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We love tacos in our house – its the one dish my kids beg for over and over – and when I’m looking to change things up on taco night, there’s nothing better than my easy, cheesy, and totally delicious layered Taco Pie!
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At Sweet C’s, I add lots of tips in all of my recipes – because I am a home cook without any formal training, and I find I am more confident making dishes when I understand why it works, and what each ingredient means to the flavor of a recipe – my goal is for even the most beginner home cook to feel empowered in the kitchen.
I want each reader to walk away with a solid knowledge of each recipe, with all of the tips I’ve gathered from extensive testing of each recipe. I also answer questions my friends and family have asked about my recipes, to help everyone better understand the processes we use – and why!
Table of contents
Easy Layered Taco Pie
Made with 5 layers of hearty beef, crunchy corn kernels, salsa, taco seasoning and plenty of ooey-gooey cheese, this easy layered taco pie is going to be your new favorite Taco Tuesday recipe!
If you are looking for a way to amp up your Taco Tuesday, this is a great way to do that. The melted layers of this pie are so delicious and comforting. The best part about this recipe is itโs quicker to cut the pie into wedges for a simple, no-mess, no-fuss serving than it is to have everyone put together their own tacos. This layered taco pie is quick, easy, hearty, and delicious making it the perfect weeknight meal.
How To Make A Layered Taco Pie
This layered taco pie is easy, cheesy, and delicious, but it’s also made with simple ingredients that you can easily find at your local grocery store. Hereโs what youโll need:
- Ground beef– Like most taco recipes, this one requires ground beef. For a less greasy casserole, use leaner beef. Grass fed beef will give you the most flavor. If you want a healthier alternative, you can use ground turkey or shredded chicken as well.
- Onion– I like to dice my onion because I donโt like a mouth full of onion, but you can chop the pieces as big or as small as you like.
- Garlic powder– Taco seasoning adds a ton of flavor, but garlic powder dials up the savory goodness.
- Taco seasoning– You can use a packet of your favorite taco seasoning mix, or use 2-3 tablespoons of homemade taco seasoning if you have it. If you are in a pinch, you can use a tablespoon of chili powder and a teaspoon of cumin.
- Corn– Drain the liquid from your canned corn before you use it. If you only have frozen corn, youโll need to heat it up and then drain the liquid.
- Salsa– The possibilities are endless when it comes to salsa. Use any kind of salsa you like from mild to hot or anywhere in between.
- Tortillas– I use 8โ flour tortillas. You can substitute smaller or larger tortillas depending on the size of your baking dish.
- Shredded cheese– I use Mexican or Tex Mex cheese. You could also use cheddar or pepper jack.
- Garnishes– Sliced green onions, chopped tomatoes, cilantro, shredded lettuce, and sour cream are all optional garnishes.
Once youโve gathered all your ingredients, itโs smooth sailing from there. Follow the steps below for a delicious Taco Tuesday masterpiece!
- First, preheat your oven to 350?. Then spray your 8-inch springform pan with nonstick cooking spray and set it to the side.
- In a large skillet, cook your ground beef and onion until thereโs no pink left in the meat. Drain the excess fat when done.
- Add garlic, taco seasoning, water, corn and salsa to the meat. Cook for an additional 5-minutes.
- Next, place 1 tortilla in the springform pan. Then, layer it with 1 cup of the meat mixture and sprinkle ยฝ cup of cheese.
- Add another tortilla on top and continue layering your pie until youโve used all 5 tortillas. Finish your pie with the remaining cheese.
- Bake the layered taco pie for 20-minutes.
- Let your pie cool for about 10-minutes before removing it from the springform pan.
- Finally, cut, garnish, serve and enjoy!
Tips and Tricks to Perfect Layered Taco Pie
Choose the Right Crust: Use a store-bought pie crust, crescent roll dough, or even a tortilla for an easy base. For a crunchy twist, crushed tortilla chips or a layer of pre-baked corn tortillas work well too.
Season the Meat Well: Use taco seasoning or a homemade blend (chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder) for bold flavor. Donโt forget to taste and adjust as you cook.
Drain the Meat: After browning ground beef or turkey, drain off excess grease to prevent a soggy crust or base.
Layer Thoughtfully: Start with meat, then cheese, beans, and any other ingredients (like corn or diced tomatoes) to evenly distribute flavors and textures.
Prevent a Soggy Bottom: Sprinkle a layer of shredded cheese or crushed tortilla chips on the crust before adding the meat to act as a barrier against moisture.
Customize the Filling: Add layers of refried beans, black beans, corn, diced green chilies, or sautรฉed onions and peppers for extra texture and flavor.
Cheese is Key: Use a blend of cheeses like cheddar, Monterey Jack, or pepper jack for gooey, melty goodness. A layer of cheese on top ensures a bubbly, golden finish.
Add a Kick: If you like spice, mix in diced jalapeรฑos, a dash of hot sauce, or spicy taco seasoning.
Bake Until Golden: Bake at 375ยฐF (190ยฐC) until the crust is cooked through and the cheese is melted and bubbly (usually about 25-30 minutes).
Let It Rest: Allow the taco pie to cool for 5-10 minutes after baking. This helps the layers set, making it easier to slice and serve.
Top It Off: Add fresh toppings after baking, such as shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sliced avocado, black olives, green onions, or fresh cilantro.
Serve with Sides: Pair your taco pie with sour cream, salsa, guacamole, or a drizzle of taco sauce for extra flavor.
Make It Gluten-Free: Swap the crust for a gluten-free tortilla, corn tortillas, or a layer of crushed corn chips.
