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Easy Cheesy Mexican Beef & Dorito Casserole

This Cheesy Mexican Beef & Dorito Casserole is the kind of meal that brings smiles around the table, is incredibly easy to throw together, and secretly uses everyone's favorite cheesy chip. Seriously, once you try this, it's going straight into your regular dinner rotation. It's nostalgic, fun, and just plain delicious comfort food!
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes

Equipment

  • Large skillet
  • 9x13 inch baking dish glass recommended

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground beef Any lean percentage works great here.
  • 1 packet taco seasoning
  • 0.5 cup water
  • 1 can Rotel (diced tomatoes & green chilies) drained
  • 1 can corn drained
  • 1 can cream of chicken soup
  • 0.5 cup sour cream
  • 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend Use your favorite blend!
  • 1 bag Nacho Cheese Doritos 9.75 oz, crushed
  • 0.25 cup chopped green onions optional

Instructions
 

  • First things first, preheat your oven to a cozy 350°F (175°C). Grab your favorite 9x13 inch baking dish – a glass one works great so you can see the layers!
  • In a large skillet (the bigger, the better!), toss in your ground beef. Brown it over medium heat, breaking it up as you go. Once it's all cooked through and nicely browned, carefully drain off any excess grease. We want flavor, not greasiness!
  • Now, sprinkle that glorious taco seasoning over the cooked beef. Pour in the water too. Give it all a good stir, bring it to a gentle simmer, and let it bubble away for about 5-7 minutes. You'll see the sauce thicken slightly, coating the beef beautifully.
  • Take the skillet off the heat. This is where the creamy magic happens! Stir in your drained Rotel, drained corn, the can of cream of chicken soup, and that lovely sour cream. Mix everything until it's well combined and looks rich and saucy. It should smell amazing already!
  • Time for the Doritos! Take about half of your gently crushed Doritos and spread them out evenly in the bottom of your prepared 9x13 inch baking dish. This is your crunchy base layer.
  • Now, spoon that wonderful beef mixture evenly over the layer of Doritos in the dish. Spread it out so it's a nice, even layer.
  • Sprinkle half of your delicious shredded Mexican cheese blend right over the beef mixture. This forms a gooey layer in the middle!
  • Layer the remaining crushed Doritos over the cheese. This is the top crunchy layer that gets toasted in the oven.
  • Finally, top everything off with the remaining shredded cheese. Make sure it goes all the way to the edges so you get that lovely cheesy crust!
  • Pop the dish into your preheated oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes. You'll know it's ready when the cheese is melted and bubbly and the casserole is heated through. The edges of the Doritos might get a little toasty – that's good!
  • Carefully take it out of the oven. If you're using them, sprinkle those lovely chopped green onions over the top before you serve.
  • Let it sit for just a minute or two before dishing it up. It will be hot, hot, hot!

Notes

Tips for Success:
- Don't pulverize the Doritos! You want chunks, not dust.
- Drain everything well (beef grease, Rotel, corn) to prevent sogginess.
- Don't overbake; remove when cheese is melted and bubbly.
Prep Ahead:
You can brown the beef and make the creamy mixture (steps 2-4) a day ahead. Store in the fridge. Assemble layers and bake as directed, adding a few extra minutes if starting from cold.
Storage:
Store leftovers covered tightly in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat individual servings in the microwave or cover the dish loosely with foil and reheat in a 350°F oven until heated through.
Freezing:
This casserole is not recommended for freezing as the Doritos tend to get soggy.