Taco Pie is the perfect easy family dinner. Seasoned ground beef, tortillas, refried beans, and melty cheese come together to create a hearty, sliceable meal the whole family will love. This is a simple, satisfying dinner that's perfect for busy weeknights but still feels fun enough for taco night.
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Why you will love this recipe
- Completely Customizable - This taco pie is easy to make your own. Add extra jalapeños for heat, swap the ground beef for turkey, and add black olives. You can create the version perfect for your family.
- Easy to prepare - With simple ingredients and quick layering, this recipe comes together fast!
- A Family Favorite - This was a fun twist for taco Tuesday at my house. It's fun, filling, and perfect for a fun dinner together.
- Tested Around Our Table - We have tried about every variation of this recipe, and it turns out absolutely delicious every time.
★★★★★
"We had fun with this taco pie! We topped it with Valentina's hot sauce and I even had enough for work the next day." - Judy
What is Taco Pie?
Taco pie is a layered, baked dish that brings together all the flavors of classic tacos in an easy, sliceable casserole. Instead of filling individual taco shells, the ingredients are stacked in layers, then baked until bubbly.
Once the taco pie comes out of the oven, it is topped with fresh favorites like guacamole, sour cream, and cilantro. The result is a hearty, flavor-packed dinner that is easy to serve and perfect for family taco night.
Tim's Tip: Warm the refried beans for a moment before assembling the pie. This makes them much easier to spread as the first layer.
Ingredients
- Tortillas - To create the crust that holds this pie together!
- Ground Beef - The hearty base for flavor.
- Taco Seasoning- Check out our taco seasoning that I love to keep on hand.
- Onion - Brings extra savory flavor to the pie.
- Refried Beans - A creamy layer to help bind the pie together.
- Salsa - Fresh and zesty flavor.
- Shredded Cheese - The gooey layer (and what's a taco without cheese)
- Tomatoes - Bright and Juicy
- Green Onion - A mild onion flavor and a fresh crunch.
- Jalapeño - A little heat (and totally optional)
- Guacamole - Creamy and rich
- Sour Cream - A cool balance to the spicy filling.
- Cilantro - A bright finish if you love it.
Scroll down to the recipe card for exact ingredient amounts.
How to make Taco Pie
- Preheat the oven to 375°f
- Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart as it cooks. Drain any grease. Stir in taco seasoning and onion. Continue cooking for about 1 minute, just until the onion begins to soften.
- Place tortillas in the bottom of the pie plate to form the base (you might need to trim to get them to fit). Spread the refried beans evenly over the tortillas, and add the seasoned beef.
- Top with an additional tortilla. Bake for 10- 15 minutes, or until the top tortilla begins to brown lightly.
- Remove the pie from the oven and sprinkle with salsa, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, green onion, and jalapeño.
- Return to the oven and bake for another 5 minutes until the cheese is melted.
- Let the taco pie cool for about 5 minutes before slicing.
- Garnish with guacamole, sour cream, and fresh cilantro before serving.
Made this recipe? Let me know!
Substitutions and Variations
One of the best things about taco pie is how easy it is to customize based on what you have on hand or your family's preferences.
- Use Corn Tortillas - if you prefer a more traditional taco flavor, corn tortillas can be used in place of flour.
- Make It Spicier - Add extra jalapeños, a dash of hot sauce, or use a spicy salsa.
- Make It Vegetarian - Skip the ground beef and use extra beans, black beans, or a plant-based ground meat alternative.
- Add More Veggies - Bell peppers, corn, and black beans can easily be mixed into the taco mixture for extra flavor and texture.
- Swap The Protein - Ground turkey or ground chicken works great in place of ground beef. You could even use shredded rotisserie chicken for a quick shortcut.
Tim's Top Expert Tips
These are the little details that take your pie from good...to unforgettable.
- Drain the fat - you want to make sure to drain the grease thoroughly to keep the tortilla crust from getting soggy.
- Wait to slice - waiting 5-10 minutes after it comes out of the oven will allow the layers to set, so you will get the perfect wedge when you cut it.
- Create a Topping Bar - I like to put the cold toppings (like lettuce, sour cream, guacamole in bowls on the table so everyone can add what they love. This also helps with reheating.
