• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Restless Chipotle

  • Blog
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Meal Plans
  • Video
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Blog
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Meal Plans
  • Video
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Blog
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Meal Plans
  • Video
×

Home » Recipes » Casserole Recipes

Easy Beef Taquito Casserole Recipe (Lazy Enchiladas)

Published: May 3, 2023 Last Updated: May 12, 2023 by Marye 1452 words. | About 8 minutes to read this article.

Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
25 minutes mins
Deliciously cheesy beef taquito casserole is loaded with great Tex-Mex flavor, make-ahead, & super easy! Use frozen beef taquitos, your favorite enchilada sauce, and plenty of cheese.
A fork picking up a bite of casserole and a long string of cheese pulling away from the plate. Title text overlay for Pinterest.

Don't want to scroll through the page to get to the recipe? Use the table of contents to click on the section you want to go to.

Overhead view of the casserole.
Jump to:
  • ❤️ Why you'll love it
  • 🧾 Ingredients
  • 🔪 Instructions
  • 🥫 Storage
  • 📖 Variations
  • 💭 Things to know
  • 👩‍🍳 FAQs
  • 📚 Related recipes
  • 🍽️ Serve with...
  • 📞 The last word
  • Taquito Casserole
  • 💬 Comments

❤️ Why you'll love it

  • Effortless prep is a much-needed break on busy nights
  • Turns a simple snack into a delicious dinner the whole family will love
  • A standalone dish—it only needs sides if you want 'em

Taquito casserole is sometimes nicknamed "lazy enchiladas" because it packs so much flavor into a super easy dinner recipe. When you're craving Tex-Mex-inspired food, grab that box of crispy taquitos from your freezer and prepare to enjoy!

🧾 Ingredients

This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.

Labeled ingredients for this recipe.

🔪 Instructions

This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page.

Step by step images showing how to make taquito casserole.
  1. Line casserole dish with taquitos.
  2. Cover with sauce.
  3. Add the chiles, onions, bell peppers, and olives. Bake.
  4. Remove from oven, add cheese, and bake for a few more minutes.

🥫 Storage

A family favorite like taquito casserole doesn't usually leave many leftovers. However, if you have extra, the dish reheats pretty well.

Store any extras right in the casserole dish, covered well with plastic wrap. You can also spoon the taquitos into an airtight container to save room in the fridge.

Refrigerate the leftovers for three to four days, warming them in the microwave until hot again. Cover the plate or bowl with a paper towel, because the enchilada sauce will splatter!

I don't recommend freezing leftovers, since the taquitos were frozen once already (Freezing food more than once tends to make it dry and yucky). However, according to the USDA it is safe to refreeze cooked food as long as it didn't sit at room temperature more than an hour or two.

The casserole in a glass dish with a serving removed showing the layers in the interior.

📖 Variations

  • Don't like beef taquitos? Simply use chicken taquitos instead!
  • If you prefer a vegetarian meal, you can use bean and cheese taquitos.
  • Spread some refried beans or black beans on the bottom of the baking dish (before adding the taquitos) to make the meal stretch!
  • Feel free to use your favorite kind of enchilada sauce. This homemade red enchilada sauce is worth the extra few steps, but you could use a store-bought red or green variety, as well.
  • Don't like it spicy? Use a mild enchilada sauce.
  • On the other hand, amp up the heat by stirring in some jalapenos along with the green chilies. You can also add your favorite hot sauce to taste.
  • Stir in some whole-kernel sweet corn if you have a jar or frozen bag waiting to be used up.
  • Out of Pepper Jack? Monterey Jack, cheddar cheese, or a Mexican cheese blend will taste great in its place. Or, you can get a little fancy with some crumbly Mexican queso fresco! Yum!

💭 Things to know

Expert Tip: Go ahead and use frozen taquitos straight from the freezer. This casserole is actually better if you don't let them thaw before baking.

  • Store fresh cilantro and green onions in mason jars with a little water in the bottom (like a vase of flowers.) It'll last much longer in the fridge!
  • You don't really need to grease the dish with cooking spray—the enchilada sauce prevents anything from sticking.
  • Though you'll find enchilada sauce in the Mexican foods section of the grocery store, taquitos are usually near the frozen snacks.
  • Place the taquitos in a single layer to promote nice, even cooking.
  • You can prepare taquitos casserole in advance. Cover the dish tightly and freeze until you're ready to bake. (Baking may take a few more minutes from frozen.) Just be sure to let a glass baking dish warm up before putting it into a hot oven.

