What does a walking taco mean?

As the name implies, it's basically a taco that you can eat while you're walking! In the Midwest, these are a classic staple at the concession stand of any softball/baseball/football game so chances are if you grew up playing sports (or watching them) you grew up eating walking tacos! They've got all the classic tacos fixings piled high inside a bag of Fritos. In recent years, Doritos have also crossed the threshold into walking taco territory becoming a new favorite among the younger generation.

Are walking tacos a Midwest thing?

Yes! The term walking taco (AKA traveling taco) was a term coined in the Midwest. They are enjoyed across the US but are called different things depending on the region you're in. In the southern states, you may hear it called a Frito pie while on the west coast they are sometimes called pepper bellies.

Easy Walking Taco Casserole Recipe

Ingredients

Scale

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 white onion, diced
6 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 lb. ground beef
1 (15 oz.) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 tablespoon chili powder
2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon oregano
1/2 cup restaurant style salsa
8 oz. shredded cheese
3 cups Fritos
1 cup shredded lettuce
1 cup diced tomato

Garnish:

sliced green onion
sliced jalapeno
sour cream
fresh chopped cilantro
taco sauce
sliced black olives

Instructions

Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium high heat.
Add onion along with a couple pinches of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently for 4 minutes.
Add garlic, chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, dried oregano, and a couple pinches of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently for 30 seconds or so.
Add raw ground beef and cook, crumbling with a spatula until cooked through.
Stir in salsa and black beans.
Cover taco meat with cheese and bake, uncovered, for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
Add a layer of Fritos, then a layer of lettuce, then a layer of tomatoes.
Garnish with sour cream and sliced jalapeno and enjoy!

Equipment

large saute pan

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Notes

Depending on what percentage of fat is in the ground beef you use, you may end up with a bit of excess grease at the bottom of the casserole. Using a lean ground beef will mean less grease overall, but keep in mind that fat equals flavor! I prefer to use an 80/20 ground beef for maximum flavor, and then use a slotted spoon to drain the excess grease. Also, remember fat doesn’t make you fat and it’s not the enemy!
Feel free to switch up the ingredients you use in this taco casserole recipe! You could add corn, use ground turkey instead of beef, or garnish with sliced green onions! Use what you’ve got in the pantry or fridge!

Author: Kylie
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Main Dish
Method: Stove Top + Oven
Cuisine: Mexican/American

Nutrition

Serving Size:
Calories: 360
Sugar: 2 g
Sodium: 592.8 mg
Fat: 17.9 g
Saturated Fat: 7.2 g
Carbohydrates: 24 g
Fiber: 5.6 g
Protein: 26.1 g
Cholesterol: 67.7 mg