Baked Tacos
Baked tacos are a delightful twist on traditional tacos, featuring crispy shells filled with savory ground beef. Perfect for family dinners, these customizable tacos are enjoyed by both kids and adults alike.
Ingredients
For the beef mixture
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1.25 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1.25 ounce package taco seasoning
- ΒΌ cup water or beer
- 2 teaspoons hot sauce, such as Cholula
For assembly
- 12 hard taco shells
- 1 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese
For serving
- Pico de gallo For serving
- Avocado For serving
- Sour cream For serving
- Cilantro For serving
- Shredded lettuce For serving
- Lime wedges For serving
Instructions
Preparation
- Heat vegetable oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add ground beef and cook until browned, about 3-5 minutes, crumbling the beef as it cooks; drain excess fat.
- Add onion, and cook until translucent, about 2-3 minutes.
- Stir in garlic until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Stir in taco seasoning, water or beer, and hot sauce until flavors have blended, about 2-3 minutes.
Baking
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Lightly oil a 9 x 13 baking dish or coat with nonstick spray.
- Place taco shells in a single layer, standing up, into the prepared baking dish. Bake until crispy, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add 1/4 cup of ground beef mixture to each taco shell; sprinkle with cheese.
- Return to oven and bake until cheese has melted, about 4-5 minutes.
Serving
- Serve immediately with desired toppings.
Notes
For extra flavor, try adding black beans or corn to the ground beef mixture. You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for a leaner option. Feel free to switch the cheese with your favorites like Monterey Jack or Pepper Jack for extra kick. These tacos can be made vegetarian by substituting ground beef with lentils or crumbled tofu. Prepare the filling and taco shells ahead of time for convenience.
