Taco Casserole
| May 18, 2010 | Filled under Chicken and Poultry, Light, Mexican and Southwestern, Quick Weeknight Meals, Shawn's Favorites |
This taco casserole is one of the first “recipes” I created on my own and one of the first posts I ever put on this blog (all the way back in March of 2007!). Back when we were still on weight watchers, I was still a busy graduate student, and I wasn’t that comfortable in the kitchen, this was one of our go-to dinners. It’s easy to throw together, cheap to make, and tastes like junk food – in particular like those obscenely huge plates of nachos that you’ll find on the appetizer menu at a low-end chain restaurant.
I recently noticed that the pictures in this post could use an update, and since I hadn’t made the dish in a while, I decided to give it a bit of an update. While it isn’t as fresh-tasting as most of the recipes I make, it was every bit as delicious as we remembered it being.I prefer using ground chicken for this, because the delicate flavor allows the salsa and beans to take center-stage. I’ve made it successfully with turkey and beef though too – it’s also good with Morningstar Farms vegetable crumbles or a double portion of beans for a vegetarian version. For this version, I topped the casserole with a little bit of chunky guacamole. I was planning to throw some jalapenos on top of the cheese before I baked it too, but I was all out.
Taco Casserole
Prep time: 10 min; Total time: 40 min
Yield: 6 servings
- 24 Tortilla Chips, plus additional for serving
- 1 Tbs Chili Oil (or olive oil and red pepper flakes)
- 1 Onion, chopped
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 pound Ground Chicken
- 2 Tbs Taco Seasoning
- 1 can Black Beans, drained
- 1 cup Salsa
- 1 cup shredded fat free or reduced fat Cheese
- Optional: Other toppings such as jalepenios, olives, etc.
Heat oven to 350.
Heat oil in a large skillet. Add the onion and garlic and sautee until soft. Add meat and taco seasoning. Cook, breaking up meat with a spatula, for about 5 minutes. Add beans and salsa. Mix well and continue to cook until salsa thickens.
Line the bottom of a large baking dish with tortilla chips, pressing down on them lightly to break them into bite-sized pieces. Spread the meat and bean mixture over the chips and top with cheese. Add sliced jalepenos or other toppings that you ant to be cooked. Bake for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and gooey.
Scoop up with additional chips if desired.
I am so trying this out. I love your blog it is so great.
SO trying it out? What does that mean?
SO trying it out, means “totally” or “absolutely” trying it out.
One of my major goals for the blog is to overhaul some of my old crappy pictures. Especially for the food that is really good. Someday…
This casserole looks delicious! I love that it’s a healthier version of nachos!
the tummy-growling is starting early this morning! this looks really delicious–it’s my favorite type of sloppy, comforting casserole.
This could quickly become one of my go-to meals also. I love nachos. Thanks for making them healthy.
Sam
Quick, easy & comforting – that’s a winner in my book! (Also, I wonder if a little cilantro would kick up the “freshness” quotient. It’s my new obsession!)
This looks like my kind of comfort food! I could totally go for some of that right now – for breakfast!
Yum, what a great easy concept – and the pics turned out great! I can never get casserole pictures to look good.
taco junk! I love this stuff! And i can DEFINITELY make this!
But if i did there is a good chance i would eat a lot of it. mexican is comfort to me.
maybe i should just drool over it instead.
It looks amazing! I love the presentation and the topping makes a great touch.
Taco casserole is a bit of a staple in our house over the winter. One of my favourite dishes!!
I’ve done my fair share of “makeovers” on old recipes too. I figure, they are good enough to eat over and over, they deserve a face lift now that I actually have some photo skills! (well, better than they used to be!) Casseroles are particularly difficult to capture but you’ve done well
Wow, this looks SO gooey and delicious!!! My mom always made us a dish like this, except with beef. I love your pictures!!
This looks amazing cannot wait to try this – !!
