Introducing our Taco Potato Casserole, a flavorful fusion of hashbrowns, seasoned beef, and vibrant taco spices. This easy-to-make dish combines the comfort of hashbrowns with the boldness of Mexican-inspired flavors, making it a perfect solution for busy nights or casual gatherings.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Taco hash brown casserole is a great option for busy families for several reasons.
Quick and Easy Preparation: This casserole recipe is simple to prepare and doesn’t require extensive cooking skills. It involves browning and seasoning beef then mixing in the other ingredients before pouring into a baking pan, making it a time-efficient meal. Older kids can also take on the responsibility of cooking this dinner recipe.
Make-Ahead Convenience: This casserole can be prepared in advance up to a day before then placed in the fridge until ready to bake. Plan to assemble during less hectic moments then simply bake when ready to eat. Keep reading for full make ahead instructions.
Versatility: This taco casserole recipe can be customized to suit various preferences. Simply adjust the ingredients based on what you have available or to accommodate any specific dietary needs. You can also take it a step further by customizing the toppings for all taste preferences.
This potato casserole with meat continuously offers a convenient, customizable and family friendly dinner option that is meant for families with busy schedules. Plus, leftovers taste just as amazing!
If you enjoy Mexican-inspired dishes, you must also try our Gluten Free Chicken Enchiladas, Beef Chimichanga Recipe, Oven Baked Chicken Tacos and Taco Dip with Ground Beef.
We are excited to partner with Pick ‘n Save and Metro Market, a store we’ve proudly supported for years. When shopping in-store or online for pickup, I find that their Kroger and Simple Truth brands ensure quality and savings, adding an extra layer of assurance for families. Create Kids Club values wholesome choices and delicious meals, and our collaboration creates an ideal platform for affordable, quality living.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef or ground turkey
- 1 medium onion diced
- 1 packet gluten-free taco seasoning
- 15 ounces diced tomatoes
- 10.5 ounce gluten-free cream of mushroom soup
- 4 ounce mild green chilies
- 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese, divided
- 15 ounces shredded hashbrowns
How To Make
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Brown the ground beef with the onion until cooked through. It is best to use thawed ground beef to promote even cooking and appetizing texture. Plan to set frozen ground beef in the fridge overnight to thaw.
Once fully cooked, stir in the taco seasoning. For simplicity, use a packet of taco seasoning, verifying the ingredient label for celiac safe ingredients. A homemade taco seasoning could be used if preferred.
Next, add the diced tomatoes (do not drain), cream of mushroom soup, green chilies, and 1 cup of shredded cheese. Stir well.
Add the hashbrowns and blend. Do not thaw the hashbrowns before incorporating into this potato taco casserole. Pour the entire mixture into the baking pan.
Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. To prevent the cheese from sticking, spray the foil with nonstick cooking spray then cover. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
How To Serve Taco Potato Casserole
This taco casserole recipe can be served alongside side dishes or topped with all your favorite taco toppings.
From a dollop of creamy sour cream and tangy salsa to chunky guacamole and fresh Pico de Gallo, you can also opt for any of the following:
- Black olives
- Diced red onions
- Cilantro
- Jalapenos
- Avocado slices
- Shredded lettuce
- Hot sauce
If side dishes are what you are looking for then we have you covered with Instant Pot Mexican Rice, Canned Corn Salad and Crockpot Refried Beans. Chips and salsa also make a great side option that is family friendly!
Helpful Tips
- Make ingredient swaps: Consider any of these variations based on preference or availability of ingredients. Replace the ground beef with ground turkey or chicken, the cream of mushroom soup with cream of chicken, diced tomatoes and green chilis with Rotel, Mexican shredded cheese with cheddar cheese or shredded hashbrowns with diced or cubed potatoes.
- Add vegetables to the mixture. Consider adding diced bell peppers, jalapenos or corn to the ground beef mixture for a boost of nutrients.
- Use an appropriate sized dish. You will want to choose a casserole dish that is large enough to accommodate all the ingredients and deep enough to prevent overflow. A 9×13 baking dish is the best dish to use in our opinion.
- Customize with toppings. Cheese is our go-to topping to add a cheesy layer that everyone loves. Adding another variety of shredded cheese, sauteed vegetables or your favorite taco topping is a great way to elevate this recipe.