- Easy to Double - You can double this recipe easily to divide among two pie plates. This recipe freezes well, and you have dinner for later.
- Make your own taco seasoning - Skip the store-bought packets and make your own taco seasoning at home. It lets you control the spice and salt levels and is great to keep on hand.
What to serve with Tacos
Salsa is ALWAYS a win at our house!! I love to make up the below!
Storing Leftovers
Refrigerating
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. Keep the cold topping separate so they do not get soggy.
Freezing
- This pie freezes well. Wrap individual slices in foil and place in a freezer bag for up to 3 months.
- If freezing the whole pie, assemble it, wrap it tightly, and freeze it before the final bake.
Reheating
- For a slice, the airfryer will give you the fastest crunch. Air Fry for 4 minutes at 350°F.
- For a whole pie, thaw in the fridge overnight. Reheat at 350°F for 10-15 minutes, lightly covered with foil. Uncover the last 2 minutes to crisp the edges.
make ahead
- Assemble the pie in the morning, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate. When ready to bake, swap the wrap for foil and bake! Add 5 minutes to the cook time if coming straight from the fridge.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I keep the crust from burning?
If the taco pie starts browning too quickly, loosely cover the pie with foil during baking.
Can I make it vegetarian?
Yes, substitute the ground meat with extra beans (black or pinto) or a mix of sautéed zucchini, mushrooms, and spinach.
Can I use a frozen pie crust as a substitute for tortillas?
Yes, you could use a deep-dish pie crust. Follow the instructions for pre-baking the crust.
More Mexican meals
Video of Recipe
Recipe
Taco Pie
This easy Taco Pie recipe made with seasoned ground beef, tortillas, refried beans, salsa and cheese. A quick, family-friendly dinner.
Equipment
- Pie Plate
- Oven
Ingredients
- 4 Tortillas Flour, 8-inch
- 1 lb Ground Beef
- ½ cup Onion
- 3 tablespoon Taco Seasoning
- 8 oz Refried Beans
- ½ cup Salsa
- 1 cup Shredded Cheese Mexican Blend
- ½ cup Tomatoes Diced
- ¼ cup Green Onions
- 1 Jalapeño
Optional Toppings
- Sour Cream
- Guacamole
- Cilantro Chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart as it cooks. Drain any grease. Stir in taco seasoning and onion. Continue cooking for about 1 minute, just until the onion begins to soften. 1 lb Ground Beef ½ cup Onion 3 tablespoon Taco Seasoning
- Place tortillas in the bottom of the pie plate to form the base (you might need to trim to get them to fit). 4 Tortillas
- Spread the refried beans evenly over the tortillas, and add the seasoned beef. Top with an additional tortilla. Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the top tortilla begins to brown lightly. 8 oz Refried Beans
- Remove the pie from the oven and sprinkle with salsa, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, green onion, and jalapeño. ½ cup Salsa 1 cup Shredded Cheese ½ cup Tomatoes ¼ cup Green Onions 1 Jalapeño
- Return to the oven and bake for another 5 minutes until the cheese is melted.
- Let the taco pie cool for about 5 minutes before slicing. Garnish with guacamole, sour cream, and fresh cilantro before serving. Guacamole Sour Cream Cilantro
Video
Notes
- Drain the fat - you want to make sure to drain the grease thoroughly to keep the tortilla crust from getting soggy.
- Wait to slice - waiting 5-10 minutes after it comes out of the oven will allow the layers to set, so you will get the perfect wedge when you cut it.
- Create a Topping Bar - I like to put the cold toppings (like lettuce, sour cream, guacamole in bowls on the table so everyone can add what they love. This also helps with reheating.
- Easy to Double - You can double this recipe easily to divide among two pie plates. This recipe freezes well, and you have dinner for later.
- Make your own taco seasoning - Skip the store-bought packets and make your own taco seasoning at home. It lets you control the spice and salt levels and is great to keep on hand.
Nutrition
Calories: 374kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 21gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 73mgSodium: 825mgPotassium: 365mgFiber: 3gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 629IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 202mgIron: 3mg
Tried this recipe?Rate it and let me know how it was!
Rebecca says
Im ready to cook this