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Crispy Walking Taco Casserole Recipe with Crunchy Doritos Crust Easy and Best

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A cozy casserole combining the nostalgic flavors of walking tacos with a crunchy Doritos crust, perfect for quick and easy weeknight dinners or casual gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef (lean or regular), browned and seasoned
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 packet Old El Paso taco seasoning or homemade equivalent
  • 1 cup refried beans
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (about 200g)
  • 3 cups crushed Nacho Cheese Doritos (about 90g)
  • 1 small can chopped green chilies (optional)
  • 1 cup salsa (mild or spicy)
  • Sliced jalapeños (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter (to grease the baking dish)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease your 9×13 inch baking dish with olive oil or butter to prevent sticking.
  2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and diced onion. Cook, breaking the meat apart with a spatula, until the beef is no longer pink and the onions are translucent, about 7-8 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
  3. Stir in the minced garlic and taco seasoning. Cook for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
  4. Reduce heat to medium-low and fold in the refried beans and chopped green chilies.
  5. Spread half of the beef mixture evenly in the baking dish. Dollop half of the salsa on top, then sprinkle with 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese. Repeat with the remaining beef mixture, salsa, and cheese.
  6. Crush the Doritos finely but keep some texture. Evenly sprinkle the crushed chips over the cheese layer.
  7. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and the Doritos crust is golden and crisp.
  8. Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Optionally, top with sliced jalapeños, chopped cilantro, or a dollop of sour cream.

Notes

[‘Drain excess fat from browned beef to prevent sogginess.’, ‘Crush Doritos by hand or with a rolling pin to keep texture and avoid burning.’, ‘Use sharp cheddar cheese for best melt and flavor.’, ‘Let casserole rest 5-10 minutes after baking to set layers.’, ‘Add Doritos crust just before baking to keep it crispy.’, ‘If crust browns too fast, tent loosely with foil.’, ‘Can prepare ahead up to adding Doritos crust and refrigerate overnight.’, ‘Freeze leftovers in airtight containers for up to 2 months.’]

Nutrition

Keywords: walking taco casserole, Doritos crust, taco casserole, easy dinner, ground beef casserole, crunchy taco bake

Find it online: https://realityeats.com/crispy-walking-taco-casserole-recipe-with-crunchy-doritos-crust-easy-and-best/