- Let it rest. Allow the casserole to rest for a few minutes after removing from the oven. This helps the flavors meld together and makes it easier to serve. Plus, it gives the hashbrowns a few more minutes to soak up any remaining liquid and the cheese layer to fully melt.
Frequently Asked Questions
To make this meat and potato casserole in a crockpot, assemble as written then add to a crockpot instead of a baking dish. Cook on low for 4-5 hours or high for 2-3 hours.
Absolutely! Assemble the casserole, cover with foil then refrigerate it until you’re ready to bake. Just be sure to adjust the baking time accordingly since the ingredients will be chilled. We recommend increasing the total cooking time approximately 5 minutes then checking the center of the casserole with a kitchen thermometer to verify the temp. Casseroles should bake until the center has reached 165°F.
Yes, you can substitute diced hashbrowns for shredded. Be aware that the larger the potato pieces, the longer the casserole will need to bake.
Certainly, you can make a vegetarian version by omitting the ground meat and using a meat substitute. Crumbled tofu, black beans, pinto beans or another plant-based protein alternative are all options.
Nope! You can skip the step of thawing potatoes and instead add from frozen to the ground beef mixture once the meat is fully cooked. Thawed hashbrowns can result in a soggy casserole.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
- Allow the ground beef potato casserole to cool to room temperature before storing. If you still have a large batch left, consider diving it into smaller portions. This prevents the entire casserole from being reheated multiple times.
- Once cooled, transfer to airtight container(s). You can also cover the casserole dish with plastic wrap or aluminum foil if you plan to consume within 1-2 days.
- Store taco potato casserole in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
- If you want to freeze this casserole, wrap the casserole or divided portions in plastic wrap then place in a resealable freezer bag or container. Store frozen casseroles for up to 3 months.
- To reheat, place in a preheated 350°F oven until it’s heated through, and the internal temperature is 165°F. You can also microwave in 30-second increments until hot.
Kids In The Kitchen
Cooking tips and suggestions for kids making this recipe.
- Before you start cooking, divide the cheese into two 1-cup measurements. 1 cup will be stirred into the ground beef mixture and 1 cup will be added to the casserole as a topping at the end. You can store the 1 cup of cheese topping in the fridge until ready to use.
- Use a spatula to break apart any large chunks of ground beef when browning in the pan. This allows all the meat to cook evenly. Continue to cook the meat until it is no longer pink.
- While the meat is cooking, you can open the cans of tomatoes, green chilis and cream of mushroom soup. Be careful when using a can opener and always ask for help to ensure safety. Once opened, set the cans to the side until ready to use. Be sure not to drain the tomatoes as the liquid is needed for this casserole.
More Gluten-Free Casserole Recipes
- Crockpot Breakfast Casserole
- Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole
- Frozen Burrito Casserole
- Delicious Gluten Free Ham and Potato Casserole
- Cheeseburger Casserole
- Make-Ahead French Toast Casserole
CKC Features both Gluten-Free Guidance and Kids Cooking Instructions: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten or cross-contamination.
The ⭐️ symbol in the recipe below denotes the steps in which kid cooks may need a helper (depending on age). If there is no ⭐️ symbol, that step (or recipe) doesn’t require a helper.
Taco Potato Casserole
Equipment
- foil
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef or ground turkey
- 1 medium onion diced
- 1 packet gluten free taco seasoning
- 15 ounces diced tomatoes
- 10.5 ounce gluten free cream of mushroom soup
- 4 ounce mild green chilies
- 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese ✅ divided
- 15 ounces shredded hashbrowns ✅
Instructions
- Preheat the oven. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- ⭐️Brown the beef then add the other ingredients. Brown the ground beef with the onion until cooked through. Stir in the taco seasoning. Add the diced tomatoes (do not drain), cream of mushroom soup, green chilies, and 1 cup of shredded cheese. Stir well. Add the hashbrowns and blend. Pour into the baking pan.
- ⭐️Bake. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
Notes
-
- Sour cream
- Salsa
- Guacamole
- Pico de Gallo
- Black olives
- Diced red onions
- Cilantro
- Jalapenos
- Avocado slices
- Shredded lettuce
- Hot sauce
Nutrition
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