Description
This Beefy Potato Taco Casserole is a comforting and easy crockpot recipe perfect for a hands-off dinner. Combining seasoned ground beef, tender potatoes, and creamy cheeses, it creates a cheesy, flavorful casserole with a Tex-Mex twist. Topped with fresh green onions, this crowd-pleaser is great for busy weeknights or meal prep.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 lb Lean 96/4 Ground Beef
- 1 Medium White or Yellow Onion, diced
- 2 Large Russet Potatoes, about 24 oz total, peeled and diced
Dairy and 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 inside, 1/4 cup for topping)
Seasonings and Sauces
- 1 oz Taco Seasoning Packet
- 1/2 Cup (120 g) Salsa
- Green Onion for Topping
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Peel and dice the potatoes according to your preference—small dice, cubes, or slices. Dice the onion and set aside both.
- Cook Ground Beef: Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook for a few minutes until it starts to brown. Add 1/2 cup of salsa and the taco seasoning packet to the pan. Stir well and cook for about 5 minutes until the beef is cooked through, even if slightly pink.
- Add Ingredients to Crockpot: Place the diced potatoes and onion into the crockpot. Add the cottage cheese, queso cheese dip, and 3/4 cup of shredded Mexican cheese. Mix gently to combine.
- Combine Beef and Crockpot Mixture: Add the cooked beef with salsa and seasoning into the crockpot. Stir all ingredients well to incorporate the flavors evenly.
- Top with Cheese: Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of shredded Mexican cheese evenly over the top of the casserole.
- Cook in Crockpot: Cover and cook on high for 4 hours, allowing the potatoes to soften and the cheeses to melt completely.
- Finish and Serve: After cooking, chop green onions and sprinkle them on top as a fresh garnish. Serve the casserole warm and enjoy.
Notes
- Cottage cheese adds creaminess and protein; it melts well and has minimal impact on flavor. Substitute with creamy cheeses like cream cheese or cheddar cheese soup, but avoid Greek yogurt or sour cream as replacements.
- You can use any ground meat such as ground turkey or ground chicken instead of beef for a lighter option.
- Some liquid may appear in the crockpot after cooking due to cheese oil runoff. This will settle as the casserole cools and is normal.
- Feel free to customize with additional toppings like sliced jalapeños or avocado for extra flavor and texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
