Description
A quick, one-pan weeknight dinner featuring ground beef, salsa, and cheese layered with tortillas. It’s moist, customizable for spice levels, and ready in under 35 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground beef (80/20 fat content recommended)
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 packet taco seasoning (2 tablespoons) or homemade blend
- 1.5 cups salsa (medium or mild)
- 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend
- 6–8 large flour tortillas, torn into pieces
- Optional toppings: sour cream, sliced green onions, diced avocado, crushed tortilla chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef and diced onion for 8-10 minutes until beef is no longer pink and onions are soft. Drain excess grease, leaving about 1 tablespoon.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add minced garlic and taco seasoning, stirring for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Pour in salsa, stir to combine, and simmer for 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Layer half of the torn tortillas in the bottom of the baking dish. Spread half of the beef mixture over the tortillas, then sprinkle with half of the cheese.
- Repeat with the remaining tortillas, beef mixture, and cheese.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 15 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake for another 5-10 minutes until cheese is bubbly and slightly browned.
- Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
For best results, use full-fat cheese for better melting. If making ahead, assemble up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerate; add 5-10 minutes to baking time if starting from cold. To prevent dryness, leave some beef grease in the pan and ensure generous salsa coverage.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 25
Keywords: taco casserole, ground beef dinner, weeknight meals, easy family dinner, cheesy casserole, one-pan meal, budget-friendly dinner