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    Published: Jul 8, 2023 · Modified: Jul 8, 2023 · By Susan

    Slow Cooker Taco Casserole Recipe

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    taco potato casserole on a plate with chips, corn and a fork
    taco potato casserole on a plate with chips, corn and a fork
    taco potato casserole on a plate with chips, corn and a fork
    taco potato casserole on a plate with chips, corn and a fork
    taco potato casserole on a plate with chips, corn and a fork
    taco potato casserole on a plate with chips, corn.
    taco casserole topped with melted cheese and sliced green onion still in slow cooker it was cooked in
    taco potato casserole on a plate with chips, corn and a fork
    taco potato casserole on a spatula held over the crockpot it was cooked in
    taco casserole topped with melted cheese and sliced green onion still in slow cooker it was cooked in
    ⏬SKIP STRAIGHT TO RECIPE⏬

    Slow Cooker Taco Casserole with potatoes is an amazing one-pot meal. This dish is made with ground taco meat, cheese, hash brown potatoes, and lots of taco-y goodness!

    taco potato casserole on a plate with chips, corn and a fork

    If you think "Taco Tuesday" should be "Taco Everyday" you have come to the right place!  This amazingly easy taco and potato casserole has all the flavor and wonderfulness of tacos.  

    This simple slow cooker casserole is easy to assemble and great for a crowd. It is an easy recipe that will quickly become a family favorite.  It is just as perfect to serve at a potluck as it is at home on busy weeknights.    

    Jump to:
    • 📝Shopping list
    • 🔪Instructions
    • 🍽Serving suggestions
    • 🔁Substitutions
    • Storing
    • 😉Hints & hacks
    • 📖 Recipe

    📝Shopping list

    slow cooker taco potato casserole ingredients with labels

    To make this slow-cooked taco casserole you will need:

    • browned ground beef
    • frozen hash brown potatoes
    • shredded cheddar cheese 
    • diced tomatoes - I like the kind with a Mexican flare , when possible
    • cottage cheese - full-fat works best
    • onion - diced
    • cream cheese
    • taco seasoning* -  recipe in notes below if you want to make your own 
    • green chilies -  chopped (I use mild)
    • garlic powder

    Exact quantities and detailed instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

    🔪Instructions

    Start by browning your ground beef. Ground beef can be browned stove top in a large skillet. If you have a browning feature in your slow cooker, that works well too! 

    I like to bulk-brown my beef in my crock pot. I freeze it in recipe-sized portions so that I always have some on hand for various ground beef recipes. This prep step makes so many great slow cooker recipes a fraction of the work come assembly time.

    ground beef in a casserole crockpot that is almost fully cooked

    Regardless of how you cook it, drain all the excess fat prior to adding beef to this recipe. Using lean ground beef for this process will leave you with less excess grease to deal with.

    Add all ingredients, other than 1 cup cheese to bottom of slow cooker.  Cut or break up the cream cheese to help distribute it evenly in your dish.  Stir ingredients together a bit, cover and cook on the low setting.  

    Once fully cooked, stir again to make sure all ingredients are well combined. Top with the remaining shredded cheddar cheese and cover.  Once the top cheese has melted, your dish is ready to serve! 

    taco casserole topped with melted cheese and sliced green onion still in slow cooker it was cooked in

    🍽Serving suggestions

    The best part of this potato and beef mixture is how versatile it is.  The whole family will love it served just as it is.  You can just scoop it out and go.  A side salad, black beans or some crusty bread would round out the meal perfectly.  

    However, it can also be "dressed up" by adding your favorite toppings. Additions such as sour cream, enchilada sauce, guacamole or salsa can be used to top individual servings.  Sliced green onion and chopped green chiles also make great additions.

    If you like some added crunch, serve your delicious casserole in crisp taco shells or scoop it up with tortilla chips.  It is also delicious topped with crispy tortilla strips.  

    Some great side dishes to serve with your slow cooker taco potato casserole include elote, black bean soup, and Mexican quinoa.  

    taco potato casserole on a plate with chips, corn.

