Walking Taco Casserole With Doritos

It's the perfect recipe for taco night.
Easy to make.
Top with your favorite taco ingredients.
Even picky eaters will love it.
Great for busy weeknights.

Ingredients For Walking Taco Bake

Ingredients for walking taco casserole labeled on a white countertop.

Ingredient Notes

Ground beef. I have made this with lean ground beef, ground venison, and ground turkey.
Onion. I used red onion, but you can use white or yellow onion.
Taco seasoning. Make homemade taco seasoning or use store-bought.
Corn. Use canned corn, leftover Smoked Corn on the Cob in Foil or Traeger Smoked Corn, or omit it entirely.
Salsa. I used my Homemade Salsa For Canning, which I make enough to use all year long. You can also make Chunky Salsa With Fresh Tomatoes if you have time. If you don't have salsa, use a can of tomatoes.
Sour cream. This makes the casserole nice and creamy. You can also use half a block of cream cheese instead.
Shredded cheese. I used white cheddar cheese, but you could also use a Mexican blend cheese or Monterey Jack cheese.
Doritos. Nacho Doritos add excellent flavor and keep their crispiness quite well. You can also make Frito pie with Frito corn chips, or use your favorite tortilla chips instead.

See the printable recipe card below for quantities and a full list of ingredients.

How To Make Walking Taco Casserole With Doritos

Step By Step Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Place Doritos in the casserole dish and crush slightly.

Doritos placed in a greased casserole dish.

Doritos placed in a greased casserole dish and crush into smaller pieces.

Step 2: Cook the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat until no pink remains. Break it apart with a wooden spoon. Add the diced onion and cook until translucent.

A wooden spoon breaking up the ground beef into smaller pieces as it cooks.

The diced red onion added to the ground meat mixture in a large skillet.

Step 3: Add the taco seasoning, salsa, corn, and sour cream to the ground beef. Stir until well combined.

The corn, taco seasoning, and salsa added to the cooked meat mixture in the skillet.

Sour cream added on top of the meat mixture in a skillet.

Step 4: Cover the crushed Doritos with the taco meat mixture. Top with shredded cheese and bake for 25-30 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.

The taco meat mixture on top of the crushed Doritos in a casserole dish.

The casserole topped with shredded cheddar cheese.

Step 5: Serve immediately with your favorite taco toppings and enjoy!

The baked taco casserole after it came out of the oven.

Variations

Use Smoked Beef Chili instead of taco meat.
Use enchilada sauce instead.
This is also delicious with Smoked Queso Dip with Ground Beef.

Expert Tips

Broil in the oven for a minute or two if you want the top to be browner and crispier.
Add drained black beans, kidney, beans, pinto beans, refried beans, a can of green chilis, or chopped jalapeno peppers.
Top with shredded lettuce, black olives, diced tomatoes, and green onions.

Serving Suggestions

Serve this casserole with Smoked Cornbread, breadsticks, or Quick Biscuits Without Buttermilk.

It also goes great with Instant Pot White Rice, Mexican Street Corn and topped with Small Batch Cowboy Candy and Authentic Pico de Gallo.

For a lighter meal, serve with a simple green salad or Tomato Basil Cucumber Salad.

Storage + Reheating Instructions

Refrigerator

Cover with a lid or aluminum foil and store for 3-4 days.

Freezer

Wrap the cooked casserole in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil and store for up to two months.

Reheating

Cover the casserole with aluminum foil and reheat in a 350 degree F oven for 30-45 minutes, until hot and bubbly. You can also reheat individual portions in the microwave or air fryer.

A wooden spoon in the casserole dish full of the walking taco casserole.

Recipe FAQs

Why is it called a walking taco?

A walking taco got its name because individual servings of taco fillings are added directly into small, opened bags of Doritos or Fritos chips. This makes it easy for people to walk around and eat their taco without the need for plates, hence the name "walking taco." These are often served at concessions at sporting events and fairs.

Is walking tacos a Midwest thing?

Walking tacos is said to have started in the Midwest, and their popularity has spread all across North America.

What is another name for a walking taco?

Another popular name for a walking taco is "Taco in a Bag".

Can I make this casserole ahead of time?

Yes, you can assemble the casserole ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 24 hours before baking. Add an extra 5-10 minutes to the baking time.

Can I add more vegetables to the casserole?

Yes, add bell peppers, zucchini, or diced carrots. You can even use frozen mixed veggies. Just heat them with the ground beef mixture first.

A serving of taco casserole bake on a white dinner plate, with the baking dish in the background.

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