👩‍🍳 FAQs

What are taquitos?

Taquitos are small, rolled tortillas, filled with beef or chicken. They're generally fried to crisp, golden-brown perfection. They make a great snack after school activities, and, now, an awesome dinner, too!

Does this taquitos casserole need toppings?

Nope, it doesn't need anything. However, we like to add our favorite taco toppings, like sour cream, shredded lettuce, green onions, and diced tomatoes. Feel free to add your favorite toppings or keep it simple on a busy weeknight. It's good either way.

What do you serve with taquitos casserole?

If you're trying to make the meal stretch, take a note from your favorite Mexican restaurant: you can't go wrong with chips and salsa! You can also serve the dish with some white rice or Mexican corn. See below for more ideas!

A plate with the casserole on it and a bite being removed with a fork.

📚 Related recipes

  • Slow Cooker Chicken Enchiladas are a fun, quick twist on the classic Mexican dish. Prep is easy and the flavor is out of this world!
  • Affordable, delicious, and so hearty, Beef Enchilada Casserole uses a layered tortilla method—no messy rolling or filling required!
  • Buttery crescent rolls shine when paired with satisfying taco flavors. This Crescent Roll Taco Bake is simple, cheap, and addicting!
  • Square feature image for this post - an overhead view of the casserole with a serving removed.
    Old Fashioned Tuna Casserole
  • Closeup of the top of the casserole in a dish for featured image.
    Southern Eggplant Casserole
  • Closeup of a serving spoon filled with the casserole for the recipe's feature image.
    Mom's Easy Salisbury Steak Casserole in 30 Minutes
  • Side view of a serving of casserole on a fork with gooey cheese.
    Leftover Pizza Breakfast Casserole

🍽️ Serve with...

  • Honeydew Salsa is light and tangy, with just enough spice to make a Southern family happy. It's a fabulous addition to any Tex-Mex meal.
  • Frito Corn Salad has so much flavor and texture, you won't even feel as if you're eating a salad!
  • Mexican Hot Chocolate Cupcakes are a fun spin on the authentic sweet and spiced chocolate treat. They're a hit after any Mexican dish!

📞 The last word

When I need a good, easy meal that my family loves I reach for this recipe. The ingredients are basically pantry or freezer based so I can have all the ingredients I need anytime I want to make it.

And... it's... so... good.

If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!

If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Square image of a casserole in a dish with a serving removed for the feature image.
5 from 1 vote

Taquito Casserole

Print Pin Recipe Save Go to Collections
Prevent your screen from going dark
Deliciously cheesy beef taquito casserole is loaded with great Tex-Mex flavor, make-ahead, & super easy! Use frozen beef taquitos, your favorite enchilada sauce, and plenty of cheese.
Course Main Dish (Quick and Easy)
Cuisine American - Southwest
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
Servings:8
Calories:383
Author:Marye Audet-White
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Equipment Needed

  • Casserole Dish

Ingredients

  • 22.5 ounces beef taquitos, frozen - no need to thaw
  • 31 ounces enchilada sauce, two 15.5-ounce cans
  • 2 cups pepper jack cheese, or monterey jack for milder version
  • 4 ounces black olives, drained and sliced
  • 4 ounces green chiles, drained and diced
  • ½ cup onions and bell peppers, diced - you can get the mix in the produce department or get the frozen ones.
  • 5 green onions, sliced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped, optional

I earn a commission from Instacart from qualifying purchases.

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 425°F.
  • Spray baking dish with no stick cooking spray.
  • Arrange taquitos in a single layer in a 13-inch by 9-inch baking dish and cover evenly with enchilada sauce.
  • Add the olives and drained chiles.
  • Bake casserole for 15 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and sprinkle with the cheese.
  • Return to oven and bake 5 to 10 more minutes, or until the temperature is 165F when you stick an instant read thermometer in the center of the casserole.
  • Remove from oven.
  • Garnish green onions and cilantro.

