Description
The Best Taco Pie is a hearty and flavorful layered dish combining seasoned ground meat, melted cheddar cheese, crunchy corn taco shells, refried beans, and salsa, baked to perfection. Easy to prepare, customizable, and crowd-pleasing, it’s a comforting meal perfect for family dinners or gatherings, with delicious leftovers that taste even better the next day.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Filling
- 1 lb ground beef or turkey (lean)
- 1 packet taco seasoning (or 2 tbsp homemade blend of chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, paprika)
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup water (for simmering seasoning)
Layers
- 1 can refried beans (about 15 oz)
- 8–10 crunchy corn taco shells (crumbled or broken into pieces)
- 1 cup salsa (fresh or jarred)
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Optional Toppings
- Sour cream
- Chopped fresh cilantro
- Sliced jalapeños
- Diced tomatoes
- Avocado slices or guacamole
Instructions
- Prepare the Meat Filling: Heat a skillet over medium heat and sauté chopped onions and minced garlic until fragrant, about 2-3 minutes. Add the ground beef or chosen protein and cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain any excess fat. Stir in taco seasoning and water, then simmer the mixture until thickened, about 5 minutes.
- Assemble the Layers: Grease a pie dish. Spread a layer of refried beans evenly on the bottom. Crumble or break taco shells to cover the beans uniformly. Spoon half of the cooked meat mixture over the shells, then spread half of the salsa on top. Sprinkle with one cup of shredded cheddar cheese. Repeat layering with remaining taco shells, meat, salsa, and finish with the remaining cheese on top.
- Bake Until Bubbly: Place the assembled pie into a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbling, and the edges of the taco shells turn golden and crisp.
- Add Fresh Toppings: Remove the pie from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes. Top with your choice of sour cream, chopped cilantro, diced tomatoes, sliced jalapeños, avocado slices, or guacamole for extra freshness and flavor.
Notes
- Use fresh taco seasoning, homemade or store-bought, for bold, consistent flavor.
- Layer taco shells evenly to maintain crunch and avoid overcrowding.
- Do not overbake; bake only until cheese melts to keep shells from becoming soggy.
- Let the pie rest for 5 minutes after baking for easier slicing.
- The recipe is versatile—swap proteins or use vegetarian/vegan alternatives as desired.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/6 of pie)
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: taco pie, layered taco bake, easy family dinner, Mexican casserole, ground beef recipe, gluten free taco dish, crowd-pleaser, make ahead meal