High Protein Walking Taco Bake

Ingredients You Will Need

To make this delicious high protein Walking Taco Bake, you will need to gather the following items from your pantry or local grocery store:

• 2 pounds of extra lean ground turkey or 96 percent lean ground beef
• 2 large packets of low sodium taco seasoning or 6 tablespoons of homemade taco spice mix
• 1 cup of water to help simmer the meat and spices
• 2 cans of black beans which should be rinsed and drained well
• 1 bag of frozen sweet corn or 2 cups of fresh corn kernels
• 1 jar of chunky salsa which is about 16 ounces in size
• 2 cups of fat free Greek yogurt to use as a high protein sour cream substitute
• 3 cups of reduced fat shredded cheddar cheese or a Mexican cheese blend
• 1 bag of protein chips or baked corn chips for the crunchy topping
• 3 cups of chopped romaine lettuce for freshness
• 2 large tomatoes diced into small pieces
• 1 small bunch of fresh cilantro chopped finely
• 1 medium red onion finely diced
• 1 large bell pepper chopped into small bits
• 2 fresh limes cut into small wedges for squeezing over the top

Step by Step Method

1. Start by preheating your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit so it is nice and hot by the time your ingredients are ready to be baked.
2. Take a large nonstick skillet and place it over medium high heat on your stove top.
3. Add your lean ground turkey or beef to the skillet and use a wooden spoon to break the meat into very small crumbles as it cooks.
4. Continue cooking the meat until there is no more pink color visible and it is fully browned all the way through.
5. If there is any excess fat or liquid in the pan, carefully drain it out so your bake does not become greasy or soggy.
6. Pour in the water and the taco seasoning packets then stir everything together until the meat is well coated in the spices.
7. Lower the heat and let the meat simmer for about 5 minutes until the liquid has thickened into a nice sauce.
8. Add the rinsed black beans, the corn, and the chopped bell peppers into the skillet with the meat and stir it all up.
9. Pour the jar of salsa into the mixture and let it cook for another 3 minutes so all the flavors can start to blend together.
10. Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in 1 cup of the Greek yogurt which will make the filling very creamy and add extra protein.
11. Grease a large 9 by 13 inch baking dish with a little bit of olive oil or nonstick cooking spray.
12. Pour the entire meat and bean mixture into the baking dish and spread it out evenly with a spatula.
13. Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the top of the meat mixture until every spot is covered with a thick layer of cheese.
14. Place the baking dish into the oven and bake it for about 15 to 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbling at the edges.
15. While the base is baking, you can prepare your cold toppings by chopping the lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and cilantro.
16. Once the bake is finished, take it out of the oven and let it sit for 5 minutes so it can set properly.
17. Crush your protein chips or baked corn chips and sprinkle them over the top of the melted cheese for a great crunch.
18. Add the fresh lettuce, tomatoes, and onions on top of the chips or serve them on the side so people can add what they like.
19. Put small dollops of the remaining Greek yogurt on top to look like sour cream and finish with a sprinkle of fresh cilantro.
20. Serve the bake immediately while the bottom is hot and the top is crisp and enjoy your healthy meal.