Biscuits are coated in taco sauce then topped with spiced ground beef and lots of cheese in this family friendly Taco Casserole.
Give me all the taco flavored meals!! As much as I love tacos on Taco Tuesday, I’m also game to have my taco in other forms, like this Taco Casserole! Also check out this Taco Pie or this Taco Skillet – two more great weeknight dinner ideas.
I have a lot of recipes here on Taste and Tell. But my favorite thing is when I get comments or emails from readers who have made and loved a recipe. This recipe is one that has gotten some great feedback. My entire family will actually eat this taco casserole, which is a miracle in and of itself. My husband and I couldn’t help but go back for seconds. It may not win any beauty contests, but your family will love it!
Ingredients
- Taco Sauce: There are several different brands of taco sauce, ranging from mild to hot. Just choose one that you like (the flavor really comes through) and a spice level appropriate for your family. I usually go with a medium spice level and it’s perfect for us.
- Canned Buttermilk Biscuits: Years ago, when I first started making this, I used the smaller 12-ounce cans of biscuits. But the bigger 16.3-ounce cans are much easier to find and they work just as well. In fact, I think my kids like it better with the bigger biscuits!
- Shredded Cheese: This can be any melting cheese that you like. I usually use a mix of cheddar and mozzarella or a colby jack.
- Sliced Olives: I know people either love them or hate them, so if you are one that dislikes olives, you can easily leave these out.
- Ground Beef: I like to go for a leaner ground beef so that I don’t have to worry about draining the fat.
- Bell Peppers: I use both red and green, but you could easily just use one or the other, or a different color altogether!
- Mushrooms: The same as the olives above, if you aren’t a fan of mushrooms, they can easily be left out.
- Cumin & Chili Powder: I use these two spices, but you could use taco seasoning, or any other Tex-Mex/Mexican spice you’d like.
- Cilantro: I love adding in some fresh cilantro when I serve this. And a dollop of sour cream doesn’t hurt, either!
How to Make Taco Casserole
Make sure to scroll down to the recipe card below for the full instructions and printable recipe card.
STEP 1: Cut your biscuits into 4 pieces. You could cut them smaller, but I feel like fourths is the perfect size.
STEP 2: Pour the taco sauce into your baking dish, then add the biscuits. Turn the biscuit pieces over in the sauce to coat them
STEP 3: Add half of the cheese and the olives to the dish, then place this into the oven to bake for 15 minutes.
STEP 4: While the biscuits are baking, make your taco filling by cooking ground beef, peppers and mushrooms along with some cumin and chili powder. You want to cook this until your vegetables are soft and your ground beef is cooked through.
STEP 5: Remove the casserole dish from the oven. The biscuits will be puffed up and cooked at this point.
STEP 6: Sprinkle the ground beef mixture over the top, then add the remaining cheese. Place this back in the oven to bake until the cheese is melted and everything is heated through.
Taco Casserole Video
If you want to see how this taco casserole is made, you can watch the video above. Or watch it on YouTube down below in the recipe card.
Tips and Tricks
- This can be made ahead of time and then placed back in the oven to heat back up. I would suggest covering it with foil to prevent it from drying out.
- I haven’t tried freezing this, but I’m guessing it would make a great freezer meal!
- This taco casserole is really easy to change up according to what you like. Add more vegetables or take some away. Add more spices, or change up the listed spices. It’s a great starting place.
- Feel free to top this with any toppings you would like. We used to do just cilantro, but have been adding sour cream and my family loves that. But sliced avocados, fresh diced tomatoes, or jalapenos would also be great!
Storing and Freezing
Leftovers should be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. They should be good for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave or in the oven at 350ºF. If reheating in the oven, keep it covered to reduce the chance of it drying out.
You can freeze this casserole, as well. Prepare up to right before the last bake, then let it cool completely before freezing. It’s easiest in a freezer safe aluminum pan, but any freezer safe casserole dish will work. Let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight before baking.
