Description

Crispy taco shells filled with seasoned ground beef and melted cheese, baked until golden. A quick and easy dinner perfect for busy weeknights with customizable toppings.

Ingredients

Scale

1 lb ground beef (or ground turkey/chicken)
1 tbsp olive oil
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 packet taco seasoning
0.5 cup tomato sauce or salsa
salt and pepper to taste
10 small taco shells (flour or corn, slightly warmed)
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (or Mexican blend)
1 cup lettuce, shredded
0.5 cup tomatoes, diced
0.5 cup red onion, diced
0.25 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
optional toppings (sour cream, jalapeños, guacamole, hot sauce)

Instructions

Step: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a baking dish or line with foil.
Step: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and minced garlic, sauté for 2-3 minutes until fragrant.
Step: Add ground beef to the skillet, breaking it apart as it cooks. Stir in taco seasoning, tomato sauce, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes until mixture thickens.
Step: Fill each taco shell with the meat mixture. Sprinkle shredded cheese generously over each filled shell.
Step: Arrange filled taco shells standing upright side by side in the prepared baking dish.
Step: Bake for 10-15 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly and shells are lightly crispy.
Step: Remove from oven and top with fresh lettuce, diced tomatoes, red onion, and cilantro. Add optional toppings as desired.

Notes

Warm taco shells slightly before filling to prevent cracking. Don’t overfill shells or they may tip over during baking. Can substitute with ground turkey, chicken, or black beans for variation. These tacos can be assembled ahead and refrigerated, then baked just before serving. Freeze assembled unbaked tacos for up to 2 months.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Baking
Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 taco
Calories: 250 kcal
Sugar: 4 g
Sodium: 620 mg
Fat: 14 g
Saturated Fat: 7 g
Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 18 g
Fiber: 2 g
Protein: 15 g
Cholesterol: 65 mg

Keywords: baked taco recipe, cheesy tacos, easy dinner, oven-baked tacos