Baked Tacos

Baked tacos are a delicious twist on traditional beef tacos, with a crispy shell and a filling packed with seasoned ground beef and melty cheese. Baking the tacos in the oven adds an extra layer of flavor and texture that will have your taste buds singing.

Are you tired of the same old tacos? Do you want to add a little twist to your taco Tuesday? I love to switch things up and make my families favorite recipe for baked tacos. Baked tacos are a fun and tasty way to switch up your taco night routine. Not only are they delicious, but they’re also easy to make and perfect for feeding a crowd.

So, what exactly are baked tacos? Baked tacos are a crunchy corn taco shell that is filled with ground taco beef or shredded chicken and topped with a ridiculous amount of cheese. The filled crunchy taco shells are then baked until the cheese is melty and the shells are warm and golden in color. The result is a crunchy and flavorful taco that will have you coming back for seconds (and maybe even thirds).

One of the best things about baked tacos is how versatile they are. You can fill them with just about anything you like. Love spicy food? Fill your baked tacos with spicy ground beef, cheese, and jalapenos. Want something a little healthier and maybe vegetarian? Try filling your baked tacos with grilled veggies, black beans, and quinoa. The possibilities are endless, and you can get as creative as you like.

Jump to:

• Why this Recipe Works
• Ingredients
• Directions
• Recipe FAQs
• Baked Tacos Tips and Tricks
• Sides for Tacos
• Baked Tacos

Why this Recipe Works

Texture: Baking the tacos in the oven creates a crispy shell that adds an extra layer of texture to the dish.

Flavor: The filling and shell meld together during the baking process, allowing the flavors to blend and intensify.

Versatility: Baked tacos are incredibly versatile, allowing you to use any type of filling or topping you like.

Easy to make: Baked tacos are easy to make, you skip the step of having to bake the shells on their own and instead you fill the taco shells and bake them with the filling inside.

Feeds a crowd: Baked tacos are perfect for feeding a crowd, as you can easily make a large batch and everyone can customize their own toppings.

Healthy: Depending on the filling and toppings you choose, baked tacos can be a healthy and nutritious meal option. These beef and cheese tacos come in at about 180 calories per taco.

Ingredients

• Ground Beef – I prefer to use lean ground beef, but any cut of ground beef works.
• Taco Seasoning – I like to make my own taco seasoning; however, any taco seasoning will work.
• Corn Tortilla Shells – One package of tortilla shells is all you need, unless you plan to make a double batch to feed a larger crowd.
• Cheese – I like to use pre-shredded Mexican blend cheese or mild cheddar (as pictured above). Either of those cheeses work.

Directions

When your ready to cook, you’ll make your ground beef first. The key to not having soggy taco shells is to have a drier than normal beef mixture. You don’t want your beef to have a lot of sauce–it will still be flavorful just not full of sauce.

Place the ground beef in a skillet on the stove top. Cook on medium heat, and break up the beef into bite-size pieces. Once the beef is cooked (about 5 minutes), sprinkle the taco seasoning on top of the beef. Add the water to the skillet and mix well. Simmer on low for 5 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

Place taco shells in a large baking dish. Begin adding in 1-2 tablespoons of ground beef to each taco shell.

Once all the taco shells have meat filled in them sprinkle the grated cheese on top of the tacos.

Bake the tacos for 8-10 minutes until shells are golden in color and cheese is melted.

Carefully, remove from the oven, serve immediately, and top with your favorite toppings like shredded lettuce, pico de gallo, sour cream, and guacamole!

Recipe FAQs

Baked Tacos Tips and Tricks

Here are a few of my favorite baked beef tacos tips and tricks.

• Soggy – To prevent your baked tacos from getting soggy, try placing a layer of cheese on the bottom of the shell before adding the filling. The cheese will melt and create a barrier between the filling and the shell, keeping it crispy.
• Soft Taco Shells – If you’re using soft taco shells for baked tacos, try lightly brushing them with oil before filling them. This will help them crisp up in the oven.
• Fillings – Experiment with different fillings! Baked tacos are a great way to use up leftover ingredients in your fridge. Try filling them with leftover chicken, steak, or veggies.
• Overfill – Don’t overfill your tacos! The filling will expand in the oven, so be sure to leave a little room at the top of the shell.
• Toppings – Top your baked tacos with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and even a side of guacamole or salsa for dipping. It’s the perfect way to take your taco game to the next level.

Sides for Tacos

Here are a few of my favorite sides for tacos that you’ll always find on the table when I’m serving tacos.

If you make this baked tacos recipe, I would be honored and love for you to take the time to leave a ⭐ star rating and comment! I spend hours developing and testing these recipes, and always love to hear feedback and user experience!

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