Make It Ahead: Assemble the taco pie in advance and refrigerate it, then bake it fresh when ready to serve. You can also freeze an unbaked pie for up to 3 months.
Reheat Properly: For leftovers, reheat in the oven at 350ยฐF (175ยฐC) to maintain a crispy crust. Avoid microwaving, as it can make the crust soggy.
Double It for a Crowd: Use a large casserole dish instead of a pie pan to scale up the recipe and make it easier to serve for parties or family dinners.
Get Creative: Try swapping the ground beef for shredded chicken, ground turkey, or a plant-based meat substitute for variety.
Add Crunch: Serve with tortilla chips on the side, or sprinkle crushed chips over the top before baking for added texture.
Taco Pie Variations
If you love this easy taco casserole, try some other variations for a flavor you love! This recipe is easily customizable – just like our Chicken Enchilada Pie.
Classic Ground Beef Taco Pie
- Base: Crescent roll dough or pie crust.
- Filling: Ground beef seasoned with taco seasoning, black beans, and corn.
- Toppings: Shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and sour cream.
Chicken Taco Pie
- Base: Tortillas layered in a casserole dish.
- Filling: Shredded rotisserie chicken mixed with taco seasoning, cream cheese, and salsa.
- Toppings: Guacamole, green onions, and sliced jalapeรฑos.
Vegetarian Taco Pie
- Base: Corn tortillas or crushed tortilla chips.
- Filling: Refried beans, black beans, sautรฉed bell peppers, onions, and zucchini.
- Toppings: Fresh cilantro, diced avocado, and hot sauce.
Spicy Chorizo Taco Pie
- Base: Puff pastry or pie crust.
- Filling: Cooked chorizo, diced tomatoes, corn, and shredded cheese.
- Toppings: Sliced jalapeรฑos, chipotle crema, and pickled onions.
Tex-Mex Taco Pie
- Base: Crushed tortilla chips.
- Filling: Ground beef, diced green chilies, pinto beans, and a blend of cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese.
- Toppings: Pico de gallo, sour cream, and shredded lettuce.
Breakfast Taco Pie
- Base: Hash browns or a crescent roll crust.
- Filling: Scrambled eggs, crumbled sausage, diced bell peppers, and cheese.
- Toppings: Salsa, avocado slices, and chopped green onions.
Fish Taco Pie
- Base: Tortillas layered in a pie pan.
- Filling: Flaked, cooked white fish (like tilapia or cod) with lime, taco seasoning, and shredded cabbage.
- Toppings: Avocado crema and fresh cilantro.
Pulled Pork Taco Pie
- Base: Crushed tortilla chips or tortillas.
- Filling: Pulled pork, barbecue sauce, and black beans.
- Toppings: Coleslaw or fresh avocado slices.
Vegan Taco Pie
- Base: Crushed tortilla chips or corn tortillas.
- Filling: Plant-based ground meat, black beans, corn, and vegan cheese.
- Toppings: Vegan sour cream, guacamole, and fresh salsa.
FAQs
For this recipe, you donโt want the temperature too high because you want the cheese to melt, but not burn while baking. The best temperature for this recipe is 350?.
It will take you about 20-minutes to cook the ground beef and layer the pie. Then, it will take an additional 20-minutes of bake time. So, this easy layered taco pie can be ready to devour in just 40-minutes.
Absolutely! You can make it vegetarian or use another protein instead like canned beans or refried beans. If you want to make it vegetarian, you can use your favorite veggies like mushrooms, onions, and peppers.ย
No, you donโt. I liked the springform pan because it came out beautifully and made it easy to assemble. If you donโt have a springform pan, you could use a 9X9 casserole dish, a round, or a square baking dish.
If you donโt have salsa, donโt worry, it wonโt make or break the recipe. You could substitute a can of Rotel, or a can of tomatoes and a chopped green bell pepper instead.
Layered taco pie can be stored in an airtight container in your refrigerator for 3-4 days. Additionally, you could wrap it in plastic wrap, place it in a Ziploc freezer bag, and store it in the freezer for up to 3-months.ย
What To Serve With Layered Taco Pie
With additional toppings like sour cream, lettuce, tomatoes, or guacamole, this pie is a meal in itself. But, you could also add some tasty side dishes to your menu if you like. Black Bean Salad, One Pot Mexican Risotto, or Sriracha Cheese Grilled Corn would all be delicious sides with this layered taco pie.
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Layered Taco Pie Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 onion, chopped
- ยฝ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 envelope taco seasoning
- ยผ cup water
- 1 12 ounce can corn, drained
- 5 8 inch flour tortillas
- 1 ยฝ cups salsa
- 2 cups mexican or tex mex cheese, shredded (pre-shredded is fine)
- Garnish with sliced green onions, chopped tomatoes, cilantro, shredded lettuce, sour cream
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare an 8-inch springform pan by spraying it with nonstick spray.
- Scramble fry the ground beef with onion in a large skillet on medium-high heat. Cook until there is no pink left in the meat then drain the excess fat. Add the garlic, taco seasoning, water, corn, and salsa. Cook for another 5 minutes.
- Place one tortilla in the springform pan.
- Layer on about 1 cup of meat mixture. Sprinkle on ยฝ cup of cheese. Create layers of tortilla, meat mixture, and cheese until youโve done 4 full layers. Finish with the 5th tortilla and top off your pie with the remaining cheese.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.
- Allow the pie to cool for about 10 minutes before removing from the springform pan and cutting. Or you may serve it directly from the pan.
Notes
- I liked the springform pan for this recipe because it came out beautifully and made it easy to assemble but you could do the same in a 9X9 casserole dish. Also, You can easily use 2 packets of taco seasoning in this if you really like flavor!ย
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.