Taco casserole or a version of the same is one I go for at the end of the month when it is time to stock up on groceries, but I don’t have the time or energy to take my little ones out to town to restock. Living out in the country means a grocery trip is a 20–30-minute trip one way and takes more careful planning than it did while we lived in town. I like this taco casserole because it is versatile and you can add or omit ingredients as you wish, making it perfect for times when the cupboards are beginning to look sparce. If you would like to try more easy week-night dinners for a family, be sure to check the list below the recipe card.

This recipe is gluten free friendly. Be sure to check the chili beans to ensure they are not thickened with wheat thickeners. As always, check all your ingredients when dealing with an allergy.

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Easy Taco Bake

marilynpeight

This taco bake is loaded with taco flavor and simple ingredients for a quick but delicious dinner on any busy day!

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 15

Cook Time 40

Course Main Course

Cuisine Tex-Mex

Servings

Ingredients

1 cup rice
1 pound ground beef
2-3 garlic cloves minced optional
1 teaspoon salt or to taste
1 tablespoon Taco seasoning *see alternatives
several dashes paprika
1 cup whole corn kernels drained
1 15.5 oz. can Chili beans (undrained)
1 1/2 cups salsa *see note
1 tablespoon lime juice or the juice of 1 lime optional but delicious
shredded cheddar or taco style cheese for topping

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350:

Cook rice in 2 3/4 cups water. *see link to stovetop rice below. Meanwhile, place ground beef and garlic cloves in a frying pan, then season with seasonings and salt. Cook until the beef is browned (be careful not to overcook), then add corn, chili beans with sauce, lime juice and salsa. Combine and allow to simmer for several minutes.
Combine the rice and beef mixture, then spread into a 13 by 9-inch baking dish and top with shredded cheddar or taco style cheese.
Bake in the preheated oven for roughly 20-30 minutes until the cheese has melted and the edges are bubbling. Allow to cool slightly, then serve with your favorite toppings (see options below) and enjoy!

Notes

Instead of taco seasoning, you can use 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder and 1/2 teaspoon cumin. Feel free to add to taste.

If you don’t have salsa on hand, tomato sauce can also be used. Stewed tomatoes mixed with sauce are also a good option. In my experience, both options work, but salsa adds more taco flavor.

See more notes and step by step photos below.

Keyword Taco casserole, Taco bake, Easy, Weeknight dinner, Quick, Rice and beans

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Ingredients needed for this Taco Bake: Chili beans, shredded cheese, corn, rice, paprika, taco seasoning, ground beef, garlic, lime juice, salt and salsa.

Is lime juice and garlic really necessary?

You can leave the lime juice out if you want, but I find it adds a nice fresh flavor to the taco bake. Garlic can also be omitted if you are not a fan of the flavor or simply don’t feel like mincing it. For a easy substitute, I would suggest garlic powder so that you can still get a touch of garlic flavor in the taco bake.

Step 1: Cook rice in 2 3/4 cups water. *see link to stovetop rice below. Meanwhile, place ground beef and garlic cloves in a frying pan, then season with seasonings and salt. Cook until the beef is browned (be careful not to overcook), then add corn, chili beans with sauce, lime juice and salsa. Combine and allow to simmer for several minutes.

For tips on cooking rice over the stovetop, check out my Tips for Making Great Stovetop Rice.

Step 2: Combine the rice and beef mixture, then spread into a 13 by 9-inch baking dish and top with shredded cheddar or taco style cheese.

Last step: Bake in the preheated oven for roughly 20-30 minutes until the cheese has melted and the edges are bubbling. Allow to cool slightly, then serve with your favorite toppings (see options below) and enjoy!

Toppings you can add to finish off this taco bake:

Sour cream, salsa, avocado, shredded lettuce, diced tomato and diced onion are my go-to for topping this taco bake. You can also add crushed tortilla chips for a bit of salty crunch. When groceries are low, I usually keep the toppings simple with whatever I have on hand. We also enjoy Ranch or chipotle sauce drizzled on top.

Other family friendly dinners to try:

Thank you for stopping by and enjoy! Feel free to pin or print this recipe using the icons in the recipe card, but please leave a comment and recipe rating in exchange. Thank you! -Marilyn Stoltzfus Peight

Easy Taco Bake