If you love tacos but want something a little less fuss and more fun to eat, this Taco Bubble Up Recipe is a game changer. It’s like all your favorite taco flavors got cozy and bubbly in a casserole dish, plus it all comes together fast — perfect for those busy weeknights when you want something comforting but simple.
When I first tried this recipe, I was amazed by how the biscuit pieces soak up the spicy, cheesy goodness without turning soggy. You’ll find that it’s a crowd-pleaser, whether for family dinners or casual get-togethers, and honestly, it’s one of those recipes that gets easier and tastier every time you make it.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy Weeknight Meal: Combines pantry staples and minimal prep for a quick dinner fix.
- Fam-Friendly Flavor: Everyone loves classic taco spices with a comforting cheesy twist.
- Versatile and Customizable: You can swap toppings or add veggies to make it your own.
- Crowd-Pleasing Presentation: Bubbly, golden, and ready to impress with minimal effort.
Ingredients You’ll Need
These ingredients work beautifully together to balance savory, spicy, and cheesy notes, while the biscuit dough adds a soft, fluffy texture that holds it all together. When shopping, I recommend grabbing fresh taco seasoning or using a mild one if you prefer less heat.
- Ground beef: I like 80/20 for juiciness and flavor; leaner will work, but don’t dry it out.
- Taco seasoning packet: Adds that signature taco kick; you can use homemade seasoning if you like.
- Enchilada sauce: Provides a rich, tangy base; go for your favorite brand or homemade.
- Diced tomatoes with green chilies (Rotel): Brings a mild heat and fresh tomato flavor.
- Pillsbury homestyle grands biscuits: These are perfect for that fluffy yet sturdy biscuit layer.
- Colby jack cheese, shredded: Melts beautifully, giving a smooth, creamy finish that I adore.
- Your favorite taco toppings: Think sour cream, salsa, avocado, jalapeños — whatever you love.
- Fresh cilantro (optional): Adds a pop of herbal brightness that lifts the dish.
Variations
I love tweaking this Taco Bubble Up Recipe depending on who’s coming to the table. Feel free to swap proteins, try different cheeses, or turn it vegetarian. It’s a recipe that’s built for customization.
- Vegetarian Version: Substitute ground beef with cooked black beans or lentils; it’s just as satisfying and hearty.
- Spicy Kick: Add diced jalapeños or a dash of hot sauce if you prefer your tacos extra fiery — my family can’t get enough of that.
- Dairy-Free Option: Use dairy-free cheese alternatives and skip the garnish, for those with dietary restrictions.
- Extra Veggies: Sneak in some corn or bell peppers with the meat mixture for added texture and color.
How to Make Taco Bubble Up Recipe
Step 1: Brown the Beef Just Right
Start by heating a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add your ground beef and cook it until there’s no pink left, breaking it up into crumbles as it cooks. I always drain the fat after browning to avoid a greasy bubble up — trust me, it tastes cleaner and more flavorful this way.
Step 2: Mix in All the Taco Goodness
Once the beef is cooked and drained, stir in the taco seasoning, enchilada sauce, and diced tomatoes with green chilies. This mix is the heart of the dish — rich, spicy, and tangy. Take it off the heat once combined and give it a few minutes to let the flavors settle while you prep your biscuits.
Step 3: Cut and Fold in the Biscuits
Cut each biscuit into eight pieces and place them gently in a large bowl. Then pour your taco beef mixture over the biscuits and fold everything together carefully. You want the biscuits coated but intact, so they bubble nicely without turning mushy.
Step 4: Assemble and Bake
Transfer the mixture to a prepared (sprayed) 9×13-inch baking dish, spreading it evenly. Top generously with shredded Colby jack cheese—it melts wonderfully into a golden, gooey blanket. Bake at 375°F, uncovered, for about 25-30 minutes until bubbly around the edges and the cheese gets that perfect browned finish. Let it cool for about 10 minutes before serving to set up for easy scooping.
Pro Tips for Making Taco Bubble Up Recipe
- Drain the Beef Well: It prevents the bubble up from becoming watery and keeps flavors concentrated.
- Don’t Overmix the Biscuits: Folding gently keeps the biscuit pieces fluffy, not mushy.
- Use Freshly Shredded Cheese: It melts better than pre-shredded and gives that ultra creamy top layer.
- Let It Rest Before Serving: Cooling for 10 minutes helps it set so you can serve nice, neat portions.
How to Serve Taco Bubble Up Recipe
Garnishes
I personally love dolloping sour cream and salsa on top, then sprinkling fresh cilantro for that lovely herbal brightness. Avocado slices or a few pickled jalapeños add a creamy or tangy contrast that makes every bite exciting. Plus, those little extras make your dish look and taste like you’ve put in a ton more effort than you really have.
Side Dishes
My go-to sides are a simple Mexican rice or a crisp green salad with a lime vinaigrette. Sometimes, I serve it with chips and guacamole for an extra festive spread. These sides balance the richness of the bubble up perfectly and keep things fresh and vibrant.
