Description
This Beefy Potato Taco Casserole is an easy and hands-free crockpot recipe that combines seasoned ground beef, tender russet potatoes, and a blend of creamy cheeses for a comforting, flavorful meal perfect for any day of the week.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Seasoning
- 1 lb lean 96/4 ground beef
- 1 oz taco seasoning packet
- 1/2 cup (120 g) salsa
Vegetables
- 2 large russet potatoes (about 24 oz total), peeled and diced
- 1 medium white or yellow onion, diced
- Green onion for topping
Cheese
- 1/2 cup (113 g) fat-free cottage cheese
- 1/2 cup (128 g) queso cheese dip
- 1 cup (112 g) lite shredded Mexican cheese, divided (3/4 cup for mixing, 1/4 cup for topping)
Instructions
- Prepare Potatoes and Onion: Peel and dice the russet potatoes to your preferred size and dice the medium onion. Set both aside.
- Cook Ground Beef: Heat a skillet over medium heat and add the ground beef. Cook for a few minutes, then stir in 1/2 cup salsa and the taco seasoning packet. Continue cooking for about 5 minutes until the beef is cooked through but may still be slightly pink.
- Assemble in Crockpot: Add the diced potatoes and onions to the crockpot. Then add the cottage cheese, queso cheese dip, and 3/4 cup of shredded Mexican cheese. Mix briefly to combine.
- Add Beef to Crockpot: Once the beef finishes cooking, add it to the crockpot and stir everything together well. Top the mixture with the remaining 1/4 cup shredded Mexican cheese.
- Cook: Cover the crockpot and cook on high for 4 hours until the potatoes are tender and the cheese is fully melted and incorporated.
- Garnish and Serve: After cooking, chop green onions and sprinkle on top before serving to add a fresh, mild onion flavor.
Notes
- Cottage cheese adds creaminess and extra protein; for substitution, use cream cheese or cheddar cheese soup for similar texture, but avoid Greek yogurt or sour cream as they alter flavor and consistency.
- This casserole works well with any ground meat, such as ground turkey or chicken, for a lighter alternative.
- Some liquid may appear in the crockpot after cooking, which is normal and comes from cheese oil runoff; it settles as the dish cools.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