All that cheesy goodness looks amazing. Not sure how this is a healthy version of nachos, but I’m willing to totally go with it!
Wow. The cheese on the nachos is calling my name!! Wow.
This really looks wonderful, just delicious. Beautiful!
Made this last night for dinner — so simple and delicious! Total comfort food.
I’m eating this right now, and it is fantastic. I used ground beef (all I had) and made my own taco seasoning. I also made this like lasagne by layering the dish twice (chips, meat mixture, cheese x 2). I used a combination of cheese as well (cheddar, monterey jack, and Velveeta). Thanks for a great (basis of) a recipe!! It is fantastic and quick to make!
Phenomenal! We just ate 3/4 of the pan, only two of us. Granted Dave at much more than me. It was dreamy. I used 2% cheddar. I bought the block and shredded it instead of buying shredded (a tip I learned here!). I added jalapenos to Dave’s side and olives to my side. It absolutely tastes like junk food. My portion probably had 4 to 6 chips worth, but it was perfect and I felt decadent! Bravo
[...] been meaning to make Lauren’s Taco Casserole for months now, so I figured this was a good time since I had fresh salsa to use [...]
I just made this,, with ground beef, added a bit of red chili flakes and chili beans because that is all I had on hand. It tastes delicious,,, even before it is in the oven. My family will love this.
So glad to have found your site! This dish will be made in my kitchen very soon. I LOVE Mexican food and you’ve created a winner in this dish. I could not believe how low the point value is for WW when I plugged it into my recipe builder.
I put this on my meal plan this week, and made it. It was fantastic! Thanks for sharing! My kids loved it too.
I made this dish recently and we all LOVED it! Will be sharing this on my blog soon to introduce my readers to it and to your great site!!!
Found this blog on a search for a taco bake, as I had some ground beef thawing and no ideas of my own. I had everything but the black beans, so I substituted a can of corn instead and it was still really, really good. I don’t make casseroles often, but this one I may keep for the future! Thanks.
This looks so yummy! I love your blog! I am a new follower! I would love it if you would follow me back! Thanks!
Have a great day!
Kirsten
I have been making this recipe for almost 15 years just not the healthy version! It has been a go to meal for me and my family and one that the kids have loved.
[...] on Eat Make Read Goat Cheese Stuffed Pears from Live Laugh Eat Pretzel Rolls from How Sweet Eats Taco Casserole from Healthy Delicious Penne with Rosemary Tomato Sauce and Balsamic Vinegar from [...]
What is the serving size and nutritional information or points?
I’d like the serving size and point+ also….if not I will eat the whole thing!!!
The pan is six servings and, without factoring in the chips, it’s about 280 calories, 8 g fat, 12 g carbs, 3 g fiber, and 37 g protein per serving. Nutrition information for the chips varies widely from brand to brand. I like to use Tostitos light.
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I’m doing weight watchers myself and trying this tonight, but how many points is it??
I just looked up the points + total: 7 points per serving (minus the chips). It would be less if you make it vegetarian. Either way – pretty good!! Can’t wait to make this ….
[...] The recipe that first inspired me was from Healthy.Delicious.com  [...]
Found this recipe on Pinterest … made it tonight and the family LOVED it. I will definitely make this again.
[...] on Lauren’s blog! I had a bit of a pinning fest including: Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie, Taco Casserole, Cassoulet with White Beans, Sausage and Turkey, and Chicken and Spaetzle Soup. She also has a [...]
Quick and easy recipe… completely delicious! I’ve made it three times this semester already, and it’s definitely a new addiction. Thanks for the recipe!
Hey — I made this last week. It was great! My husband ate the leftovers for breakfast! So easy and tasty too.
[...] 1.)Â Healthy-Delicious: Taco Casserole [...]
Sounds yummy! Did you use a 9″ X 13″ casserole dish?
I made this 2night but live in a small town so used 93% ground beef instead as couldn’t find ground chicken..It was really good….