Easy Crock Pot Taco Casserole Recipe

This Easy Crock Pot Taco Casserole Recipe is a must-make for anyone looking for an easy dinner the whole family will devour!

Made with layers of seasoned ground beef, black beans, corn, salsa, street taco tortillas, and melty cheese come together in the slow cooker for a cozy, flavor-packed meal that tastes like a cross between taco night and cheesy Mexican lasagna

Why this recipe works

With a simple 20 minute prep time, this hearty and filling recipe is perfect for busy weeknights as well as being one of those effortless slow cooker dinners everyone asks for again and again.

Here is what else you will like about this recipe.

• Also known as slow cooker taco lasagna, this dish has all of the classic taco ingredients about everyone loves in one cheesy, comforting casserole.
• While this recipe works effortless as a busy weeknight dinner, taco casserole is also perfect for serving at gatherings such as potlucks and celebrations.
• Personalizing this recipe is as easy as swapping out the ground beef with ground chicken, turkey or a vegan alternative.
• Taco casserole tastes great the next day when served warm or cold with a salad or tortilla chips on the side!

Have you tried my recipe for Frito Taco Casserole Dinner?

Made with taco meat and corn chips, that layered dish is a comfort food that features the savory goodness with salty crunch that we love about tacos and Fritos in every bite. Both this recipe for Easy Taco Casserole and that recipe for Frito Taco Casserole are great tasting and simple recipes for taco influenced casseroles.

Taco seasoning is used to give this casserole that taco flavoring. You can find taco seasoning here or make taco seasoning yourself using this recipe .

Ingredients needed.

• Ground Beef. I like a an 85/15 for texture, flavor and moisture for this recip.
• Onion. Diced small.
• Garlic. Freshly minced.
• Taco Seasoning. Adds the flavor that makes this casserole so good!
• Black Beans Drained and rinsed.
• Corn. Drained.
• Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies With liquid.
• Salsa The salsa of your choice.
• Tortillas. Use whole street taco tortillas
• Mexican Blend Cheese. Shredded.
• Optional for serving. Sour cream, chopped cilantro, diced avocado, sliced jalapeños, shredded lettuce, and anything else you enjoy on your tacos.

How to make slow cooker taco casserole.

• Prep Time 20 minutes (includes browning meat) .
• Slow Cook Time 4–5 hours on low .
• Servings 8 .
• How to serve : Serve with your favorite taco toppings and sides.
• Notes: You will need a skillet (if your meat has not been browned yet), a large slow cooker or Crock Pot. and a large spoon.

1. Meat. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook your ground beef with the onion until the ground beef has browned, breaking up the clumps as needed. Once the ground beef has browned you can add the garlic to the skillet and cook for another minute. Then drain the excess fat from the skillet.
2. Simmer To the ingredients in the skillet, stir in the taco seasoning, drained black beans, drained corn, diced tomatoes and salsa. Simmer the ingredients for two to three minutes or until everything is well combined and heated through, stirring everything well at first to evenly combine and then stirring once or twice during the simmering.
3. Prep. Prep your slow cooker for nonstick. You can use spray or a liner.
4. Layer. Line the bottom of your slow cooker with tortillas that overlap as needed so that the entire bottom is covered. Evenly spread about a third of the ingredients from the skillet over the tortillas and then top that with ⅔ of a cup of cheese. Repeat this process until you have used up all of the skillet ingredients and cheese (three layers, depending on the size of your slow cooker).
5. Slow Cook. Slow cook covered on low for four hours. Check the casserole at that time and continue to slow cook as needed until the ingredients appear to be heated through and the cheese has fully melted.
6. Set. When the casserole has finished slow cooking, turn the heat off and allow the casserole to set for 10 minutes before serving. This will make it easier for you to serve the casserole in clean servings.

Tips for making the best cheesy taco casserole.

When selecting a ground beef, an 85/15 ground beef works best in this recipe. Anything leaner can be used but, it will not be as flavorful or moist. Ground beef that is more fatty will add more flavor to the casserole along with more grease (don't forget there is plenty of cheese in this recipe). Also, do not forget to drain the meat well after cooking.

More helpful tips for you.

1. I would use whole street taco tortillas rather than basic tortillas as street tortillas are smaller and can fit better in the pot and can layer better. Flour tortillas will make softer layers while flour tortilla layers will be more structured and hold up better. The choice of which to use is up to you .
2. When you layer the tortillas, they should slightly overlap. Using layered tortillas that are flat in the crock pot helps create that taco lasagna texture. Overlapping them keeps the layers more even and intact.
3. Make sure that you drain the corn and beans as you do not want to overdo the added liquids in this recipe. The undrained tomatoes and salsa provide plenty of moisture. Resist the urge to add extra liquid, or the casserole can turn out too soft.

FAQ

• What are street taco tortillas?
  Street taco tortillas are simply smaller tortillas, usually about four to five inches wide (rather than the six inch small tortillas). They come in both corn and flour varieties and work perfectly in this recipe because they fit neatly in the crock pot and make layering easier without cutting larger tortillas.
  
• Can I use flour tortillas instead of corn tortillas?
  Yes! Both work well in this recipe depending on the structure you desire for the layers. Corn tortillas hold their shape better and create firmer, more defined layers, while flour tortillas make the casserole softer and more tender. If you want a more structured taco lasagna texture, use corn tortillas. For a softer, more casserole-like texture, use flour.
  
• Can I make this recipe with ground turkey?
  Absolutely. Ground turkey is a great lighter option and still tastes delicious with the taco seasoning, beans, salsa, and cheese. 93/7 ground turkey is a good choice because it stays flavorful without drying out too much. Note that browning and cooking times can vary and that you may want to add a bit of oil to the skillet when your brown the turkey.

• How do I keep taco casserole from getting soggy?

  To avoid a soggy casserole:
  -Drain the meat well after browning
  -Do not add extra liquid
  -Use only the called-for salsa and undrained tomatoes
  -Slightly overlap the tortillas instead of stacking too thick
  -Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes before slicing .
  
• Can I make Crock Pot Taco Casserole ahead of time?
  It is one of the reasons why slow cooking is so wonderful.
  You can prepare the meat mixture ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to two days before assembling. When you are ready to slow cook, layer everything in the crock pot and cook as directed.

Variations.

• Add some veggies. Stir in diced bell peppers, green chiles, green onions, or even a little diced zucchini with the filling.
• For added texture, sprinkle crushed tortilla chips on top just before serving. This gives the casserole a fun taco-night crunch and adds a little contrast to the soft, cheesy layers.
• Take your casserole up a notch by adding a little extra heat. Try using hot salsa, adding extra jalapeños, mixing in a little chipotle powder, or topping the casserole with your favorite hot sauce before serving.

How to store slow cooker casserole.

Once the casserole has fully cooled, it should be stored in an airtight container. When properly store, taco casserole should keep for up to four days refrigerated or frozen for up to a couple of months. I would store the casserole without the toppings (sour cream etc) and add those just before serving.

Here are some more slow cooker recipes that work.

• Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork Tenderloin
• Slow Cooker Velveeta Mac and Cheese
• Slow Cooker Chicken and Broccoli Pasta
• Slow Cooker Root Beer Pulled Chicken
• 5 Day Slow Cooker Meal Plan
• 27 Easy Slow Cooker Recipes for Parties and Gatherings.