The use of hard taco shell corn tortillas is an American invention and the use of ground beef, made famous by food chains like Taco Bell. We grew up on this, so for me, it means comfort food. Sometimes we don’t have time to make individual tacos, so a casserole is the best next thing, and this one is amazing. It is so fast and easy to make, and the best thing about it is that hard taco shells are used in between layers instead of nachos, Fritos, or tortillas. And you can add your favorite toppings!
How To Make Taco Casserole?
Preheat the oven to 350 F. In a large skillet cook the ground beef with the onions, bell peppers, and taco seasoning, until no pink is left in the meat Pour in the enchilada sauce and green chiles and simmer the mixture until most of the liquid has evaporated. Place half of the broken taco shells in the bottom of a 7 x 11-inch baking dish. Spoon half of the meat mixture on top of the taco shells. Sprinkle half of the shredded cheddar on top of the meat mixture. Repeat these three layers and top with chopped tomatoes and sliced jalapenos. Bake for 30 mins or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Let it stand for a few minutes before serving.
Make-Ahead Method
You can make this casserole ahead of time two ways. First, you can make the meat mixture and refrigerate it overnight and assemble the casserole before baking it, or you can assemble the whole thing, cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate it overnight. Take it out of the fridge before baking it and add 10 minutes to the baking time.
Cooking Tips
You can use Mexican cheese blend instead of cheddar for a change. Do not break the taco shells too small. You don’t want powdered shells. If you don’t like jalapenos, use sliced black olives instead. Serve with sour cream, avocados, more jalapenos, and fresh cilantro.