Notes

Storage:
Store any extras right in the casserole dish, sealed with plastic wrap. You can also spoon the taquitos into an airtight container to save room in the fridge.
Refrigerate the leftovers for three to four days, warming them in the microwave until hot again. 
I don't recommend freezing leftovers, since the taquitos were frozen once already (Freezing food more than once tends to make it dry and yucky). However, according to the USDA it is safe to refreeze cooked food as long as it didn't sit at room temperature more than an hour or two.
Tips:
  • Go ahead and use frozen taquitos straight from the freezer. This casserole is actually better if you don't let them thaw before baking.
  • If you're going to use the taquitos frozen make sure you put them in a freezer to oven-safe dish. If in doubt use aluminum instead of glass.
  • Store fresh cilantro and green onions in mason jars with a little water in the bottom (like a vase of flowers.) It'll last much longer in the fridge!
  • Though you'll find enchilada sauce in the Mexican foods section of the grocery store, taquitos are usually near the frozen snacks.
  • Place the taquitos in a single layer to promote nice, even cooking.
  • You can prepare taquitos casserole in advance. Cover the dish tightly and freeze until you're ready to bake. (Baking may take a few more minutes from frozen.) Just be sure to let a glass baking dish warm up before putting it into a hot oven.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 383kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 82mg | Sodium: 1445mg | Potassium: 279mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1081IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 240mg | Iron: 3mg

Sign up for the emails and never miss another recipe!!

    We'll never share your email or send you spam. Pinkie swear.

    More Best Casserole Recipes

    • A serving of lasagna being taken from the casserole dish.
      Easy Lasagna Classico
    • Overhead view of the casserole with pepperoni on top/
      Meat Lover's Tater Tot Pizza Casserole
    • Closeup of this pasta dish in a pan with a serving spoon in it.
      One Pot Chicken Alfredo with Peas
    • Serving of Ground Beef Dorito Casserole on white plate.
      Ground Beef Dorito Casserole
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    About Marye

    With a 40 year focus on the importance of family and a passion for southern comfort food, Marye Audet-White is an expert in melding the two together effortlessly. Marye's a NY Times Bestselling author with 10 cookbooks under her belt and her recipes have been featured in Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Today, House Beautiful, Texas Living, Food & Wine, and many more.

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Love it? Give it 5 stars!




    Primary Sidebar

    Marye Audet-White, founder of Restless Chipotle Media

    Hey Y'all, I'm Marye.

    NY Times bestselling author. 10 cookbooks. Mom of 8 kids. Homeschooling mom for 22 years. Addicted to Hallmark Christmas Movies.

    More about me →

    Father's Day

    • Closeup of a finished hamburger in a bun.
      Retro Lipton Onion Soup Burger (Vintage Recipe)
    • Overhead view of a skillet of baked beans with a spoon in it.
      Dr Pepper Baked Beans
    • A collage of side dishes that go with hamburgers.
      What to Serve with Hamburgers
    • Close up of chicken breast that's been grilled.
      Awesome Grilled BBQ Chicken Breast Wrapped in Bacon
    • Closeup of a bright red cocktail in a clear glass.
      Alabama Slammer Cocktail
    • Closeup of blackberry cobbler with a spoon in it.
      Old Fashioned Southern Blackberry Cobbler Recipe

    👑 Reader Favorites

    • Square overhead of chicken for feature image.
      Crockpot Angel Chicken
    • Close up of the sauce showing the creamy texture.
      Copycat Red Robin Campfire Sauce Recipe
    • Wooden spatula removing fried potatoes out of iron skillet.
      How to Make Crispy Fried Potatoes
    • Blue cocktail with a red and white straw.
      Sex in the Driveway: Bright Blue Cocktail

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • About Marye Audet-White
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility Policy
    MaryeAudet Whiteandherchildren Dec

    Featured in:

    Companies that Marye Audet-White and Restless Chipotle have been affiliated with.

    Contact Marye

    • Contact

    My new blog for bread bakers:

    Love baking bread? Click here to check out my new blog!

    Logo for breadcrumbs in the butter blog.
    Check out my new blog!

    Copyright ©2006 - 2023 Restless Chipotle Media, LLC