Crunchwrap Casserole
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A game-changer on TikTok, this dinner recipe is a crispy, crunchy wonder in every bite.
Featuring seasoned ground beef and lots of awesome supreme toppings, crunchwrap casserole is a must-try for all food lovers, perfect for adding some excitement to your Taco Tuesday menu.
Why Everyone Is Talking About Crunchwrap Casserole
As Taco Bell itself would say, “Live Mas,” “Think outside the bun,” and “Yo Quiero, Taco Bell”! This fast-food-inspired recipe needs no trip to the drive-through.
Just like walking taco casserole and cheesy Dorito casserole, it’s easy to alter ingredients that work for your taste buds; this crispy, crunchy, and golden brown dish takes all the flavors of your favorite after-midnight food and turns it into a family-friendly meal.
- Simple: Taking its cue from the well-known Taco Bell favorite, this casserole combines ground beef, melty cheese, and the ideal layers for a memorable taco night.
- Flavorful: The combination of seasoned ground beef, a Mexican cheese blend, and the crunch of tostadas is a perfectly Mexican-inspired dinner. You can also create variation by switching up the taste with lime juice or adding a spicy kick with a jar of salsa to the meat.
- Easy: With simple steps and everyday ingredients, anyone can create this viral sensation at home without much kitchen skill.
Ingredients You’ll Need:
- Ground beef
- Chopped onion
- Dry taco seasoning packet
- Melted butter
- Burrito-size soft tortillas
- Shredded cheddar or Mexican Blend Cheese
- Diced seedless tomatoes (plus extra for serving)
- Sour cream (plus extra for serving)
- For the middle: Crunchy Tostada Shells or Corn Tortilla Shells
- Nacho cheese sauce
——-> While this recipe uses canned nacho cheese, you can also go all out by making homemade nacho cheese dip.
This works well if you have no cans in your pantry, as most of the ingredients to make this are typically in an average fridge.
How to make Crunchwrap Casserole
Cook the Ground Beef:
- Combine the ground beef and chopped onion in a large cast-iron skillet.
- Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until the beef is browned and the onions are tender.
- Drain any excess grease and return the ground meat mixture and onion to the skillet.
Season the beef. Stir in the taco seasoning and water. Continue cooking over medium heat for 3-5 minutes, stirring often, until the beef is well-seasoned and the water has evaporated. Then, remove from heat.
Preheat and prep: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan with half the melted butter, ensuring the bottom and sides are coated.
Layer Tortillas: Arrange six large burrito size soft flour tortillas in the pan, with half of each tortilla hanging over the edge and overlapping in the center.
Add Cheese and Tomatoes: Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese over the tortillas, followed by the ripe tomatoes.
Sour Cream Drizzle:
- Place sour cream into a resealable sandwich bag.
- Snip off a corner.
- Drizzle the sour cream evenly over the tomatoes.
Tortilla Layer: Place the corn tortilla or tostada shells on top of the sour cream layer, overlapping them and keeping them within the pan.
———–> For a crispy center, use a crispy corn tortilla or tostada shell; for a creamy center, use a soft corn tortilla shell. The idea is to create a “taco lasagna” layer in the center.
Top with Nacho Cheese and Beef: Spread the nacho cheese over the corn tortillas, then add the seasoned taco meat.
Fold and Butter: Fold the over-hanging tortillas over the beef mixture, creating a covered layer. Brush the top with the remaining melted butter.
Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes or until the casserole is golden brown.
Serve: Let the casserole stand for 5 minutes after removing it from the oven. Invert the casserole onto a cutting board or large platter, then carefully lift off the baking dish.
Cut the casserole into eight large squares. Serve with additional chopped tomatoes, shredded lettuce, sour cream, black olives, hot sauce, and extra nacho cheese to dip if you want.
TIP: Instead of plain nacho cheese, try this dish with a can of white queso dip or homemade chihuahua cheese dip. It also a great way to use leftover smoked queso.
Perfect Sides for Crunch Wrap Casserole
Grilled Street Corn: This is a tasty side where the corn is cooked on the grill. It’s a bit sweet with its Parmesan mayo topping and goes well with the savory taste of the casserole.
Cilantro Lime Rice: While this rice is a great side dish, this recipe also goes excellent inside the casserole.
Street Corn Salad: This is like grilled street corn but in salad form. It’s a good choice if you want something that’s not too heavy but has lots of flavor.
Bean Dip: This dip is thick and full of flavor. It’s a good choice if you like something more filling as an appetizer or side.
