Walking Taco Casserole

Walking taco casserole features all the flavors of the ballpark classic in a hearty baked dish. Full of zesty seasoned beef, Fritos, and tons of toppings, this will satisfy any taco lover!

One of my favorite things about going to a ball game?

Obviously the food.

And one of the best ballpark dishes of all time is definitely the walking taco.

Yes, that’s right, move over Cracker Jacks and take a seat chili dogs.

Nothing quite beats the fun and flavor of a good old fashioned taco pie.

What is a walking taco?

Walking tacos are popular in the Midwest, parts of the South, and Texas.

They are snack sized bags of Fritos (or sometimes Doritos) loaded with taco toppings.

Sometimes, the dish is called taco pie or Frito pie.

You’ll see it at ballparks and in Costco.

This version takes all those flavors and serves it up topped with melted cheese, casserole style.

Ingredients

To make this you’ll need:

• Ground beef– Lean ground beef. You don’t want the extra grease.
• Seasonings– Dried onion flakes, garlic paste, taco seasoning (and the water the packets call for)
• Diced green chiles– The canned kind.
• Shredded cheese– I recommend cheddar or cheddar Jack.
• Fritos– In a pinch you could use Doritos instead.
• Toppings– Shredded lettuce, seeded and diced roma tomatoes, sliced green onions, and salsa and sour cream.

How to make 

Add the ground beef, onion, and garlic paste to a large skillet.

Cook the beef, breaking up the beef as you go, until completely browned. Drain off any excess grease.

Stir in the canned chiles, taco seasoning, and the water called for on the packages of the taco seasoning until evenly combined.

Season the mixture with salt and pepper, to taste.

Set the mixture aside.

Then, lightly spray a 9×13″ baking dish with non stick spray.

Spread the taco meat evenly out in the prepared dish and sprinkle the shredded cheese evenly out overtop.

Bake the casserole at 350° for 15- 20 minutes, until hot and the cheese is bubbly.

Remove the casserole from the oven, and let it rest a full 5 minutes.

Spread the corn chips evenly out over top, followed by the shredded lettuce and diced tomatoes.

Slice and serve with salsa and sour cream, if desired.

Enjoy!

Other Topping Ideas

We like to set out a topping bar whenever we make this so the boys can all add their favorite toppings. Some other toppings we love include:

• guacamole
• sliced avocado
• diced jalapeno
• cilantro
• pico de gallo
• lime wedges

Storing Leftovers

I don’t recommend adding toppings if you think you might have leftovers. The chips and lettuce will get sad and soggy.

If you do think you may have leftovers, set aside the baked meat and cheese in an air tight dish in the fridge for up to 4 days. 

Reheat in the oven or microwave until warmed through, and then top and serve.

Tips and Tricks

• Can’t find Fritos? Use Nacho Cheese Doritos instead.
• Like everything hot and spicy? Add a can of diced pickled jalapenos to the taco meat.
• You could substitute your protein for ground chicken if you prefer or even use up leftover brisket.

Other Taco Casseroles

Walking taco casserole is a family favorite and a hit whenever I make it. Get it on your table this week and discover why it’ll become a regular part of your rotation.

Looking for other taco casseroles? Try these:

• Bisquick Taco Bake
• Cheesy Chicken Doritos Casserole
• Mexican Lasagna
• Cheesy Beef Taquito Casserole

f you’ve tried these WALKING TACO CASSEROLE, or any other recipe on the site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!