Taco Pie Casserole is loaded with deliciously seasoned ground beef, refried beans, corn, cheese, corn tortillas, and more, layered in a casserole dish and baked until the cheese is hot and melted.
Are you looking for a new way to enjoy tacos? Has Taco Tuesday become a bit “meh”? Then I’ve got the recipe for you. This delicious casserole takes everything we love about tacos and transforms it into one delicious casserole. If you know me, you know that I think anything that can be made into a casserole should be made into a casserole, and this one is a great example of why I believe that so much.
I’ve been making this casserole for years. I started making it when my kids were in school. It was a great recipe for a weeknight dinner because it’s so easy to make. Then, I started bringing it to potlucks and parties because it can feed a crowd, and come on, everyone loves tacos. Over the years, I’ve made this for countless family dinners and brought it to enumerable parties and get-togethers, and no one ever gets tired of it. After you try it, I know you’ll be just as in love with it, too.
Taco Pie Casserole
This delicious casserole starts with ground beef, onions, and garlic seasoned to perfection with taco seasoning. Then it gets layered with corn, chilis, cheese, refried beans, and tortilla chips, creating a delicious casserole that’s overflowing with the classic Mexican flavors we all love. It’s a delicious, cheesy, zesty dish that can feed an entire family and then some, and everyone always loves it.
Why You’ll Love This Taco Pie Casserole
- It’s an easy and delicious Mexican recipe that the whole family will enjoy.
- It’s loaded with deliciously seasoned ground beef, refried beans, corn, cheese, corn tortillas, and more.
- It is an easy weeknight dinner or potluck recipe.
Taco Pie Casserole Tips and Variations
This is an incredibly easy recipe to make, but I do have a couple of tips that will help you make it the best that it can possibly be. They’re simple tips, but they make a difference. I also have some delicious variations that I think you’ll love.
Tips
- Always drain your ground beef, even if it’s very lean, to avoid a greasy casserole.
- Never skip spraying your dish with nonstick spray. It’s so much easier to spoon out the casserole.
Variations
- Try making this recipe with ground pork, chicken, or turkey, as well.
- Try adding a layer of guac or sliced avocado to the casserole.
- For more taco flavor, mix taco sauce directly into the taco meat before layering.
- Use a layer of Fritos in place of the tortillas.
Taco Pie Casserole Topping Ideas
Top this taco pie with any of your favorite taco add-ons when serving.
- Lettuce
- Tomato
- Cilantro
- Green onions
- Sour cream
- Taco sauce
- Salsa
- Avocado
- Guacamole
What to Serve with Taco Pie Casserole
There are all kinds of delicious recipes that you can pair with this taco pie casserole. Try:
- Chips and salsa
- Corn pudding
- Mexican coleslaw
- Mexican sweet potatoes
- Elote
Taco Pie Casserole FAQ
If you have questions about this recipe, then read on. The following FAQ answers the most commonly asked questions about taco pie casserole.
What is a taco pie casserole?
It’s basically tacos in a casserole form. It’s loaded with seasoned ground beef, cheese, corn tortillas, and some of your other favorite taco ingredients and then baked.
Is taco pie authentic Mexican food?
I’m pretty sure it’s not, but that’s about as clear as I can be. That’s because no one is really clear about this dish. Although taco pie is a beloved dish almost everywhere in the country, no one knows exactly where it came from. All we know for sure is that it probably originated some time in the early 1970s.
Can you freeze taco casserole?
Yes. It freezes very well, in fact. Wrap the original dish in a double layer of plastic wrap and a layer of foil and freeze for up to 3 months. You can also place it in an airtight, freezer-safe container.
How to Store and Reheat Leftover Taco Pie Casserole
Store your leftovers in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze them for up to 4 months in either the original container or in an airtight, freezer-safe container.
To reheat, place the leftovers in a baking dish and bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes or until heated through.
Taco Pie Casserole Ingredients
This recipe only uses simple ingredients that you can easily find at your local grocery store. There’s nothing fancy.
- Ground beef
- Onion, chopped
- Cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- Taco seasoning
- Water
- Refried beans
- Rotel®
- Diced green chilies
- Whole kennel corn, drained
- Corn tortillas, warmed up in the microwave for about 15 seconds.
