Taco Casserole

By Becky Hardin

Updated Jul 21, 2025

This easy taco casserole with ground beef, tater tots, refried beans, and lots of cheese is one of my favorite weeknight dinners! It’s easy, it’s delicious, and is a dish everyone will love.

taco casserole on plate garnished with sour cream - 5

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5-Star Review

“So delicious. I used hash browns with bell peppers O’Brien’s mixture instead of tater tots. So easy everyone loved it. Thank you” – Dawn

Easy Taco Casserole Recipe

I find casseroles are the easiest way to get a delicious dinner on the table, and this taco casserole is a quick favorite. It’s easy to prepare and ready in under an hour, perfect for Taco Tuesday or Cinco de Mayo ! The best part? My kids devour it without a single complaint. And honestly, who doesn’t love the idea of eating tacos with a fork?

Made with ground beef , tater tots, refried beans, cheese, and more, it’s a meal I make it on repeat, and it never gets old because I can switch things up each time with different toppings. Whether I’m in the mood for something spicy, fresh, or extra cheesy, it always hits the spot.

If you like casseroles, you’ll love our Doritos casserole or our cheesy tater tot casserole .

Ingredients1x2x3x

▢ 1 lb. ground beef any ground meat works too (454g)
▢ 1 small yellow onion diced
▢ 2 tbsp taco seasoning 1 package or homemade (37g)
▢ 16 oz. can refried beans (454g)
▢ 16 oz. bag frozen tater tots (454g)
▢ 14.5 oz. can petite diced tomatoes, drained (411g)
▢ 8 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (226g)

Optional toppings:

▢ shredded lettuce
▢ black olives
▢ chips
▢ sour cream
▢ salsa
▢ roma tomato diced

Video

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350° F. Spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
Heat a large skillet over medium heat. When the skillet is hot, add the ground beef and diced onion. Cook until the meat is browned and onions are translucent. Drain fat from pan if necessary. 1 lb. ground beef, 1 small yellow onion
Reduce heat to low and add in the taco seasoning and diced tomatoes. Stir to combine and simmer for 5 minutes. 2 tbsp taco seasoning, 14.5 oz. can petite diced tomatoes, drained
Spread the refried beans into the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Place the frozen tater tots on top of the beans in a single layer. 16 oz. can refried beans, 16 oz. bag frozen tater tots
Spread the meat mixture evenly on top of the tater tots.
Sprinkle the cheddar cheese over the meat mixture. Cover and bake for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 10-15 minutes or until cheese is melted. 8 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
Top with lettuce, black olives, chips, sour cream, salsa, and diced Roma tomato if desired. Serve immediately. shredded lettuce, black olives, chips, sour cream, salsa, roma tomato

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

How to Make Taco Casserole Step by Step

Get the oven going and prepare a baking dish : Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.

Putting ground beef and onions in a frying pan. - 6

Cook the beef: Heat a large skillet over medium heat. When the skillet is hot, add the 1 lb. ground beef and 1 onion. Cook until the meat is browned and onions are translucent. Drain fat from pan if necessary.

Reduce heat to low and add in the 2 tbsp taco seasoning and a 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes. Stir to combine and simmer for 5 minutes.

Refried beans being layered into baking pan. - 7

Layer casserole : Spread 1 16 oz. refried beans into the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Place 1 16 oz. bag frozen tater tots on top of the beans in a single layer. Spread the meat mixture evenly on top of the tater tots.

Layering cheese over the beans and meat. - 8

Top with cheese : Sprinkle 8 oz. cheddar cheese over the meat mixture. Cover and bake for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 10-15 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Overhead view of taco casserole in a white baking dish. - 9

Add toppings : Top with lettuce, black olives, chips, sour cream, salsa, and diced Roma tomato if desired. Serve immediately.

How to Store

You can easily prepare or partially prepare this taco casserole ahead of time. Make the ground beef mixture the day before and store it in the fridge.

Another option is to make it a freezer meal . Fully prepare the casserole (without toppings), and freeze until you’re ready to bake. Then you’ll just need to defrost and increase the baking time.

If you end up with leftovers, store covered the baking dish with plastic wrap, or scoop into airtight containers, and refrigerate up to 3 days.

Serving Suggestions

Toppings are completely up to you! I like to use typical taco toppings like shredded lettuce, tomatoes, black olives, jalapenos, and sour cream. And, of course, no Mexican meal is complete without a side of simple salsa and creamy guacamole , but you can also add some zing and drizzle with homemade taco sauce .

If you want to add crunch, top the casserole with crushed up tortilla chips, leftover taco shells, or use Frito’s, Dorito’s, etc.—whatever you have on hand.

Taco casserole on plate garnished with sour cream. - 10

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