Let’s assemble and bake this comforting Taco Casserole:

1. Preheat Oven and Prepare Skillet:

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
• Have a 9×13 inch casserole dish ready (greasing is usually not necessary due to chip layer/sauce).

2. Brown Meat and Onion:

• In a large skillet, cook the ground beef and chopped onion over medium heat until the beef is thoroughly browned and the onion is softened.
• Drain off any excess fat from the skillet.
• (Recommended: Stir in taco seasoning at this stage and cook for 1 minute more).

3. Make the Sauce:

• To the skillet with the browned meat and onion, add the cream of mushroom soup, cream of chicken soup, red enchilada sauce, and drained diced green chilies.
• Stir well to combine all ingredients. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, to allow flavors to meld.

4. Assemble the Casserole (Layering):

• First Chip Layer: Spread half of the broken tortilla chip pieces evenly over the bottom of the 9×13 inch casserole dish.
• First Meat/Sauce Layer: Spoon half of the prepared beef and sauce mixture evenly over the chip layer.
• Second Chip Layer: Add another layer using the remaining broken tortilla chips.
• Second Meat/Sauce Layer: Top with the rest of the meat and sauce mixture, spreading it evenly.

5. Add Cheese Topping:

• Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese (or Mexican blend) evenly over the top of the casserole.

6. Bake:

• Place the casserole dish in the preheated oven, uncovered.
• Bake for 20 minutes, or until the casserole is heated through and the cheese is melted and bubbly.

7. Broil (Optional, for Golden Cheese):

• For a more golden brown and bubbly cheese topping, carefully switch the oven setting to Broil (High) for the last 2 minutes of cooking.
• Watch extremely closely during this step to prevent the cheese or chips from burning.

8. Rest and Serve:

• Carefully remove the hot casserole from the oven. Let it rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving. This allows the layers to set slightly.
• Serve hot, with optional toppings like sour cream, salsa, guacamole, or chopped fresh cilantro/green onions.

A cheesy, comforting casserole ready for the table