    🔁Substitutions

    1. This beefy potato taco casserole can be made using homemade taco seasoning (recipe below) or packaged seasoning
    2. This easy slow cooker recipe can be made with juicy ground turkey in place of ground beef
    3. For a milder flavor, substitute shredded cheddar with shredded mozzarella.
    4. Garlic powder can be substituted for 4 freshly minced garlic cloves or 1 tablespoon jarred minced garlic.  
    5. Pre-package taco seasoning mix can be used in this recipe as well as homemade.  If you would like to make your own, please see the ingredients at the bottom of the recipe card below.  

    If you love this recipe, please let me know in the comment section below!

    Storing

    Store leftovers of thui tasty casserole dish in an airtight container or zip top bag.  They will last 3-4 days in the refrigerator or 3-4 months in the freezer.  

    taco potato casserole on a spatula held over the crockpot it was cooked in

    😉Hints & hacks

    1. This is one of those great recipes for nights when your family will be eating at different times. If you will be serving this dish at different times, keep the casserole on your slow cooker's warm setting. 
    2. If you are looking to dial up the heat in this dish, add in a small can of chopped jalapeno peppers with the rest of the ingredients. You can also substitute the diced tomatoes with a jar of spicy salsa for next level spiciness.
    3. To make the prep for this recipe and others containing ground beef, use your crockpot to cook ground beef in bulk ahead of time. Freeze your beef in recipe-sized portions for easy future dump-and-go creations.  
    4. Freezing leftovers of this taco potato bake in meal-sized portions makes for easy reheat-and-eat weeknight meals
    5. I always recommend the use of a slow cooker liner. Of course, this is an optional step. I like to purchase my liners in bulk for a less expensive per-piece price.
    6. In the market for a new slow cooker? I love mine!

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases and affiliate links.

    📖 Recipe

    taco potato casserole on a plate with chips, corn and a fork

    Slow Cooker Taco Casserole Recipe

    Slow Cooker Taco Casserole is an amazing one-pot meal. This dish is made with ground beef, cheese, hash brown potatoes, and lots of taco goodness!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate Save Saved!
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 4 hours hours
    Total Time: 4 hours hours 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 489kcal
    Author: The Lazy slow cooker
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • 4 qt slow cooker or larger
    • measuring spoons and cups

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb ground beef cooked
    • 20 oz frozen hash brown potatoes
    • 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese divided
    • 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes with Mexican type seasonings, if possible
    • 1 cup full fat cottage cheese
    • 1 cup onion diced
    • 4 oz cream cheese
    • ¼ cup taco seasoning or one packet
    • 7 oz can green chilies chopped (I use mild)
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

    Instructions

    • brown ground beef. This can be accomplished stovetop or in your slow cooker (see notes or write up above for details)
      1 lb ground beef
    • add all ingredients, other than one cup of the shredded cheddar to a greased slow cooker. Use a spoon to break cream cheese up into chunks. Stir to combine
      20 oz frozen hash brown potatoes, 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese, 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes, 1 cup full fat cottage cheese, 1 cup onion, 4 oz cream cheese, ¼ cup taco seasoning, 7 oz can green chilies, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 lb ground beef
    • cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours until all cream cheese and shredded cheese has melted and hash browns are fully cooked.
    • stir to combine
    • top with remaining shredded cheddar. return lid to top of slow cooker and allow topping to melt.
    • Serve and enjoy (serving suggestions above)

    Notes

    Ground beef should be fully cooked and drained of excess fat.  This can be done stove top, in a slow cooker with a browning feature, or slow cooked in bulk.
    HOMEMADE TACO SEASONING
    Homemade taco seasoning (makes more than you need for just these tacos):
    • 4 tablespoon chili powder
    • 1.5 tablespoon cumin
    • 1.5 teaspoon paprika
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon onion powder
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt
    • 1 teaspoon pepper
    • 1 teaspoon dried cilantro
    Add all ingredients and stir.  Store in a cool, dry, air-tight container. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 489kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 101mg | Sodium: 1143mg | Potassium: 564mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1406IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 373mg | Iron: 3mg

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    Welcome to The Lazy Slow Cooker. I am so happy you are here! My name is Susan (yep - I am Lazy Susan!) and I am the recipe developer/blogger behind these posts. I am the mom of three amazing but super busy kids and the wife of one awesome and also super busy guy. All 5 of us have very different schedules and I would not survive mealtime without my crockpot. Read More…

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