious results.

Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.

Ingredients

• Ground beef– any will work, but I prefer the most lean.
• Taco seasoning– I like to make my own homemade taco seasoning. It is quick, easy, and ABSOLUTELY delicious! If you are in a pinch, you can use store bought too.
• TOSTITOS® Medium Chunky Salsa – Using Tostitos Salsa in the taco meat is the secret sauce in this recipe! It makes the meat unbelievably flavorful, adds onion, pepper, of course tomato and lots of hearty veggies, and does it all with the ease of opening a jar!
• Refried beans– This produces the foundation of the casserole. The meat will bake into the beans a bit creating a hearty base layer. I generally use traditional canned refried beans, but you can use any variety, or even homemade if you like.
• Mexican blend cheese- The cheesy layer is my favorite part! Since the chips are piled on top and melted right into the cheese, it kind of creates a nacho effect in this casserole, which is a huge hit all around. The cheese can be Mexican blend, cheddar, monterey jack, or even pepper jack.
• TOSTITOS® Bite Size Rounds Tortilla chips–– These chips are my favorite choice for this casserole because they lay flat and are bite sized which makes serving and eating easy! You can see in the photo that they fit perfectly in a 9×13 dish. The chip layer gets super crunchy and delicious baking in the oven into the melty cheese.
• Shredded lettuce– You can use pre-packaged or just chop some up fresh.
• Tomato– you can use any variety!
• Sour cream– traditional sour cream, light sour cream, or even fat free will work in this recipe.

Recipe Step by Step

Recipe Tips

1. Use a large dish! This Taco Casserole is layered so using a large dish lets us pile on all 7 layers without fear of toppling over the top. You can use a slightly smaller casserole dish and get thicker layers but it will go right up to the very top.
2. Put the layers in order– The magic happens when the meat bakes into the beans, the chips melt into the cheese and the lettuce and tomato stay fresh and crisp. The order of the layers plays a big part in how delicious this meal turns out!

Recipe Short Cuts

If you need to make this recipe, but are extra short on time, here are a few ideas that can help make this recipe even faster!

• Prepare the meat ahead of time– the taco meat mixture can be prepared up to 48 hours in advance. If you are cooking from cold, the Taco Casserole may need to bake longer in the oven.
• Use pre cut toppings– Both lettuce and tomato can be pre cut up to 24 hours in advance – OR – bought pre cut at the grocery store.
• Assemble the base ahead of time– To make this Taco Casserole even faster, you can assemble the base of the meal in advance. The beans, taco meat, and cheese can be layered and stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. When you are ready to cook, add the chips on and bake. It will likely take 5-10 minutes longer to heat through since it is coming straight out of the refrigerator.

Recipe Variations

• Double Meat– You can make the Taco Casserole extra hearty by doubling the meat and beans in the recipe.
• Extra Spicy– This recipe can be made extra spicy by adding 1/4-1/2 tsp of cayenne pepper in with the taco seasoning. Then add diced jalapeños to the top of the dish.
• Loaded with toppings– If 7 layers isn’t nearly enough, add more toppings to really load up this Taco Casserole. Other topping options include: guacamole, pico de gallo, corn salsa, extra crushed tortilla chips, cilantro, jalapeño ranch, and more!

Freezer Meal Instructions

If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!

This Taco Casserole can be prepared as a partial freezer meal. The base can be frozen and the fresh ingredients can be added when cooked. To prepare as a freezer meal:

1. Combine the beef, taco seasoning, and salsa.
2. Spread refried beans in the bottom of a 9×13 casserole dish. Top with taco meat and cheese.
3. Wrap tightly and freeze.
4. When ready to cook, thaw for 24-48 hours in the refrigerator.
5. Add chips to the top of the casserole and bake as directed. You may need a couple extra minutes in the oven if baking straight from the fridge.
6. Once done baking continue with recipe as directed.

What to Serve with Taco Casserole

This dinner is very hearty with beans, meat, cheese, and veggies all in one dish. You can serve it as is and have a great meal. If you want to add a little something to round out the meal, or stretch and make it go farther a side or two is perfect.

Since this dish has the classic flavors of Mexican food, it will pair well with many of your favorite Mexican side dishes. There are both classic options and some healthy options to keep it light.

Side Dish Ideas

• Mexican Street Corn Casserole – One of our most popular recipes!
• Mexican Rice – this is just like your favorite Mexican restaurant!
• Quick Cornbread – One of my favorites!
• Mexican Roasted Veggies or Sautéed Onions and Peppers – adds another healthy side dish
• Avocado Corn Salad – Light and delicious!

You can choose one or add a few sides to make a wholesome, well rounded dinner. 

7 Layer Taco Casserole Leftovers

If you have leftovers after making Taco Casserole, then they can be saved! They save and reheat well, and can make a quick lunch or dinner another day.

To save leftovers, I prefer to remove the lettuce and tomato before saving because they do no reheat well. If you know you will have leftovers, you can only place the fresh toppings on part of the casserole, or allow each person to put the toppings on the casserole on their plate.

I leave the chips on. They also lose their crispiness, but still add a lot of flavor to the dish. My kids may even like them better stirred in the next day!

Then, the casserole can be separated into meal sized portions and then place in an airtight container and store:

• in the refrigerator for 3-4 days
• in the freezer up to a month

More Easy Casserole Recipes

If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night!

You can check out all of my Easy Casserole recipes here, or see a few of our readers favorite recipes below.

• Swiss Chicken Casserole
• Pepperoni Ravioli Lasagna
• Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole
• Cheesy Tatertot Casserole with BACON!