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Layers of tortilla chips or Doritos, ground beef, salsa and cheese make this Nacho Casserole a delicious and quick dinner recipe that the whole family will love! Add your favorite toppings like sliced green onion, guacamole, or chopped tomatoes, for a hearty meal that’s ready in about 30 minutes. You just can’t beat easy casseroles for busy weeknights!
Easy Casserole Recipes are Perfect for Busy Evenings
Yes — this nacho casserole makes it easy and acceptable to have cheesy chips and ground beef for dinner! The recipe is simply a combination of all of the best nacho ingredients — including tortilla chips, cheese, salsa, sour cream, and any other delicious add-on’s — baked together in one cozy dish. Customize the toppings to suit your tastebuds and enjoy a simple and hearty Mexican feast!
Nacho Casserole Ingredients
This is a quick overview of the simple ingredients that you’ll need for the best nacho casserole recipe. As always, specific measurements and complete cooking instructions are included in the printable recipe box at the bottom of the post.
- Ground beef: the meat that bulks up the casserole filling. You can substitute with ground chicken or ground turkey if you prefer.
- Onion: for savory flavor.
- Chunky salsa: a necessary component for classic nacho flavor in the casserole filling.
- Corn: a great way to add some flavorful vegetables to the casserole.
- Sour cream: for a tangy, creamy contrast to the rich meat and crunchy chips.
- Chili powder and salt: seasonings that give the dish some zippy, zesty flavor.
- Tortilla chips or Doritos: coarsely crushed for the perfect salty, crunchy topping.
- Shredded cheddar cheese: layered inside the casserole and on top for that gooey, melty, cheese pull that we all love with classic nachos.
How to Make Nacho Casserole
You only need a handful of basic ingredients for this dish. Let’s get started!
First, prepare the ground beef mixture with the meat, onion, salsa, corn, sour cream, chili powder and salt.
Then start layering the ingredients in the casserole dish, starting with half of the meat on the bottom, followed by a layer of crushed chips and a layer of cheese.
Repeat the layers one more time, ending with the remaining cheese on top.
Bake the casserole in a 350°F oven for about 20 minutes, or just until the cheese is melted and everything is heated through. Garnish with your family’s favorite toppings, and serve!
What to Serve with this Easy Tortilla Chip Casserole
Mexican-inspired easy casserole recipes go well with any of these sides:
- A simple green salad dressed in a cool Buttermilk Dressing
- Healthy and Easy Corn Salad or Corn and Black Bean Salad
- Tortilla chips with salsa and guacamole
- Pico de Gallo
- Ranch style beans, refried beans, or seasoned black beans
- Rice
And don’t forget the toppings! Here are a few nice ways to garnish your casserole:
- Sliced olives
- Diced avocado or guacamole
- Sliced green onion or diced red onion
- Sour cream
- Fresh cilantro
- Chopped tomatoes
- Salsa
Preparation and Storage Tips for Nacho Casserole
- Prep ahead! You can assemble this casserole up to 1 day ahead and keep it covered in the refrigerator until ready to bake.
- You can also assemble the casserole in advance, wrap it tightly, and keep in the freezer for up to 2 months before baking. Thaw the casserole in the refrigerator overnight and then bring to room temperature on the counter for at least 30 minutes before baking according to recipe instructions.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
How to Reheat Easy Casserole Recipes
Cover the dish loosely with foil to avoid excess browning. Warm in a 300°F oven for about 20 minutes, or just until heated through. You can also reheat individual portions in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
Recipe Variations
- Substitute ground turkey or ground chicken for the ground beef.
- Season the filling with taco seasoning instead of the chili powder and salt, if desired.
- Use Nacho flavored Doritos instead of the plain corn tortilla chips.
- Spread a couple of layers of refried beans in the casserole dish as well.
- Any grated cheese will work. I’ve used cheddar here, but you can use Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack (for some kick!), or a Mexican blend.
