Easy Layered Taco Bake
This layered Taco Bake is a simple and quick weeknight meal with layers of tortillas, ground beef and salsa con queso!
A Simple, Taco-Inspired Dinner
One food item I always seem to have in my pantry or in my fridge are flour tortillas. They are good for so many things. Tortillas can be made into so many different types of snacks for kids (and grownups). You can cut them up and fry them or bake them. You can make cinnamon chips, quesadillas, tortilla pizzas. The possibilities are endless and easy on the wallet too.
I’ve made this quite a few times already. It’s fast, delicious and easy clean up. So good! I’m making it again as I type!
– Shauna
Tips For Making Layered Taco Bake
- Flour tortillas work best in this but if you absolutely must have corn tortillas, then you can certainly switch it out.
- Ground turkey and chicken can be substituted for the ground beef.
- Try making your own Taco Seasoning for this recipe!
- If you like this recipe, you should give these Navajo Tacos a try!
- A springform pan makes this easy to remove but an 8-inch round baking pan will work as well.
- This meal is delicious served with Spanish style rice
- If you are very sensitive to spices, you can certainly use a regular cheese dip instead of the salsa con queso.
Ingredients Needed: (See Recipe Card Below For The Full Recipe
- ground beef – you can use ground chicken or turkey as well.
- taco seasoning – grab a store bought packet of seasoning or if you like to control the ingredients, try making a Homemade Taco Seasoning.
- water – you are going to use the amount given on the back of your particular taco seasoning packet. It can vary by brand. If you are using my homemade taco seasoning, I would use 3/4 water.
- flour tortillas (8-inch size) – you could use corn tortillas but they would need to be the larger size. They are a little harder to find near me. Sometimes the packaging will say “Super Size” or “King Size”.
- salsa con queso – this is another ingredient you can grab from the store or make your own.
- shredded Mexican cheese blend – use any cheese you like here. I think Pepper Jack cheese would be great for a little kick of heat.
How To Make Taco Bake
Brown and crumble ground beef. Drain excess grease.
Stir in taco seasoning and water (following directions on back of seasoning packet.) Once the taco meat is ready, turn off heat and add in 1/2 cup salsa con queso. Give it a good stir, until thoroughly combined.
Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Spray an 8-inch round baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Layer the bottom of the pan with a flour tortilla.
I like to use a springform pan just to make it a bit easier to get out after it is finished baking. But this taco bake is pretty easy to slice up and serve even without the springform pan. Now add about 1/3 of the ground beef taco filling on the the first layer.
Then add 1/3 of the shredded cheese.
Continue until you are done with all the layers: another tortilla, more taco mixture, more cheese.
Bake at 350F degrees for about 15-20 minutes. Until cheese is melted and edges are slightly golden brown.
Allow to cool for a couple of minutes. Then slice and serve. I like mine with some sour cream and diced tomatoes on top.
Craving More Recipes?
- Crock Pot White Queso Dip
- Taco Rice
- Taco Bell Mexican Pizza
- Taco Bell Enchiritos
- Taco Bell Chili Cheese Burritos
- Easy White Chicken Enchiladas (For Two)
- Crock Pot Taco Meat
- Crock Pot Taco Soup
- Taco Bubble Up
- Arroz Con Pollo
- White Chicken Enchiladas
- Tamale Pie
- Cornbread Taco Bake
- Taco Potatoes
Originally published: August 2013
Updated photos and republished: January 2022
Easy Layered Taco Bake (+Video)
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- water as called for on back of seasoning packet (usually 3/4 cup water)
- ½ cup salsa con queso (see notes below)
- 3 (8-inch) flour tortillas (usually called 'soft taco' size)
- 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend (divided use)
Instructions
- Brown and crumble 1 pound ground beef. Drain excess grease.
- Add in 1 packet taco seasoning and water as called for on back of seasoning packet (usually 3/4 cup) following directions on back of seasoning packet.
- Once the taco meat is ready, turn off heat and add in 1/2 cup salsa con queso. Give it a good stir until thoroughly combined.
- Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Spray an 8-inch round baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- Layer the bottom of the pan with one of the 3 (8-inch) flour tortillas.
- Now add about 1/3 of the ground beef taco filling on the the first layer.
- Then add 1/3 of the 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend.
- Continue until you are done with all the layers: another tortilla, more taco mixture, more cheese.
- Bake at 350F degrees for about 15-20 minutes until cheese is melted and edges are slightly golden brown.
- Allow to cool for a couple of minutes. Slice and serve. Top with desired toppings.
Video
Notes
- If the salsa con queso is too spicy for you, just use a regular cheese dip.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Omg. My 8 year old is hard to please and never says much about dinner. Not only did he eat it all but he was talking about how good it was the next day! The whole family enjoyed this recipe. Thank you!
Nothing makes me happier than hearing when kids like a recipe! They are tough customers lol! Thanks so much for taking the time to come back and comment!
Excellent ! We all loved. I did mix picodegallo in with the meat mixture. Served with sliced avocados and sour cream on top ..looked so eye appealing. Fabulous and easy (liked the springform pan idea).
