Slow Cooker Ground Beef Taco Casserole - Wholesomelicious (2024)

This Slow Cooker Ground Beef Taco Casserole is guaranteed to be a new family favorite! The layered taste of flavorful ground beef with black beans and veggies is perfectly spiced with bursts of tang. No need to brown the ground beef before tossing it into the slow cooker. This true set it and forget it meal is very hands off and comes together in less than 4 hours!

Without fail we make tacos every week. Sometimes it’s my Shredded Salsa Verde Chicken in the Instant Pot, my Ground Turkey Tacos, or just ground beef in the skillet. But for those long days when I know we are getting home later than expected, the crockpot is here to save me! This set it and forget slow cooker meal was a number one request when I asked for recipe suggestions for the fall. You all are feeling the need to make meals ahead of time!

Reasons You will Love this slow Cooker recipe:

• You don’t brown the beef before placing in the slow cooker! One of my favorite things about this recipe is that it will cook great without having to do this step. A true dump crockpot recipe!
• The prep time is so simple because we can dump in other ingredients that don’t require a lot of chopping.
• It’s loaded with protein and fiber! As a nutritionist, I am looking for recipes that are filling for my teenage kids. The addition of black beans, corn, tortilla chips, and ground beef allow this recipe to be satiating.
• The leftovers are great! My kids packed in their lunchbox the next day for a nutritious and filling lunch.
• It’s customizable to your needs. You can substitute the beans, add your own toppings or your favorite salsa to make it deliciously satisfying.

Ingredients to make Slow Cooker Ground Beef Taco Casserole

Here are the ingredients you will need:

• Ground beef: I use 85/15, but feel free to use a lean ground beef, or ground turkey as a substitute in this recipe.
• Taco Seasoning: I made this super simple by buying a store-bought taco seasoning. There are several good brands, but my personal favorites are Trader Joe’s and
• Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes: Use one can of diced tomatoes here to add flavor to our taco meat.
• Apple Cider Vinegar: I always add a few tablespoons to my taco recipes. It allows the flavors to pop with some tang! Trust me on this one.
• Black beans: I use a can of black beans that are drained and rinsed. You can also substitute with kidney beans or pinto beans.
• Frozen corn: I find frozen organic corn to be a simple addition that is also cost efficient.
• Salsa: I used salsa verde, but I’ve also made with red salsa as well! Find your favorite store bought salsa or you can always try my recipe for the BEST Salsa Ever!
• Tortilla chips: this is an important ingredients. They will soften in the crockpot, but they provide that taco tortilla flavor you are looking for. I buy Trader Joe’s Restaurant style corn tortilla chips that are gluten-free with minimal ingredients. They add so much to this recipe!
• Cheese: A Mexican blend of cheese or cheddar cheese works perfectly here.

The easiest dinner to make!

Making this recipe does require a few steps, but I promise they are so simple! The first thing you will do is add the raw ground beef with taco seasoning, diced tomatoes, and apple cider vinegar to the crock pot. Set the crockpot to high for 2 hours or low for 4 hours.

You will then stir in the beans, corn, salsa, tortilla chips, and half the cheese. Mix around, then top with remaining cheese. Put the lid back on and cook on high for 15 -30 minutes or until cheese is melted!

Add all of your favorite toppings!

Serving and Storing

This is the fun part of making this dish. Before serving, add the fun toppings. A few of my favorites are sliced avocado, fresh tomatoes, bell pepper, red or green onion, cilantro, guacamole, jalapeños, sour cream, and more salsa. Serve hot!

You can store this dinner in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Gently re-heat in the microwave or place in a baking dish and reheat in the oven for a more crispy texture.

Other Slow cooker dinner recipes you will love!

• Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa
• Mexican Street Corn Soup
• Pulled BBQ Chicken