An easy dinner, serve a Taco Casserole with Fritos (Pedros Special)–a Mexican casserole baked with corn chips; served with taco toppings! 

Friends, if you’re reluctant to host, today I’m sharing an easy recipe for company: Pedro’s Special Mexican Casserole, otherwise known as Mexican Casserole with Fritos. Maybe your mama made it growing up like my mama made it :) I’m not sure where the name came from, but Pedro Special was on our menu rotation.

Taco Casserole with Fritos (Pedro’s Special)

This beef taco bake with fritos is a crunchy, cheesy ground beef taco casserole, made with kidney beans. It was a weeknight casserole, when I was a kid, and we always asked  for seconds.

taco casserole with toppings

Why we love this recipe

  •  It’s an easy and delicious one pan meal that everyone loves.
  • Think of your favorite taco toppings, and serve them with this taco bake.
  • Use this recipe as a dip, on a Chips and Dips board!

Pedro's Special Mexican Casserole

Pedro’s Special Mexican Casserole Ingredients

  • Meat: we use ground beef, but you can use ground turkey or chicken, too.
  • Olive oil
  • Sweet onion
  • Jalapenos
  • Tomato paste + water
  • Taco seasoning
  • Salt & pepper
  • Beans: we use kidney beans, but it’s also delicious with black beans, or pinto beans, or a mix.
  • Cheese: Mexican is the best!
  • Frito chips: we  buy Frito Lay Corn Chips, but we also love Trader Joe’s version.

Toppings:

  • Iceberg lettuce, finely chopped
  • Chopped fresh tomatoes
  • Olives: black, sliced
  • Sour cream
  • Avocados
  • Green onions
  • White onions 
  • Salsa + hot sauce
  • More Frito chips

Pedro's Special Mexican Casserole

How do you make a Mexican Casserole?

  1. In a large frying pan, heat the olive oil on medium heat. Saute the chopped onion and then add jalapenos (optional) if you want a “kick”.
  2. Add the ground beef. Cook until well done; drain off any fat.
  3. Add to the meat mixture the tomato paste, water, taco seasoning, and salt and pepper (season to taste).
  4. Place in a prepared (sprayed) large baking dish; add the cheese on top. Sprinkle with Frito chips.
  5. Bake until hot, and cheese is bubbly.
  6. Serve immediately with fresh ingredients: Finely chopped lettuce, tomatoes, olives, sour cream, avocados, and green onions or your favorite toppings.

Pedro's Special Mexican Casserole

Tips and substitutions:

  • Easy to double the recipe for a large gathering.
  • Swap out the groung beef for ground turkey or ground chicken.
  • Add several types of cheese: Mexican and Cotija.
  • Instead of iceberg lettuce, you can use a variety of (chopped) greens.

What I love about this dish is that you can bake the meat mixture, and while that is baking, get the toppings ready!

How do you serve a taco bake?

Everyone dishes up their own bowl, adds their toppings, and it’s super easy–and delish!

Thanks Mom!

Pedro's Special Mexican Casserole

Super easy entertaining tips

  • Plan something easy to serve your guests. Set out the ingredients, and let everyone dish up.
  • Don’t feel like you have to set the table (just make sure it’s cleaned off); simply pull up the chairs, and just be casual!
  • There’s a time and place for casual, and a Friday night just may be the night when you serve this dish!

Friends, make yours an entertaining style that allows connection, instead of stressing over what will go wrong, or worrying about the menu, your house being clean, etc.

Set the stress aside for the weekend, and ENJOY the people in your life!

Enjoy!

More Mexican casseroles:

Ground Turkey Olive Pasta Bake

Slow Cooker Taco Casserole [Well Plated]

Cheesy Low Carb Taco Casserole [Kalyn’s Kitchen]

Epic Walking Taco Board

Pedro's Special Mexican Casserole
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Get the Recipe:

Taco Casserole with Fritos (Pedro's Special)

An easy dinner, serve a Taco Casserole with Fritos (Pedro's Special)--a Mexican casserole baked with corn chips; served with taco toppings! 
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Total Time: 45 mins
Yield: 6
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Ingredients
 

  • 2 pounds ground beef
  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 large sweet onion, diced
  • 1-2 jalapenos, finely diced (optional, for a "kick")
  • 2 small cans tomato paste + 2 cans water
  • 2 Tbsp. taco seasoning
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 15 oz. Bush’s Kidney Beans, rinsed and drained
  • 2 cups Mexican cheese or sharp cheddar
  • 2 cups Frito chips

Toppings:

  • Iceberg lettuce, finely chopped
  • Chopped fresh tomatoes
  • Olive, sour cream, avocados, green onions

Instructions
 

  • In a large frying pan, heat the olive oil on medium heat. Saute the chopped onion for 4-5 minutes; add jalapenos (optional) if you want a "kick".  Add the ground beef. Cook until well done; drain off any fat.
  • Add to the meat mixture the tomato paste, water, taco seasoning, and salt and pepper (season to taste).
  • Place in a prepared (sprayed) large baking dish; add the cheese on top. Sprinkle with Frito chips.
  • Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes, until hot, and cheese is bubbly.
  • Serve immediately with fresh ingredients: Finely chopped lettuce, tomatoes, olives, sour cream, avocados, and green onions.
Cuisine: Mexican
Course: Main Course
Author: Sandy / Reluctant Entertainer
Did you make this recipe?Tag @reluctantentertainer on Instagram and hashtag it #reluctantentertainer!

taco casserole with fritos on top