Thank you so very much Irmie! I appreciate you taking the time to come back and comment!
I used chicken instead and it was delicious!!! With some sour cream, tomatoes and green onions on top This will be going into dinner rotation! so easy!!!
Uum this is so easy and delicious I would upload a picture but we ate it so fast there was no picture taking. Thank you for an amazing recipe.
Ha – love hearing that Lisa! Thanks so much for taking the time to come back and comment!
We tried the taco pie tonight and was pleasantly surprised! Easy to assemble tasty !!! . I will use taco sauce over top next time with sour cream and chopped tomatoes
I am so thrilled you enjoyed this one!! Thanks os much for coming back to comment!
Second time to make this DELICIOUS dish! Today I toasted my tortillas first before assembling. I found it was more firmer that way. In my FOREVER saved recipes. TU!
Very good as is, not spicy. I like spice so added that later. Easy peasey.
Love this! I made one with refried beans and another with black beans. Both were delicious, but the black bean was not as easy to serve. Will definitely make this again.
Made this tonight and it was easy and so delicious! Adding the queso is a game changer.
just made this last night. It was so easy and really good. Had leftovers for lunch.
Thank you
This recipe is wonderful! So easy to put together after a work day and my family loves it! I have to make 2 because I like it leftover as well! Thank you!
I don’t have a round pan. can I use a pizza pan?
That will be too big. You could try to stack it as neatly as possible to make sure that it doesn’t spill out the sides
Hi Sharon, I use round cake pans for mine, but I make 2 taco bakes for my family.
Can you use tortilla chips instead of flour tortillas?
I haven’t tested that yet. If you give it a try, I’d love to know how it goes for you! 🙂
Easy to make and very tasty! I added black beans to each layer, served with Spanish style rice as suggested. We served it in quarters but it could be cut into 6 portions. I guess it depends who’s eating! Will make again. Thanks!
This is my go to week night dinner when I want good food but pressed for time. We LOVE this dish! It is truly one you never get bored with and can change it up seven ways to Sunday. Adding salsa, black beans, extra cheese ANYTHING goes with this dish. THANK YOU A MILLION TIMES THANK YOU!
This is an easy and delicious recipe. My family loved it. Will definitely make this again
Thanks so very much Gina! It means so much that you took the time to come back & comment!
this was my first time making dinner by my self and I had tortilla shells just laying around and this recipe caught my interest. this recipe was so good I am definitely going to be making it again soon it was so good that I made 2 of them for my family. it was really easy to make and didn’t take too much time at all.
Great job Heather!! Thank you so very much for taking the time to come back to comment – it really means so much!!
I like to spread refried beans on the tortillas .
I’ve done that before too – I love it!!
I add refried beans too
This is always very satisfying. Thanks for sharing!
Can I prep this in the morning to bake in the evening or will the tortillas get too soggy?
I prepped mine early today too so my fiancé can put it in the oven for him and the kids tonight as I have to work later. Hoping it will turn out good tonight for them and not soggy.
I’ve made this quite a few times already. It’s fast, delicious and easy clean up. So good! I’m making it again as I type!
Love hearing that Shauna! Thank you SO very much!
I forgot all about Pineapple Salsa! I can have that! So glad I saw your comment. Thank you!
Variation: I use Cotsco rotisserie chicken, with peppers, onions, salsa and fajita seasoning packet. 3 large burrito shells in a spring form pan. It’s a fan favorite and so simple and delicious! Thanks for sharing!
Can you use corn tortillas instead of flour?
I actually answer that question above in the post 🙂 You can – it’s not my personal preference but you can
This is so good & so quick & easy! It stores well & heats up fast in the microwave. I served it with seasoned black beans & a salad. Delicious!
Thanks so very much Holly! I always appreciate it when someone takes the time to come back and comment!
Instead of beef I used turkey and it came out great. I still followed all the directions but I added a little more queso to it.
Love that June – thank you!
easy to make, inexpensive
Making this for the third time delicous I just add a can of southwestern corn use the juice from the corn to add to to taco mix also add can of green chillis really perks it up a notch like all the recipes we have tried of yours Thanks Bob
Is hot today so we put together & cooked on the smoker … actually had 4 layers, used 2 lb beef . Served with olives, sour cream, tomatoes & avocado … this is a winner for us. Oh yea … little tequila on the side was perfect!
I never thought about the smoker!! Yum!! Thanks so much for coming back to comment!!
Turned out excellent, doubled the recipe and add a can of black beans,and put in 9×11 deep stoneware, covered for 30 minutes then uncovered for 15. Put shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sour cream, green onion, and jalapeno to garnish at table. Was a big hit for my teenage crew.
Made the taco layered bake for dinner this evening and it was delicious (despite me having to make my own taco seasoning and not having any salsa con queso!). It served 4 though not 6.
Thanks so very much Beth!!
Delicious! I added a can of rinsed and drained black beans. Cut neatly in 6 servings. I put out garnishes for guests to select.. onion, grated cheddar, black olives, sour cream, diced tomato, Avocado and shredded lettuce.