- For a healthy nacho casserole, use extra lean ground beef, low-fat cheese and light sour cream.
Tips for the Best Nacho Casserole Recipe
- Garnish the casserole with your favorite fresh taco toppings for the best flavor and texture. Good options include fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped green onions or minced red onion, chopped lettuce, sour cream, diced avocado, halved cherry tomatoes, or sliced black olives.
- Keep a close eye on the casserole as it’s baking. Since all of the ingredients are cooked through, it only needs about 20 minutes in the oven for the cheese to melt. The chips should be lightly toasted, but not burned. If the top starts to get too dark before the rest of the casserole is warmed through, just tent the top loosely with foil.
- To serve a larger family, double all of the ingredients and prepare the casserole in a 9 x 13-inch dish. The rest of the cooking instructions remain the same.
More Easy Casserole Recipes to Try
Love casseroles as much as we do? Try any of these easy options for more meal ideas:
Chicken Casserole Recipes
- Chicken Enchilada Casserole
- Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole {with cream of chicken soup}
- Easy Chicken Casserole with Ritz Crackers
- Chicken and Rice Casserole with Cream of Mushroom Soup
- Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Casserole
Easy Ground Beef Casserole Recipes with Few Ingredients
- Easy Stuffed Bell Pepper Casserole
- Taco Bake Casserole
- Tater Tots Cowboy Casserole
- Baked Ziti with Sausage
- Shepherd’s Pie
Side Dish Casseroles
- Sweet Potato Casserole
- Broccoli Rice Casserole
- Green Bean Casserole
- Easy Squash Casserole Recipe
- Easy Hash Brown Casserole Recipe
- Aunt Bee’s 3-Ingredient Cheesy Baked Potato Casserole
Nacho Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 lb. lean ground beef
- ½ cup chopped onion
- 12 ounces chunky salsa
- 1 cup frozen corn kernels
- ½ cup sour cream, at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups crushed tortilla chips or Nacho flavored Doritos, divided
- 1 cup grated cheddar cheese, divided
- Optional toppings: chopped tomatoes, additional sour cream, guacamole or avocado, sliced green onion, sliced olives, sliced jalapeno pepper, chopped iceberg lettuce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 2-quart baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
- Brown the meat and onion in a skillet until the meat is no longer pink. Drain. Stir in salsa, corn, sour cream, chili powder and salt.
- Place half of the meat mixture in the bottom of the prepared dish. Add 1 cup of crushed chips, then ½ cup of grated cheese. Repeat the layers one more time.
- Bake, uncovered, for 20 minutes (or until heated through and cheese is melted). Garnish with optional toppings.
Notes
- Prep ahead! You can assemble this casserole up to 1 day ahead and keep it covered in the refrigerator until ready to bake.
- You can also assemble the casserole in advance, wrap it tightly, and keep in the freezer for up to 2 months before baking. Thaw the casserole in the refrigerator overnight and then bring to room temperature on the counter for at least 30 minutes before baking according to recipe instructions.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
- Substitute ground turkey or ground chicken for the ground beef.
- Use Nacho flavored Doritos instead of the plain corn tortilla chips.
- Spread a couple of layers of refried beans in the casserole dish as well.
- Any grated cheese will work. I’ve used cheddar here, but you can use Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack (for some kick!), or a Mexican blend.
- For a healthy nacho casserole, use extra lean ground beef, low-fat cheese and light sour cream.
- To serve a larger family, double all of the ingredients and prepare the casserole in a 9 x 13-inch dish. The rest of the cooking instructions remain the same.
I made it for lunch and we finished it for dinner! It was delicious!
Wonderful! Thanks, Susan!
It really looks delicious. I want to do the same. Thanks.
Awesome! Enjoy, Mardin!
Loved making this today. I did substitute Doritos with Tostitos. Thank you.
Great! Thanks, Michelle!
Thinking about trying this with ranch doritos for a twist.
We would love to know how it turns out, Kathryn!