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RECIPE: Taco Bake Casserole

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This has quickly become a staple in our home.  It is easy and the boys love it.

The combination of tacos and macaroni and cheese in this Taco Bake Recipe is perfect for any child’s palate!

No worries about sharp and crunchy chips, just delicious Tex Mex flavors.

Easy Taco Bake Recipe

Specialty Ingredients:

The following ingredients are affiliate links on Amazon because they may be a bit hard to find in your normal store.  I wanted you to be able to see exactly which things we are using.

Kraft Deluxe Macaroni & Cheese Dinner

Taco Seasoning Mix – or make your own following this great Homemade Taco Seasoning recipe from Crystal and Comp

Think N Chunky Salsa

For your next Taco Tuesday, blow the minds of your family.  Switch things up from plain Tacos and serve this delicious Taco Bake  recipe!

Taco Bake Recipes for Dinner

Make it  Meal:

Fresh Guacamole

Simple Carrot Salad

Southwestern Steak Fries

Virgin Sangria

Chocolate Reese’s Peanut Butter Brownies

I got this recipe from a Kraft Foods recipe and changed it just a hair for my family… we like more cheese than they called for and we love the 5-cheese mexi mix.

Guess what… this taco inspired casserole freezes very well.  So, you could make a few of them and stash them away until your next busy evening!

Delicious Tex Mex flavors in this casserole for Taco Tuesdays

More Delicious Taco Recipes:

Asparagus Tacos

Impossibly Skinny Taco Pie

Over 55 Unique Taco Inspired Recipes

Tacos for breakfast?  Yes, please!  This recipe from Crystal and Comp is sure to delight those taco-loving family members of yours!

Tender Instant Pot Tilapia Lime Tacos

Easy Taco Inspired Casserole

What are good toppings for taco-inspired dishes?

Toppings are an important factor in creating the perfect taco-inspired dish. For those who want to maximize that all-important ‘taco’ flavor, cooking and topping with classic ingredients like cilantro, lime juice, red onions, and jalapeños is a must.

If spices are more your thing, chili powder, cumin, oregano, and paprika can add a nice kick.

To top it off (literally!), shredded cheese, sour cream, and guacamole can be sprinkled over the finished dish. Pico de gallo (chopped tomatoes, onions, and cilantro) or salsa are also among the classic choices for taco toppings; if you want something different though, roasted corn or black beans may be worth exploring.

Whatever toppings you choose, however, make sure they enhance your dish’s taste by adding some crunch or creaminess. With such an array of options at hand, there’s no reason every taco-inspired creation shouldn’t be a mouthwatering success!

What type of prep work can be done before cooking meals?

Before cooking a meal, it is important to engage in the prep work necessary to produce an excellent result. Such prep work often includes stocking one’s pantry with the ingredients needed to make the desired dish, taking out and measuring any spices or seasonings that are to be used, chopping vegetables and herbs or portions of meat if necessary, and preheating ovens.

Before actually beginning the physical act of cooking, any steps that could occur should be undertaken beforehand for foods to be cooked swiftly and efficiently.

Additionally, it is essential to ensure that one has all of their cooking tools ready, such as mixing bowls, colanders, spoons, ladles, and cutting boards, as forgetting even one item can slow down the process considerably.

Preparing one’s kitchen and resources prevents needless delays during what should be an enjoyable experience!

What are simple tips to make a dish spicy?

Incorporating spicy flavors into your dishes is easy with a few simple tips. First, it’s important to remember that spiciness comes from the capsaicin in peppers, so using ingredients like jalapeños or cayenne pepper will help kick things up quickly.

For a smoky flavor, consider adding smoked paprika or even chipotle peppers. Additionally, when adding these ingredients, start small and gradually increase the amount until you achieve the desired heat level.

Finally, ensure the balance is maintained by incorporating complementary ingredients such as sour cream or yogurt, which can cool off a dish if it becomes too hot.

With this knowledge and a little culinary creativity, you’ll be able to spice up any dish easily!

Delicious Tex Mex flavors in this casserole for Taco Tuesdays

Taco Bake Casserole

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Tacos and Mac & Cheese combine to make this a perfectly kid friendly and mom approved recipe!

Ingredients

  • 1 pkg 14 oz Kraft Deluxe Macaroni & Cheese Dinner
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 pkg Taco seasoning mix
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 3/4 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar
  • 1/2 cup shredded Mexican cheese mix
  • 1 cup Thick N Chunky Salsa

Instructions

    Preheat oven to 400 F. Prepare mac & cheese as directed on package. Brown beef and drain while mac & cheese is cooking. Add taco seasoning to meat and simmer 5 minutes.


    Stir sour cream into prepared Dinner. Spoon half of the Dinner mixture into 8 inch square baking dish; top with layers of meat mixture, cheddar cheese and remaining Dinner.


    Bake 15 minutes. Top with salsa and Mexican Cheese. Bake, uncovered, an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 356Total Fat: 23gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 78mgSodium: 579mgCarbohydrates: 16gFiber: 1gSugar: 4gProtein: 22g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

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Amanda

Tuesday 18th of July 2017

Wow...that looks delish! I would have never thought of using mac & cheese – thank you for linking up to last weeks Creative K Kids' Tasty Tuesday don't forget to link up to this weeks, if you haven't done so already!

Miz Helen

Tuesday 18th of July 2017

Our family will love your Taco Bake Recipe! Thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and come back to see us real soon! Miz Helen

Hil

Monday 17th of July 2017

I love Mexican food!

Thanks for sharing at #bloggerspotlight

Nicole

Monday 17th of July 2017

Taco bake sounds like a delicious family dinner recipe. Thank you for sharing it with us at the #HomeMattersParty this week.

Christine

Tuesday 11th of July 2017

Looks delicious!

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