Creative Ways to Present
For a party, I’ve served this in individual ramekins for personal portions–guests love having their own bubbling casserole that looks fancy but is super easy to make. Another fun idea is layering it in a clear dish so you can see all the cheesy, meaty layers through the side; it’s an instant conversation starter!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftovers covered in an airtight container in the fridge, and they usually last 3-4 days. The flavors actually meld together a bit more overnight, so sometimes it tastes even better the next day. Just be sure to cool it completely before refrigerating to keep the biscuit texture just right.
Freezing
I’ve had success freezing the bubble up before baking. Prepare the dish fully but don’t bake it; wrap tightly in foil and freeze up to 2 months. When ready, bake it straight from frozen, just add about 15 extra minutes to your baking time. It’s a lifesaver for meal prep or surprise guests!
Reheating
To reheat, cover with foil and warm in the oven at 350°F until heated through—usually about 15-20 minutes. This avoids drying out the biscuits like microwaving often does. For that bubbly, melty finish, remove the foil in the last 5 minutes to refresh the cheese topping.
FAQs
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Can I use a different type of meat in this Taco Bubble Up Recipe?
Absolutely! Ground turkey, chicken, or even a meat substitute like crumbled tofu or tempeh work well. Just adjust cooking times as necessary and season to taste.
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What if I don’t have Pillsbury biscuits?
You can use any refrigerated biscuit dough, or even crescent rolls for a flakier texture. Some folks use pre-made cornbread dough, though that changes flavor and moisture a bit.
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Is this recipe gluten-free?
The traditional version isn’t gluten-free because of the biscuit dough, but you can find gluten-free biscuit alternatives or make your own gluten-free dough to swap in.
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How spicy is this Taco Bubble Up Recipe?
The heat level depends on your taco seasoning and diced tomatoes with chilies. You can control spice by choosing mild or hot varieties, and topping with cooling sour cream helps balance it.
Final Thoughts
I absolutely love how this Taco Bubble Up Recipe brings taco night to a whole new level. It’s so easy, so delicious, and somehow feels both cozy and festive at once. Next time you want to mix up your weeknight dinner routine, give this a try—you won’t regret it, and your family will probably ask for it again sooner than you expect.
PrintTaco Bubble Up Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 9 servings
- Category: Dinner Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican-American
Description
Taco Bubble Up is a fun and easy casserole recipe that layers seasoned ground beef, biscuit dough, and melted cheese to create a cheesy, comforting dish bursting with classic taco flavors. Perfect for a crowd, this one-pan meal bakes together in under an hour and is topped with your favorite taco garnishes for a customizable family dinner or casual party dish.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef (80/20)
- 1 ounce packet taco seasoning
- 10 ounce can enchilada sauce
- 10 ounce can diced tomatoes with green chilies (Rotel)
- 2 (6 ounce) cans Pillsbury homestyle grands biscuits
- 8 ounce block Colby Jack cheese, shredded
Toppings
- Your favorite taco toppings
- Fresh cilantro, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Baking Dish: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray to ensure the casserole does not stick, then set the dish aside.
- Cook the Ground Beef: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and brown it, breaking it apart with a spoon, until no pink remains, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain off any excess grease thoroughly to keep the dish from becoming greasy.
- Add Seasonings and Sauces: To the cooked beef in the skillet, add the taco seasoning packet, the enchilada sauce, and the diced tomatoes with green chilies (Rotel). Stir everything together until evenly combined, then remove the skillet from the heat and set aside.
- Prepare Biscuit Pieces: Take the canned biscuits and cut each one into eighths to create small bite-sized pieces. Place these biscuit pieces into a large mixing bowl.
- Combine Meat Mixture and Biscuits: Pour the warm taco meat mixture over the biscuit pieces in the bowl. Gently fold the biscuits with the meat mixture, ensuring biscuit pieces are coated but not smashed.
- Assemble the Casserole: Transfer the combined biscuit and meat mixture evenly into the prepared 9×13-inch baking dish. Spread it out to fill the dish uniformly.
- Add Cheese Topping: Sprinkle the shredded Colby Jack cheese evenly over the top of the casserole ensuring good coverage for melting.
- Bake: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake, uncovered, for 25 to 30 minutes. Bake until the biscuits are fully cooked through, the cheese is melted and browned, and the edges are bubbling.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and let it cool for about 10 minutes. Serve warm topped with your favorite taco toppings such as sour cream, salsa, avocado, and a sprinkle of fresh cilantro if desired.
Notes
- For the taco seasoning, you may use a store-bought packet or make your own blend with chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper.
- Enchilada sauce adds rich flavor and moisture; you can substitute with a mild to medium red enchilada sauce based on spice preference.
- Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies add a nice mild heat and texture; regular diced tomatoes can be used but the green chilies add authentic flavor.
- Drain ground beef well after cooking to avoid a greasy casserole.
- This recipe can be served with a variety of toppings like sour cream, sliced jalapeños, avocado, chopped lettuce, diced onions, or shredded lettuce for customization.
- Ensure biscuits are cut into small pieces so they cook fully and evenly during baking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/9th of recipe
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 630mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 55mg