Taco Casserole

This Taco Casserole Recipe is loaded with all of your Mexican favorites and topped with Doritos, Fritos, or Tortilla Chips! It’s easy to assemble days ahead of time and bake later for an easy dinner!

Ingredients

• 1 lb. ground beef, I use 80% lean
• 1 small yellow onion, diced
• 1 oz. taco seasoning, equivalent to 2 Tablespoons
• 16 oz. refried beans
• ¾ cup sour cream
• 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded*
• ¼ cup black olives, sliced
• 1/3 cup tomatoes, diced
• ¾ cup crunchy toppings such as tortilla chips, Doritos, and/or Fritos

To garnish:

• 1/3 cup lettuce, shredded
• Green onions, (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Add the ground beef and diced onions to a large pan and cook and crumble over medium heat until the meat is cooked through.
3. Drain excess grease.
4. Add ¾ cup water and taco seasoning.
5. Bring to a boil.
6. Reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.
7. Spread the refried beans in an even layer within a casserole dish. (Mine was 9 x 13" but varying sizes are fine.)
8. Spread the sour cream over the refried beans.
9. Top with cooked ground beef mixture, then with cheese.
10. If you’re preparing this head of time, let it cool and cover and refrigerate until ready to bake.

Baking:

1. If baking right away: Bake, uncovered, for 15 minutes, or until the cheese is hot and melted.
2. If baking after the casserole has been refrigerated: Bake, covered, for 25 minutes. Remove the cover and bake for an additional 5 minutes.

Add the toppings:

1. Top the casserole with black olives, tomatoes, and crunchy toppings. (Add additional cheese if you like as well.)
2. Bake uncovered for 8 minutes.
3. Garnish with green onions and/or shredded lettuce and serve!

Notes
*A combination of Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese works well too!