Commonly Asked Questions
Have questions about making your casserole?
- Can I use lean ground beef or chicken? Absolutely! It’s OK to mix up the protein in this dish. Just make sure it’s fully cooked before assembling the casserole.
- Can I make it vegetarian? Swap the meat for drained and rinsed black beans or refried beans.
- What’s the best way to store leftovers? Storing leftover casserole like this is tricky. You can keep it in an airtight container for a few days and reheat it in the microwave. But the tortillas might get soggy, and the toppings will be less fresh. It’s better to make and eat it right away instead of saving it for later.
What is a Taco Bell Crunchwrap anyway?
A “Taco Bell crunch wrap” is one of the most popular menu items from Taco Bell. My dad used to make these at home for us growing up—I would say before we could afford going out to eat much, but in 2023, we are all kind of back to that status.
A crunchwrap is typically made with a large flour tortilla filled with seasoned ground beef, a crunchy tostada shell (which provides the “crunch”), sour cream, lettuce, diced tomatoes, and shredded cheese. It reminds me of double-decker tacos. Do they still make those?
This copycat recipe brings the same delicious recipe flavors you love into a homemade casserole version.
Crunchwrap Casserole (Viral TikTok Recipe)
Equipment
- sandwich bag
- serrated knife
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 cup onion chopped
- 1 oz dry taco seasoning rec. – taco bell seasoning
- 1/3 cup water
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
- 6 burrito-size flour tortillas 10 inch
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup diced tomatoes seedless, plus extra for serving
- 8 oz. sour cream (plus extra for serving)
- 6 crispy tostada shells or corn tortilla shells (see note in footer)
- 10.5 oz. nacho cheese canned, can heat for easy spread if desired
Optional Toppings
- Shredded lettuce for serving
- Hot sauce optional, for serving
- nacho cheese for dipping
- black olives
Instructions
- Cook the Beef: In your large skillet, cook the ground beef and chopped onion over medium-high heat. Stir frequently until the beef is browned and the onion is tender. Then, drain any excess grease from the skillet.
- Season the Beef: Add the taco seasoning and water to the skillet with the beef. Continue to cook over medium heat for 3-5 minutes, stirring often, until the seasoning is well mixed and the water has evaporated. Remove the skillet from heat.
- Preheat and Prep Pan: Turn your oven on to preheat at 375°F. Use half of the melted butter to grease the bottom and sides of your 9×13 inch baking pan.
- Layer Tortillas: Arrange the flour tortillas in the greased pan. Each tortilla should hang over the edge of the pan a bit, with them overlapping in the center.
- Add Cheese and Tomatoes: Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese over the tortillas, then add the diced tomatoes.
- Drizzle Sour Cream: Put the sour cream into a resealable sandwich bag and cut off one corner of the bag. Squeeze the bag to drizzle sour cream over the tomatoes.
- Add inner shells and toppings: Place either crunch tostada shells (for a middle crunch) or soft corn tortilla shells (for a creamy center with no crunch) on top of the sour cream layer, making sure they stay inside the center of the dish. It is OK to overlap the flat shells. Then, spread the canned nacho cheese over the center and add the seasoned beef mixture on top.
- Fold and Butter: Fold the overhanging flour tortillas over the beef layer, overlapping them. Brush the top with the remaining melted butter.
- Bake the Casserole: Bake in the oven for 30 minutes or until the casserole is golden brown.
- Serve: After removing the casserole from the oven, let it stand for 5 minutes. Then, invert the casserole onto a cutting board or large platter, remove the baking dish, and use a serrated knife to cut the casserole into 8 large squares. Serve with additional chopped tomatoes, black olives, shredded lettuce, sour cream, and hot sauce if you like.
Notes
- Veggies: Feel free to add bell peppers or olives for an extra veggie punch.
- Protein Swap: Substitute ground turkey or chicken for a lighter option.
- Cheese Varieties: Mix it up with different cheese blends, like Mexican cheese blend or Monterey Jack.
- Spice it Up: Add jalapeños or chili flakes for those who like it hot.
- Creamy Center: Use small soft corn tortillas in the center.
- Crunchy Center: Use crispy tostada shells in the center.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer: The nutritional data provided here is auto-calculated and intended for your convenience only. As it’s generated via automation, its accuracy may be compromised. For precise nutritional insight, please compute the values utilizing the actual ingredients in your recipe through your chosen nutrition calculator or application.
Did You Make This Recipe?
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This is our second time having this casserole. We love it and Add black olives