More Tex-Mex Favorites
Beef Enchilada Casserole
Tamale Pie
Chicken Tamale Casserole
Baja Fish Tacos
Shrimp Fajitas
Chicken Chimichanga Recipe
White Chicken Enchiladas
Southwest Egg Rolls
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Taco Casserole
Ingredients
- 16 oz. taco sauce
- 16.3 ounce can buttermilk biscuits*
- 8 ounces shredded cheese**
- 2.25 oz canned sliced olives, drained
- 1 pound ground beef
- ¼ cup red bell pepper chopped
- ¼ cup green bell pepper chopped
- 8 oz mushrooms sliced
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- chopped cilantro for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400ºF. Lightly grease a 13×9 inch baking dish. Spread taco sauce evenly over bottom of dish.
- Separate dough into biscuits. Cut each biscuit into 4 pieces. Place biscuit pieces in hot sauce, turn to coat. Sprinkle biscuits with half of the cheese and the olives. Bake for 15-18 minutes.
- In a large skillet, combine ground beef, peppers, mushrooms, cumin and chili powder. Cook until ground beef is cooked through.
- Sprinkle the ground beef mixture over the baked biscuit mixture. Top with the remaining cheese. Bake an additional 5-7 minutes, until cheese is melted. Serve topped with chopped cilantro, if desired.
Kayla says
Did you use fresh or canned mushrooms?
Deborah says
I used fresh mushrooms.
Pamela Taylor says
I made it last night and it was delish!!! Only things I did differently were to add onion to the burger browning step and omit the cilantro at the end. I kept the olives cold and used them with chopped tomatoes and iceberg lettuce as a taco topper for each serving. I will make this again. And I shared it with a lot of people on Facebook to try! Thanks for a good one!
Lisa says
This looks yummy making it tonight but I’m adding lettuce and tomatoes after it’s done, to make a taco salad. Thanks for the great ideas.
Walter says
Have you considered printing the posts from people that “actually” made this recipe. Ooh, this looks good, I got to try this, my family will love it, I have it pinned, These comments don’t do a thing for people considering making this recipe. I’d like to see honest reviews to decide if I want to maake this, if it needs changes, or if its a disaster.
Courtney says
Found this recipe interesting, just wondering as to what kind of taco sauce are yu referring to! The powder or liquid sauce ?
Deborah says
It is a liquid – you should be able to find it in the Mexican section of the grocery store.
Elizabeth says
Thank you so much for this recipe. I made it for supper today and my husband said it was fantastic! Will make it again for my grownup kids when they come over for supper…it’s quick and easy.
sheri says
Hi, I wanted to make this but I do not know what Taco Sauce is. Do you mean hot sauce? Please help!!
Deborah says
It is different than hot sauce – you can usually find it in the Mexican section at the grocery store. It is labeled at taco sauce – here is one brand: http://www.amazon.com/Victoria-Red-Taco-Sauce-Mild/dp/B000O9RJSI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1435647295&sr=8-1&keywords=taco+sauce&pebp=1435647305659&perid=03RTMXGBQE0RDCRMS4MQ
Chandra says
This looks so yummy! Just wondering what you mean my taco sauce?? …taco seasoning..? thanks!
Deborah says
Nope – it’s a condiment called taco sauce. You can find it in the Mexican food section at the grocery store. It is a liquid.
Suzyq says
made this for supper tonight and it was wonderful, I added an onion to it and salt pepper and garlic and served it with sour cream. I would defiantly cook it again.
Shawn says
I made this tonight for my family and they all loved it. i also added onions yum:)
MIKE says
I’D ADD SHRIMP/PRAWN TO THIS DISH.
M. Reese says
I made this last night….it’s soooooo good! I used ground turkey instead of beef and added onions. The hubby loved it too!
Deborah says
I’m so glad you loved it!!
Chels R. says
This sounds amazing! I cannot wait to try this one out!
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says
Biscuits in a taco ground beef taco mixture?! oh my goodness, I love this!!
Melanie @ Carmel Moments says
That looks phenomenal Deborah! Totally putting on the menu.
Pinned.
Happy Monday!
cheri says
Love all the different layers of this dish, sounds delicious!