- Cheese, grated (Cheddar or Pepper Jack)
- Lettuce
- Tomatoes
- Cilantro
- Green onions
- Sour cream
How to Make Taco Pie Casserole
Making this recipe is as easy as shopping for the ingredients. It only takes a few minutes and a few simple steps.
Step 1: Prep
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and generously spray a 13×9 baking dish with nonstick spray. Set it aside.
Step 2: Cook the Beef
Brown the beef, garlic, and onion in a large frying pan over medium heat. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Then, drain the beef and return it to the pan. Sprinkle with taco seasoning, add water, bring to a boil, and cook for 10 minutes.
Step 3: Heat the Refried Beans
Heat the refried beans in a medium saucepan while the beef is cooking.
Step 4: Make the Casserole
Spread a thin layer of the refried beans on the bottom of the baking dish. Then, place 5 tortillas on top of the beans, cutting as needed to fill in any openings. Then, cover the tortillas with a layer of beans, â…“ of the meat mixture, and â…“ of the green chilis. Finally add a couple of spoonfuls of Rotel, â…“ of the corn, and â…“ of the cheese in layers respectively. Repeat to make two more layers, ending with grated cheese.
Step 5: Bake
Cover the dish with foil and bake for 60 minutes or until the casserole is hot and the cheese is bubbly. Serve and top the portions with lettuce, tomatoes, cilantro, and green onions. Enjoy!
Try This Taco Pie Casserole Today
This delicious taco pie casserole combines all of our favorite taco flavors into one delicious casserole that’s as easy to serve as it is to make. It’s loaded with tasty flavors and will satisfy everyone in the family. Give this recipe a try for your next family dinner or potluck and get ready to fall in love. It’s a favorite around here, and once you make it, I know it will be with your family, as well.
More Delicious Mexican Food Recipes
Taco Pie Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- ½ cup taco seasoning
- 1 ½ cup water
- 28 ounce can refried beans
- 10 ounce can Rotel®
- 7 ounce can diced green chilies
- 15 ounce can whole kennel corn, drained
- 15 corn tortillas, warmed up in the microwave for about 15 seconds.
- 6 cups cheese, grated (Cheddar or Pepper Jack)
- Optional:
- Lettuce
- Tomatoes
- Cilantro
- Green onions
- Sour cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° and generously spray a 13 x 9 baking dish with non stick spray. Set aside.
- In a large frying pan, brown ground beef along with the onion, garlic, salt and pepper.
- Drain grease and return meat back to pan.
- Sprinkle taco seasoning over meat.
- Add water, stir, bring to a boil and cook for 10 minutes.
- In a medium sauce pan, heat refried beans.
- While the meat is cooking, spread a thin layer of beans on the bottom of the baking dish.
- Next place 5 tortillas on top of the beans (I cut 3 of them in half and used the halves around the edges then place two whole tortillas in the center).
- Cover tortillas with a layer of beans.
- Spoon ⅓ of meat mixture on top of beans.
- Add ⅓ green chilies over meat.
- Spoon a couple spoons of Rotel over meat mixture along with ⅓ of the corn.
- Top with ⅓ grated cheese.
- Repeat 2 more layers ending with grated cheese.
- Cover with foil and cook for 60 minutes or until hot and cheese is melted.
- Remove from oven and when served, top with lettuce, tomatoes, cilantro, and green onions.
Notes
Nutrition
Here are a few pics that are perfect to save to your favorite Pinterest boards on Pinterest. Also, you can follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Remember to “like” or “follow” us on all social media.
Can this be frozen and then baked when ready to serve?
Hi Marit, I would make it and serve it right away. It probably can but I haven’t froze mine. If you do freeze it, let me know how it turns out. :)
This is similar to a Mexican lasagne I make, I double the recipe and use two deep dish lasagne aluminum pans, we eat one and I label and date the other and freeze it. It thaws overnight in the fridge, put it in a pre-heated oven at 350* for 45-60 minutes. I don’t put cheese on top of the freezer pan it gets gross but I do use it through the layering then put it on top when it’s done then pop it back in til it melts. This is much easier to serve if you let it rest for 10-15 minures
That sounds awesome Judy! Great idea about making two, one for now and one for later. Thank you so much for sharing great helpful hints. :)
Yum thanks