Our Most-Saved Recipe of 2024 Will Be a ‘Go-To Recipe Forever’

We love casseroles, and it’s easy to see why these loaded dishes are a favorite. They can be prepared ahead of time, frozen for future meals, easily feed a crowd, and can be made with just about any ingredient. From sweet breakfast casseroles to simple budget-friendly options, most casseroles bake up in less than an hour for a meal that’s time-efficient without sacrificing flavor. 

Last year, our readers loved making Bourbon Chicken so much that it became the Most-Saved Recipe of 2023. Now, as we close 2024, a new recipe gained popularity among the Allrecipes community more than any other: Best Taco Casserole.

Its simplicity and versatility have quickly earned it a spot in the meal rotation for many. Home cooks love how easy taco casserole is to customize, the straightforward ingredient list, and that it bakes up in just 30 minutes.

What Makes Our Best Taco Casserole So Good?

Lean ground beef and canned beans create the base for this dish, making each serving filling and flavorful. Jarred salsa and shredded cheese liven things up, while crunchy tortilla chip crumbles add irresistible texture, resulting in a hearty, scoopable dish. The casserole is topped with a generous layer of cheese along with diced tomatoes, green onions, and black olives for a fresh taste in every bite. 

What Fans Have to Say About the Best Taco Casserole Recipe 

• “This was fantastic. I normally would have used refried beans with a dish like this, but the chili beans were perfect!” says reviewer ladylaughsalot. “They added just the right flavor to it. Our whole family loved this recipe. We will definitely be eating it again.”
• “This is a great recipe for a busy weekday dinner. The taste is great and it satisfies your craving for restaurant style Mexican food,” says reviewer Donna Corea. “I made it as is and would make it again.”
• “Easy and delicious,” raves Netta. “A go-to recipe forever!”

How to Make This Taco Casserole Recipe

This casserole packs so many great flavors and textures in a single pan, but the best part is the simplicity of the recipe.

Cook your ground beef in a large skillet until brown and crumbly. Add in salsa to the skillet and simmer until the liquid from the salsa is absorbed. Then, add in a can of beans and continue cooking until the beans fully reheat.

The next part involves assembling the casserole. Spread tortilla chips out over the bottom of the baking dish and top with beef mixture, then sour cream. Lastly, place olives, green onion, and tomatoes over the sour cream and finish with a heavy dusting of cheese.

Pop that casserole in the oven for about 30 minutes, and let all the best smells of Mexican cuisine fill your kitchen.

Tips for Making the Best Taco Casserole Even More Delicious

As always, we encourage you to customize recipes to your liking and share your findings. Here are some additions that our readers are loving:

• Stir in taco seasoning: Add a store-bought packet of taco seasoning or utilize your pantry for a homemade version to add extra flavor. Simply stir the seasoning into the meat mixture during step 4 of the casserole’s instructions until it’s well combined with the other ingredients. 
• Swap the protein: This recipe calls for ground beef as the base, but you can swap in chicken or ground turkey. To save time, you can also use chopped rotisserie chicken. 
• Add extra veggies: Add sautéed onions and peppers, jalapenos, or canned corn (be sure to drain it first) into the casserole for extra flavor and nutrients. Top with additional fresh elements such as tomato, avocado cubes, and chopped cilantro. 
• Mix in cooked rice: Rice will make this dish more hearty and stretch servings further. Add in 1 cup of cooked Mexican rice or grab a microwave steamer bag of rice from the grocery store for a speedy addition.
• Lighten it up: In addition to using leaner meat such as turkey or chicken, you can lighten up this meal by altering the sour cream and cheese. You can use low-fat counterparts, reduce the amount used, or opt for plain Greek yogurt in place of sour cream. 

No matter how you make it, there’s no doubt that this easy dish will become a fast favorite and find its way to your table again and again.

How to Substitute Ingredients for This Recipe

One of the great things about this casserole is that you can use what you have on hand if you don’t want to run to the store. Take a hint from the Allrecipes community on how to change up this recipe:

“I switched out the ground beef for chicken. I baked and shredded [the chicken] and I also added a green chile sauce with the salsa to spice it up a little. We didn’t have tortilla chips so we used taco shells, crumbled. It was great. The nice thing about this recipe is that you can change it to whatever you have and make it work,” said reviewer JoMom.

“It’s so good,” says reviewer Sherry Higgins. “I added taco seasoning to the salsa and meat and bean mixture, used ground turkey, added a touch more cumin (we love cumin!), and doubled the recipe. I also used one regular container of salsa and one pico-type salsa container. The last variation I made was that I added a layer of Mexican rice over the meat/bean/salsa layer and before the sour cream. And yes, this dish will be added to the rotation!”