One-Skillet Taco Bake (gluten-free)

This One-Skillet Taco Bake is a must-make weeknight dinner recipe. This meal is ready in under 30 minutes, is made with all gluten-free ingredients and it’s great for the whole family.

I LOVE a good one-skillet kind of meal. In fact, many may also say I live for one. There is nothing more satisfying than cooking your dinner in one skillet and having your entire family eat it.

And this is exactly that. A one-skillet taco bake that is made with just a few ingredients, sneaks in a vegetable and you can serve it with some tortilla chips, tortillas or over some rice or something if you want.

My kids love Mexican-flared recipes. We always go for Mexican food on the weekends and tacos, burritos and quesadillas are staples in our weekly dinner rotation.

What I love about this taco bake though is how easy it is to make. And how flavorful it is. It’s one of those dishes you will come back to again and again. I love the cheesy topping and how the base is filled with ground meat, veggies, seasonings and hints of tomato. You can have a healthy dinner on the table in 30 minutes with this recipe.

I cannot wait to hear what you think of this! Keep me posed if you try it and what you think of it too.

What ingredients you need to make this taco bake:

• Olive oil or avocado oil – either oil can work in this recipe
• Zucchini – if you’re not a fan of zucchini you can omit it! Or sub peppers or another veggie you love
• White onion – I love using a sweet white onion in this dish
• Garlic cloves – I love using fresh garlic cloves in this dish
• Ground turkey, chicken or beef – you can use any of these ground meats. I have successfully made it with each of these
• Smoked paprika, ground cumin, dried oregano
• Tomato paste – this thickens up the dish and adds great flavor to it too
• Chicken, beef or vegetable broth – any of these cooking broths works in this recipe!
• Shredded cheddar cheese – you can also use another favorite cheese if you prefer or a Mexican cheese blend
• For serving: avocado, jalapeños, sour cream, cilantro, tortilla chips

How to make this easy taco skillet:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F 
2. Head oil over large cast-iron skillet over medium heat
3. Add zucchini, onion and garlic and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally 
4. Add in the ground meat and spices and cook everything together so the meat is no longer pink (I use a meat masher!)
5. Stir in tomato paste and broth and mix all together 
6. Cook over medium low heat until broth has reduced, stirring occasionally 
7. Remove skillet from heat and add cheese across then bake in oven for about 10 minutes. I like to broil for 1-2 minutes so the cheese bubbles a bit
8. Serve with desired toppings and fixings while warm!

FAQs and tips on making this taco bake:

• What kind of ground meat do you use? Typically beef, turkey or chicken. You can use any of these in this recipe!
• Do I have to use zucchini in this? Nope! I like to add in a vegetable so I like the neutral flavor of zucchini. You could do peppers, mushrooms, corn, anything you want.
• Can I prep this recipe ahead of time? This recipe reheats really well. So if you make it and have leftovers or want to meal prep it, it’s a great option.
• Is this dish spicy? No, it is not. I didn’t add jalapeños or spicy peppers but you can if you want. Since I do like this for my kids, I keep the spice out.

A few other healthy and delicious one-skillet dishes to try:

One-Skillet Healthy Chicken Stir Fry

15-minute Beef and Broccoli Skillet

White Bean Sausage Kale Skillet (gluten-free)

One-Skillet Greek Chicken with Rice