Description
This Beefy Potato Taco Casserole is an easy and flavorful crockpot recipe combining seasoned ground beef, tender potatoes, creamy cheeses, and zesty salsa. Perfect for a hands-off dinner that yields a comforting, cheesy casserole with a Mexican twist.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Seasonings
- 1 lb lean 96/4 ground beef
- 1 oz taco seasoning packet
Vegetables
- 2 large russet potatoes (about 24 oz total), peeled and diced
- 1 medium white or yellow onion, diced
- Green onion for topping
Dairy and Sauces
- 1/2 cup (113 g) fat-free cottage cheese
- 1/2 cup (128 g) queso cheese dip
- 1 cup (112 g) lite shredded Mexican cheese, divided (3/4 cup for mixing, 1/4 cup for topping)
- 1/2 cup (120 g) salsa
Instructions
- Prepare Potatoes and Onion: Peel and dice the russet potatoes into your preferred shape—cubes, small dice, or slices. Dice the onion and set both aside.
- Cook the Ground Beef: Heat a skillet over medium heat and add the ground beef. Cook for a few minutes, then stir in 1/2 cup salsa and the taco seasoning packet. Mix well and continue cooking the beef until fully cooked through about 5 minutes, allowing some pinkness to remain.
- Combine Ingredients in Crockpot: Place the diced potatoes, diced onion, cottage cheese, queso cheese dip, and 3/4 cup shredded Mexican cheese into the crockpot. Then add the cooked ground beef mixture to the crockpot and stir everything together thoroughly.
- Add Topping Cheese: Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup shredded Mexican cheese evenly over the top of the mixture in the crockpot.
- Crockpot Cooking: Cover the crockpot and cook on high for 4 hours until the potatoes are tender and cheeses are melted and combined.
- Garnish and Serve: After cooking, chop some green onion and sprinkle it on top as a fresh garnish. Serve warm and enjoy your hearty taco casserole.
Notes
- Cottage cheese adds creaminess and protein without overpowering flavor; substitute with cream cheese or cheddar cheese soup for similar texture.
- Ground turkey or chicken can replace beef for a lighter version.
- Some liquid may appear after cooking due to cheese oil runoff; this will settle as the dish cools.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
