17 budget-friendly taco night favorites

Photo of author

| Published:

Spice up your weeknight dinners without breaking the bank. Well, get ready to fiesta, because I’ve got 17 incredibly delicious and budget-friendly taco night recipes.

Closeup of a skillet with ground beef, cheese and tomatoes.
Taco Rice Skillet. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Mexican chicken tortilla soup in a white bowl.
Chicken Tortilla Soup. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This homemade Chick-fil-A Tortilla Soup recipe is a delicious Tex-Mex dish that captures the essence of their renowned taste in every spoonful. It’s a comforting and flavorful soup that’s sure to please.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Tortilla Soup

Walking Taco Casserole

Mexican casserole in a glass dish.
Walking Taco Casserole. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Walking Taco Casserole is a delicious Tex-Mex recipe that puts a fun twist on a favorite. Layers of ground beef, cheese, veggies, and Fritos create a flavorful casserole that captures the essence of walking tacos.
Get the Recipe: Walking Taco Casserole

Buffalo Chicken Tacos

Buffalo Chicken Tacos. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Turn leftover chicken into a flavorful and spicy taco filling with this easy-to-follow Buffalo chicken tacos recipe. Perfect for a weeknight dinner or a casual gathering.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Tacos

Chile Relleno Casserole

Casserole dish with chile relleno casserole topped with sliced jalapenos.
Chile Relleno Casserole. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This easy chile relleno casserole is a delicious Tex-Mex recipe made with fresh chile peppers for authentic Mexican flavor with minimal effort. Layers of chiles and gooey cheese make this a satisfying meal.
Get the Recipe: Chile Relleno Casserole

Crock Pot Chicken Tacos

Three slow cooker tacos with chicken, lime, avocado and tomatoes.
Crock Pot Chicken Tacos. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This crock pot chicken tacos recipe is a delicious Tex-Mex dish that’s perfect for spicing up Taco Tuesday. Cooked with honey and lime, this stress-free weeknight meal is sure to be a hit.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Chicken Tacos

Taco Bubble Up Bake

A close-up of a cheesy taco casserole topped with shredded lettuce and sour cream, being served.
Taco Bubble Up Bake. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Weeknight dinner win! Taco Bubble Up Casserole combines ground beef and taco fixings with fluffy canned biscuits for a quick, cheesy, family-friendly meal.
Get the Recipe: Taco Bubble Up Bake

Mexican Street Corn Soup

Street corn soup with potatoes, corn and red pepper in the crock pot with a spoon on the side.
Mexican Street Corn Soup. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Slow Cooker Mexican Street Corn Soup is a delicious Tex-Mex recipe that captures the irresistible flavors of elote in a bowl. Toss the ingredients into your slow cooker and come home to a satisfying meal.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Street Corn Soup

Taco Rice Skillet

Closeup of a skillet with ground beef, cheese and tomatoes.
Taco Rice Skillet. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This one-dish taco rice skillet is a delicious Tex-Mex recipe that brings dinner to the table in about 20 minutes. With only 8 simple ingredients, it’s a quick and flavorful family meal.
Get the Recipe: Taco Rice Skillet

Slow Cooker Barbacoa

Barbacoa tacos on a tray topped with peppers and onions.
Slow Cooker Barbacoa. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This easy slow cooker copycat recipe for Chipotle Barbacoa is a delicious Tex-Mex dish that you can enjoy at home. Tender, juicy, and packed with flavor, this homemade version will satisfy your taco cravings.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Barbacoa

Taco Meatloaf

A slice of taco meatloaf topped with melted cheese and sliced jalapeños, served on a white plate with diced tomatoes and avocado slices nearby.
Taco Meatloaf. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This slow cooker taco meatloaf is a delicious Tex-Mex recipe that combines juicy taco meat with hearty meatloaf. It’s a fun twist on classic comfort food that can be customized with your favorite taco toppings.
Get the Recipe: Taco Meatloaf

Instant Pot Fish Tacos

Fish tacos on a plate in tortillas with coriander and lemon wedges.
Instant Pot Fish Tacos. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

These Instant Pot fish tacos are a delicious Tex-Mex recipe that will be on the table in about 30 minutes, even with frozen fish. Made with tilapia, they’re a healthy and easy family meal.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Fish Tacos

Taco Bell Mexican Pizza

Copycat recipe: Cheesy corn tortillas with tomatoes and cheese on a plate.
Taco Bell Mexican Pizza. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This copycat Taco Bell Mexican pizza is a delicious Tex-Mex recipe that features tortillas with meat, beans, and is smothered in cheese and toppings. Bake it in the oven or make an air fryer Mexican pizza for a quick meal.
Get the Recipe: Taco Bell Mexican Pizza

Taco Pasta Casserole

A baking dish filled with baked pasta covered in melted cheese and garnished with chopped herbs.
Taco Pasta Casserole. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This Easy Baked Taco Casserole is ready in about 30 minutes and perfect for taco night. Cheesy, kid-approved, and endlessly customizable with your favorite toppings!
Get the Recipe: Taco Pasta Casserole

Instant Pot Mexican Rice

Brown bowl with Mexican rice on a wooden cutting board with cilantro and lime.
Instant Pot Mexican Rice. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This Instant Pot Mexican Rice is a delicious Tex-Mex recipe that’s quick and easy to make in a pressure cooker. It’s a one-pot meal that makes a great side dish for tacos, burritos, refried beans, or your favorite Mexican dinner.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Mexican Rice

Chili Cornbread Casserole Recipe

Chili cornbread casserole on a white plate.
Chili Cornbread Casserole Recipe. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This chili cornbread casserole is a delicious Tex-Mex recipe that delivers pure comfort food with big flavor. It’s a hassle-free dish that’s perfect for weeknight dinners or potlucks.
Get the Recipe: Chili Cornbread Casserole Recipe

Mini Tacos

Plate of tacos with ground beef, diced tomatoes, and sliced cucumbers, garnished with lime wedges on a wooden table.
Mini Tacos. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

These mini beef tacos are a delicious Tex-Mex recipe that brings an adorable twist to taco night. Made with simple ingredients, they’re perfect for parties, fun for kids, and great for dipping.
Get the Recipe: Mini Tacos

Instant Pot Salsa Chicken

Instant pot shredded chicken tacos on a plate.
Instant Pot Salsa Chicken. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This easy recipe for Instant Pot Salsa Chicken is a delicious Tex-Mex dish that’s versatile and only requires 3 ingredients. The chicken is cooked with salsa and shredded for tacos or bowls.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Salsa Chicken

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.