Creamy Tacos Casserole- Frugal Dinner Recipe - Six Figures Under (2024)

February 17, 2014 by Stephanie 37 Comments

Creamy Tacos Casserole is a family tradition at least three generations old. Originally called simply “Cream Tacos,” I revised the name to give a better description of this yummy comfort food that we’ve adapted over the years.

Creamy Tacos Casserole is a great dish to bring over to a friend who just had a baby or a neighbor who is sick. We have also made it in quantity for family reunions and for company. It’s a crowd-pleaser and always has people asking for the recipe.

You might even have all the ingredients already on hand.

Creamy Tacos Casserole is very flexible and adaptable. I use either a 9 x 13 pan or an 11 x 15 glass dish. When I use a 9 x 13 pan, I use 2 or 3 cans of cream soup (any combination of cream of mushroom and cream of chicken), with a larger glass pan, I use 3-4 cans of cream soup. For each can of cream soup used, I use half a can of milk. I use the soup can I just emptied to measure the milk. The can of green chiles pictured is 4oz. I use only half of the can, then freeze the other half in a plastic bag for next time.

At the end of the tutorial, I will share some ways I make this meal even more frugal.

CREAMY TACOS CASSEROLE

• 24-30 corn tortillas
• 1-2 cans cream of mushroom soup (depending on how saucy you want it)
• 1-2 cans cream of chicken soup(depending on how saucy you want it)
• milk- 1/2 soup can per can of cream coup used.
• 1 can corn
• 1/2 can chopped green chiles (about 2 oz)
• 1/2 lb shredded cheese
• 1 lb ground beef, optional (I use my stretched ground beef that is precooked and frozen)
• 1 medium onion, optional (not necessary if it’s in your frozen, cooked ground beef)

Start by browning your ground beef with chopped onion. Drain off any grease. I usually brown my hamburger in bulk and freeze it, usually stretching it at the same time, which makes this recipe super speedy.

In a medium sauce pan, mix the cans of cream soup, the can of corn (drained first), green chiles and milk. Add the drained, browned ground beef to the sauce. Heat until sauce begins to boil, then remove from heat.

Heat tortillas (about 6 at a time) in the microwave either in the bag or wrapped in a dishtowel until they are piping hot (too hot to hold comfortably). I usually do 6 tortillas for one minute.

Line the bottom of your pan with piping hot tortillas. The pan I’m using in the pictures is 11 x 15, so the tortillas fit just right. For a 9 x 13 pan, you’ll just use 5 tortillas and you’ll have to tear some of them so they fit right. We always used a 9 x 13 pan when I was growing up.

Put another 6 tortillas in the microwave so they’re ready when you need them.

Cover the tortillas with a thin layer of sauce, making sure the entire pan bottom and all tortillas are covered. Sprinkle with cheese.

Repeat by adding and another layer of hot tortillas, sauce and cheese. Repeat until you have used all your sauce and tortillas. I usually do about 4 tortilla layers. End with cheese on top.

Cook in the oven at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until cheese is melted. Allow to cool for 10 minutes or so before serving. We love having Creamy Tacos Casserole with green beans and a green salad. It makes great leftovers too!

To make this dish even more budget friendly, here are a few frugal tips:

• Use cheese only on every other layer. My mom would often do this to save on cheese. The cheese on the top is the most important.
• Use stretched ground beef. When I brown ground beef in bulk I bulk it up by about 50% by using pureed veggies. I have a tutorial on it here.
• Omit the ground beef altogether. If I am in a hurry and don’t have frozen, precooked ground beef, then I make this as a meatless dish.
• I bet some of you make your own cream soups! I haven’t done this yet, but I’m sure I will soon, since cream soups are one of the few not-from-scratch ingredients we use.
• Corn tortillas stay good forever in the fridge (or at least a really long time), so go ahead and buy the bigger package if it makes them cheaper.