Layers of taco meat, melted cheese, and salsa bring back childhood memories to my husband when I make his mothers specialty Taco Pie.
Everyone has a childhood favorite. That meal, you crave that only Mom or Dad can make. I try to recreate some of the meals my mom and dad made for me as kid, but as cheesy as it sounds sometimes it just tastes better when Mom or Dad makes them. It’s that added bit of love, or just the feeling of comfort that comes with it.
Two meals that stick out to me right now are my Mom’s fresh cinnamon donuts. She taught me how to make them, and I reserve those for my kids birthdays. We call them “Birthday Donuts” and one lucky little foodie is about to get hers in a couple days. The next meal that I crave and love is my Dad’s Eagle Brand pudding, a recipe that has been passed down from his Mother and is a must have dessert at our family reunions.
My husband has been asking for this taco pie recipe for a decade. We finally got our hands on it, and it quickly became a family favorite. I was nervous to make it at first. In the past when he’d ask me to make a childhood favorite i’d try to lighten it up a bit and completely ruin the nostalgia of the dish. I followed this one exactly…well one minor change by adding salsa to the layers, but I consulted his mom and she agreed.
In a large skillet (I prefer), chop ground beef on med/high heat. Add chopped onions and peppers and continue cooking until onions are translucent and ground beef has browned.
Once meat has browned and onions and peppers are soft, add taco seasoning and water from package directions. Mix together and continue cooking till water reduces. When ready to start layering, use a slotted spoon so excess liquid doesn’t get on the tortillas.
While meat mixture is cooking, warm tortillas in the oven.
Start layering your tortillas in an oven proof casserole dish. Start with one tortilla, 1/4 cup salsa, 1/4 cup meat mixture, and 1/3 cup cheese. Continue layering in that order ending with a tortilla.
Top tortilla with remaining 1/3 cup cheese.
Heat in a 350 degree oven until cheese melts.
Top with your favorite toppings. My kids like nothing on top of theirs, thats why a wedge was taken out of this picture. My husband and I enjoyed ours with lettuce, chopped tomato, cilantro, and avocado.
Taco Pie
Layers of taco meat, melted cheese, and salsa bring back childhood memories to my husband when I make his mothers specialty Taco Pie
Ingredients
- 1/2 dozen flour tortillas
- 1 1/2 lb ground beef
- 1/2 c finely chopped onion
- 1/2 c finely chopped red pepper
- 1 envelope taco seasoning
- 2 c shredded mexican blend cheese
- 1 1/4 cup salsa
Additional Toppings if desired
- sour cream
- shredded lettuce
- avocado
- cilantro
Instructions
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In a large skillet, chop ground beef on med/high heat. Add chopped onions and peppers and continue cooking until onions are translucent and ground beef has browned.
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Add taco seasoning and any liquid required on package, follow package direction for additional cooking time.
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Briefly warm tortillas in the oven while the meat continues cooking.
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Layer tortillas, 1/4 cup salsa, 1/4 cup meat mixture (use a slotted spoon to grab meat so liquid will drain), and 1/3 cup cheese in an oven proof casserole dish. End with a tortilla on top and remaining 1/3 cup cheese.
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Heat in the oven at 350 degrees until cheese melts.
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Serve in wedges with desired additional toppings. We ate ours with lettuce, chopped tomato, avocado, and cilantro.
Makes me think of a Mexican lasagne! Yummy!
Yes, my friend’s mom used to make Mexican Lasagna and it tastes just like hers. I hope you enjoy it.
Looks good and easy, will definitely be trying this soon.
Thank you, it’s super easy and the leftovers taste great!
Food can be so nostalgic! You are brave to make one of your husband’s favorite dishes that his mom made! 🙂 There’s one spaghetti dish I want to learn from my mom because she learned it from her mom and I want to make it now for my daughter. It hasn’t been written down anywhere, they just wing it.
That sounds wonderful! I hope you learn how to make it some day. <3
I am going to try this. My boys love tacos.
I hope you enjoy it! It’s so simple, and the leftovers taste great too. 🙂
This looks and sounds so yummy!!! I haven’t thought of layering them like this! I might even try a version of this tonight 😋
Thank you, I hope you enjoyed it!
Sounds great! I had never heard of taco pie before but is definitely one I have to try for myself!
Thank you, I hope you enjoyed it. It’s a weekly meal in this house. 🙂