Healthy Taco Casserole

We lightened things up by using lean ground turkey and added plenty of beans and veggies for extra bulk, all while keeping that classic taco flavor. There's less cheese, but you won't even miss it! Serve this casserole over rice, wrap it in corn tortillas, or just scoop it up with some baked chips. Whatever sounds good!

This dinner is on the table in just 25 minutes and uses simple, easy-to-find ingredients. With 46 grams of protein per serving, it's not only easy, but it'll keep you full and satisfied all night!

Before You Get Started

A few quick tips to make this dish flow easily and hit all the right notes.

• Use 99% lean ground turkey (or another lean protein) so the bake stays light but still satisfying.
• Choose a thick, chunky salsa (rather than a thin one) so the casserole holds together instead of becoming watery. Swap in canned diced tomatoes or Rotel tomatoes.
• Drained beans and corn are key. Too much liquid = a less stable casserole.
• Make ingredient prep easier. Use frozen peppers and onions and/or frozen minced garlic cubes. Fresh corn, canned corn, or frozen corn can all be used. Use any kind of beans you like, including pinto beans, black beans, white beans, kidney beans, or refried beans.
• Your skillet or oven‑safe pan matters. A wide skillet helps everything blend neatly, then goes straight into the oven for finishing.
• Make your own taco seasoning. Instead of reaching for lots of different spices, taco seasoning is an easy way to add that Tex-Mex flavor with one spice blend. It contains chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt, and pepper.

How to Make Skillet Taco Casserole

Make this quick and easy taco casserole right in your skillet. One pan dinner for the win!

1. Brown the Turkey and Veggies

Start by heating a large, oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground turkey and cook, breaking it up as it cooks for 3-4 minutes.

Add the diced onions, peppers, and garlic. Continue to cook for 3-4 minutes until the turkey is fully cooked and the onions and peppers are softening.

2. Add Beans, Corn, and Seasoning

Add the drained beans, corn, tomato paste, and taco seasoning to the skillet. Give everything a really good stir and cook for about 2 minutes until everything is well combined. Taste the mixture and adjust the flavor as needed.

Then add the thick and chunky salsa (or drained diced tomatoes). Taste again and season with salt and pepper as needed. Some taco seasoning is very salty, so don't add salt until you have tasted the taco mixture.

3. Melt the Cheese and Add Toppings

Add a layer of shredded cheese on top and place the entire skillet in a preheated oven until the cheese is melted, bubbling, and slightly golden brown.

You can also melt the cheese on the stove top by covering the skillet for about 5 minutes, but it just won't get that golden brown, slightly crispy texture.

Let the casserole rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. Add all your favorite toppings and enjoy.

Make a Traditional Baked Taco Casserole (With or Without Rice)

The main difference between this recipe and a more classic taco casserole recipe is that everything is cooked in a skillet. Normally, casseroles are made in the oven, and many have things like rice, corn tortillas, or tortilla chips to make it a little heartier.

Here are some ways to turn this into a more traditional casserole.

1. Start by sauteing the onions, peppers, and garlic until it is soft. Add the turkey and brown it. Mix in the taco seasoning.
2. Spray a baking dish with cooking spray.
3. Start with your casserole base. This can be a layer of cooked brown rice, white rice, or quinoa. For a low-carb option, use a layer of cauliflower rice or spaghetti squash. For something more indulgent, add a layer of slightly crumbled tortilla chips. You could also add a layer of corn tortillas cut into triangles.
4. Mix the turkey mixture you already cooked with the beans, corn, salsa, and tomato paste. Make this the second layer of your casserole.
5. Add the cheese on top.
6. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes or until the sides begin to bubble. Remove the foil and cook for 10 more minutes until the cheese is bubbling.
7. Let cool for 5-10 minutes. Add all your favorite toppings and serve.

Serving Suggestions: Best Toppings!

Taco casserole has a long history, and almost all of it involves a boatload of fun toppings to bring this dish to life. Here are some popular choices.

Note - these aren't all healthy options. One more fun idea: make the casserole and set up a toppings bar for everyone to build their own.

• Lettuce: A layer of freshly chopped lettuce adds some nice crunch and breaks up the heaviness of the rest of the dish.
• Tomatoes: Another great chopped element is fresh tomatoes, or making homemade pico de Gallo for something fancier!
• Avocado or guacamole: It's hard for me to eat a taco without avocado, so I always add some chopped avocado or dollops of guacamole.
• Diced fresh jalapenos: For some extra heat, serve finely diced jalapenos on top or on the side. Leave the seeds in for extra heat.
• Black olives: For a salty element that will make you think of nachos, add some sliced black olives.
• Red onions: For some crunch, add some diced red onions or pickled red onions if you like them sweeter!
• Sour cream or Greek yogurt: For a creamy element, add dollops of light sour cream or plain Greek yogurt.
• Baked or regular tortilla chips: For crunch, serve crumbled tortilla chips with the casserole. It can be used as a topping for a pile of baked chips, as a dip, or just crumbled on top.
• Fritos: Although not the healthiest option, many people love to serve this with crunchy, salty Fritos.
• Doritos: Crumble just a few on top for an indulgent treat in moderation. You can also look for baked Doritos.

Leftovers, Storage, and Freezing

This dish freezes well. Simply store it in an airtight container in the freezer. Let it defrost overnight in the fridge and reheat in the oven or microwave.

Consider freezing it without the cheese if you plan on freezing it. Then add the cheese when reheating.