Easy Layered Taco Bake (+Video)
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.
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
- taco seasoning
- water
- flour tortillas (8-inch size)
- salsa con queso
- shredded Mexican cheese blend
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?
Originally published: August 2013
Updated 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
- 3 (8-inch) flour tortillas (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
- Serve with sour cream and diced tomatoes on top, if desired.
- Use as little or as much cheese as you like.
- 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.
it was G R E A T the kids loved it .Thank u for sharing
Delicious, quick and easy. Add ons are easy to substitute in as well
Oh my gosh sooo good. And easy to throw together. Thank you!!
I am looking forward to trying this. I’m wondering if you have ever tried adding in a hard shell for the crunch.
Can I do this without using cheese
Do you mean the queso too? Because that is a cheese product. If so, then no.
We love Tacos
I made this recipe using Great Value Salsa Con Queso and found it to be salty. I would like to try this recipe again but use a different brand of Salsa Con Queso. Has anyone found a lower sodium brand?
I use On the Border brand and it does not taste salty at all.
I agree in using the On The Border Salsa Con Queso. It’s perfect in this delicious recipe!
I’m jealous – I can’t find that brand near me! 🙁
Easy and family loves it!
Thanks SO very much Sage!
This was so good. Like dirty nachos in pie form. I added 2 extra layers filled with a can of refried beans & green chilies. All of my monsters wanted seconds.
I love that description – ha! Thank you so very much Teryn for taking the time to come back and comment!
This recipe is sooo good and easy. I did use your homemade taco seasoning and
followed the recipe exactly. Thanks for the great and easy recipe.
this was just perfect to use the taco meat & pico we had from leftover from Taco Thursday, I did a layer of refried beans under the beef. I topped with shredded green leaf lettuce, pico, sour cream and Yellowbird blue agave sriracha & it was PERFECT!
Tried this last night and my Husband loved it. Next time I will try it with queso. I used regular salsa in my ground meat mixture and my Husband devoured it. He said this is his all time favorite Taco Tuesday meal.
My only change is to cook the tortillas in a skillet till crispy, before layering. Yummy!
Great idea! Trying this soon!
Love it! going to spread some refried beans on the tortillas first……
Great idea Ramona!
This is a leveled up taco. A must try! Thanks for this!
Tried this the way it was written, we really liked it. My family said to make more layers next time, we are going to double it this time.
I made this last night for my PICKY family and I mixed in the Knorr taco rice and refried beans…
THEY LOVED IT!!!
My 9 year old who doesn’t like anything, ate a huge portion!
I’ll be making this again!!!
I have searched high and low for a recipe my husband would like. He likes this one, because I added refried beans to the layers. So, on the layered tortillas, I add some refried beans, then the meat, then the cheese. He loves it!!! Wish I could post a picture!