Cheesy taco dip with ground beef is a delicious appetizer! Made in a cast iron skillet for game day with chips you can change it up with ground sausage to make it spicy topped with cheese.
You’ll love this taco dip! All 5 of us love it! I’ve made it as a snack AND as a dinner served in bowls with a few chips on top. Topped with ooey gooey cheese on top it’s a family fave. You can make it dairy free too. 😉
Ok so we have all made Instant Pot tacos, this is a deconstructed version full of YUM. I got this recipe from The Simple Kitchen cookbook, she calls it Cheesy Taco Skillet. There are many other great recipes in it and this is just one we loved. If you love easy but delicious comfort foods you’ve gotta’ check it out. 😉
Call it what you will, but seriously you can just call it delicious if you ask me. Add what you wish really. If you like heat you could easily dice up a jalapeno and add that in when you are letting it bubble up, if you need it to be dairy free (like my husband), just leave the cheese off or use a cheese alternative you like.
Ingredient Notes
Lean Ground beef or could use half spicy ground sausage for heat too. If you want medium you could use half and half but really HOT Jimmy Dean is a great option. For a lower fat option use ground turkey instead.
Taco seasoning (in a packet or make your own) is where you get those great Mexican flavors you love.
Kernel corn, canned and drained is added but you could use another can of beans if you didn’t want to add any vegetables.
Black beans are great, canned, drained from liquid or it will become too loose. Kidney works too but aren’t traditionally used.
Canned Diced tomatoes, I like petite sizes will add flavor and texture to the dish. I prefer this vs. from fresh because the skins can be quite tough otherwise.
Cheese (your choice, mix of sharp cheddar and colby jack are great) makes this into a cheesy beef taco dip we love. Like we add a lot of shredded cheese inside the mix and on the top to melt.
Toppings
For the best flavors you want to add a dollop of sour cream, some guacamole, diced green onions, hatch chiles, sliced black olives, chives and tortilla chips for scooping up. This is a taco dip with meat no cream cheese version but you could mix in half of a block at the end to melt and make a creamier version.
Taco Dip with Meat Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 2 cup cheese, jack is great
- 2 tsp salt, more or less depending on taste
- 1/4 cup taco seasoning
- 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can fire-roasted tomatoes with garlic
- 1 can niblet corn, drained
- 1/2 cup water, or beef broth
Instructions
- Cook your ground beef and salt together in a skillet, until cooked through.
- Drain excess drippings. Sprinkle seasoning and stir until beef is coated.
- Add black beans, tomatoes, corn and water. Stir to combine well.
- Bring to a boil until most of the water is evaporated.
- Sprinkle cheese on top and stir until melted.
- Can top with additional bits of shredded cheese, chives, guacamole, sour cream…….
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Variations and Substitutions
You can make this creamy with lots of cheese, sour cream or cream cheese mixed in near the end. If you need a dairy free option or one lower in calories then just skip all of that and use the rest of the ingredients. Your choice, they are both incredible.
If you wanted more of a layered type you could make this, spread refried beans on bottom of a pan and pour this on top with cooler ingredients on top of that.
I love using my cast iron skillet ALL the time. Yes you can make it in a pan or pot and then transfer it into an oven safe dish to serve it up but this is less effort and less to clean. It not only cooks it all on your stovetop but makes for a rustic way to serve it in the very same dish/pan.
Tips
You will need quite a large pot or skillet to fit everything. I like to use cast iron because it is pretty and can be served as is set on a trivet with your other hot dip recipes. You want to make sure to drain off the excess grease after cooking the meat over medium heat or it will not be as thick as you’d like.
How to Serve
Serve it with a bowl of chips on the side and just put your cast iron skillet right there on your island where all the other snacks are, on a trivet of course. The other great thing about cooking in cast iron is it actually looks pretty cool served right in the skillet!
I love sour cream and guacamole when it comes to Mexican style foods, so I put a dollop of each on top when I serve this in individual bowls…delish!! Serve right in the same pan you cooked it in for an easier cleanup and rustic look to your buffet table.
Other Party Appetizers You’ll Love
If you’re looking for another easy appetizer to serve along side this one for a large gathering try our 7 layer pizza dip. That one has all the refried bean, guacamole layers you’re used to but on top of a cooked crust which is fun. For more of a dinner dish serve our Crockpot lasagna casserole too.
