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?
- Crock Pot White Queso Dip
- Taco Rice
- Copycat Taco Bell Mexican Pizza
- Easy White Chicken Enchiladas (For Two)
- Crock Pot Taco Meat
- Crock Pot Taco Soup
- Taco Bubble Up
- White Chicken Enchiladas
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.
My daughter likes to take the left over shells and put peanut butter and jelly on them and make a sandwich at first I was like I don't think that would be good but it wasn't to bad at all
This looks delicious. Definitely some beautiful inspiration. I think I will try it this weekend but with corn tortillas. I have issues with flour ones. I liked someones comment that they added refried beans. This also brings back memories of my mom making "Mexican lasagna" when I was little. She layed the flour tortillas, seasoned ground beef, cheese, salsa and crushed corn tortilla chips.
This was a hit with my whole family! I doubled it the first time I made it and then tripled it tonight with several more layers so I had enough to feed all of the hungry kiddos and have leftovers for lunch too. Of course, I had to put it into a different container to make sure it didn't spill over the sides as I baked it. I also had to make the servings much smaller because it was much higher. It sure is filling! Thanks for coming up with this recipe!
I just made this tonight, and it was delicious!! Thanks so much!!!
Your family is going to LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this! I messed up first time and forgot to add taco spice. It was delicious anyway!!! Then I made it with, also delicious! It is sooooo easy and cheesy! Yum, yum good!
Here's how good this is. I totally forgot to put in the taco spice. It was in the oven and I saw it sitting on the counter! Oh no! Haha. It's so good, it was delicious anyway!!! Maybe tomorrow I will try again with taco spice!
This is SO good, made it tonight! I added refried beans to each layer, between the ground beef and the cheese (1 can). I served it with avocado slices. Awesome!!
This looks super good and simple. Gunna try it tonight. As a single mom of 3 I am always looking for yummy fast and easy recipes for the kids so that I can maximize the time we have together. They usually help in the kitchen as well so I think that this will be super easy for them to help with. Cant wait to try it.
I've made this a few times now and love it every single time!
Can I use corn tortillas instead of flour? I'd love to make this, but I have celiac disease and can't have flour shells.
Thanks!
Thank you so much for this recipe. Just made it tonight for the first time. I lined a springform pan with parchment paper which worked really well. My family absolutely loved it! Toppings served on the side were sour cream, salsa, lettuce, diced tomatoes and cilantro. Delicious! Kids and husband have already requested I make it again soon. That's a huge deal, especially coming from my 16 year old who is picky and hard to please.
It was a hit at my house! I added some refried beans to each layer and made my own cheese sauce because I forgot to buy some. I just used 8" tortillas and used my round cake pans. ( made 2, one for hubby and I and one for my daughter to take home for dinner as she was in the middle of a kitchen remodel) . I'm making it again tonight at my husband's request.
I make something a lot like this I add a can if refried beans to the meat. (Taste good and also helps it go alil further). And I add regular mild salsa.may add a layer. First time i made it fo my 6 yr oldstep son he looks at it anf says hee don't like it. I told him this is dinner and its all time till breakfast so he ate nearly half of it. Now when he's with us he asks for "that stuff he don't like".
This looks good I bet green, red and yellow peppers would look good and taste good in this.
Just made this tonight. I remember the boxed kit I used years ago, and now that I live in China, I have to come up with ways to recreate those boxed favorites from home. I was lucky enough to have what I needed in stock at a local import shop. I whipped up a batch for my taco-loving family of 4. At first, my 7 year old could not get past tacos being served like pie, but I would say that her requesting a second piece confirms it is amazing. 🙂 My 6 year old loved it from first bite, and the empty pan left by my husband shows that its a winner all around. I made a second batch and froze it for when I go out of town, AND they are requesting a second pan just in case. 🙂 Thanks for posting- looking forward to trying your Mexican pizza and some of your other goodies you have posted. I am on the lookout for some bisquick mix- that blueberry coffee cake u posted is calling my name. 🙂
I have made this twice now and each time was a hit!!!! I have 3 very picky boys when it comes to anything casserole-like; but this they LOVE!!
Mary
spezzab2be@aol.com
I plan on making this tonight. I was thinking since I don't have a springform pan I'm planning on using a 8" foil pan then when I'm ready to cut it I'll take a pair of kitchen shears and cut down the sides and peel the sides down. I have done this with cheese cake reciepes.
Brandi, can you think of any reason I couldn't use a small-ish pie plate, as long as the tortillas reached the edges of the glass?
Just made this tonight for dinner and it was a hit. Even my picky little girl loved it and asked if I could make it again. Thank you for the recipe!
I made this for my family.We loved it.I added it to my Blog and Facbook page with a link back.Thank you so much for this great recipe.
Made this last night! Made a few changes…..fried the tortillas first and added a layer. Having fried the tortillas first also cut the baking time to 10 minutes. I also added olives to the top. Served it with sourcream and green onions. It was FANTASTIC! Will make again and again. And very easy!!!
Made this and it was a hit with everyone in my family. Even my picky eaters. Gonna have to double it next time so everyone can have 2nds. So yummy!
ive seen people ask about freezing this. im curious as well. once frozen, do u bake from frozen, if so how long? or thaw & bake? if so how long? thanks for any help!
I have made this recipe a few times now. Love it everytime! YUM!
I made it again too! It's on my monthly menu rotation! LOVE IT!!