Looking for a quick, delicious, and family-friendly meal solution? These Crispy Baked Ground Beef Tacos are the answer! This recipe simplifies taco night by baking the seasoned ground beef directly in taco shells for an incredibly crispy, mess-free experience that everyone will adore.
Key Ingredients for Crispy Baked Ground Beef Tacos
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 packet (1.25 ounces) taco seasoning
- 2/3 cup water
- 12 hard taco shells
- 1 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese (or your favorite cheese)
- Optional Toppings: Shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sour cream, salsa, avocado, sliced jalapeños, chopped cilantro, lime wedges
How to Make Crispy Baked Ground Beef Tacos
Get ready for a flavor explosion with minimal effort! These Crispy Baked Ground Beef Tacos are incredibly easy to assemble, promising a satisfying crunch and hearty, savory filling that’s perfect for busy evenings. With a preparation time of just about 25 minutes, you can have this delightful meal on the table in no time.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat Oven & Prep Taco Shells: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Arrange the hard taco shells in a single layer on a large baking sheet. If your taco shells tend to fall over, you can use a muffin tin to help them stand upright.
- Cook the Ground Beef: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the finely diced yellow onion and cook until softened and translucent, about 3-5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Brown the Beef: Add the lean ground beef to the skillet. Break it up with a spoon and cook until it’s evenly browned. Drain off any excess grease using a paper towel-lined spatula or by carefully tilting the skillet and pouring the grease into a heat-safe container.
- Season the Beef: Return the skillet to medium heat. Sprinkle the taco seasoning over the ground beef and stir to combine.
- Add Water & Simmer: Pour in the 2/3 cup of water. Stir well, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 5-7 minutes, or until the sauce has slightly thickened and coats the ground beef.
- Stuff the Taco Shells: Remove the baking sheet with taco shells from the oven (they don’t need to be fully baked yet, just warmed). Spoon the seasoned ground beef mixture evenly into each taco shell, filling them generously.
- Add the Cheese: Sprinkle the shredded Mexican blend cheese over the top of the ground beef in each taco shell.
- Bake to Crispy Perfection: Place the baking sheet back into the preheated oven. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the taco shells are golden brown and crispy, and the cheese is melted and bubbly. Keep a close eye on them to prevent burning, as shell crispiness can vary.
- Serve and Enjoy: Carefully remove the baking sheet from the oven. Let the Crispy Baked Ground Beef Tacos cool for a minute or two before serving. Serve immediately with your favorite toppings like shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sour cream, salsa, and fresh cilantro.
Why You’ll Love This Crispy Baked Ground Beef Tacos
You’ll fall in love with these Crispy Baked Ground Beef Tacos for so many reasons! The star of the show is the incredible crunch you get from baking the seasoned beef right inside the taco shells, eliminating the need for separate frying and creating a truly satisfying texture.
Plus, making these at home is significantly more budget-friendly than ordering takeout, allowing you to stretch your grocery dollars further for a delicious family meal. The combination of savory, well-seasoned ground beef, gooey melted cheese, and your personalized selection of fresh, vibrant toppings makes each bite an explosion of flavor, rivaling even restaurant-quality tacos. Don’t wait – gather your ingredients and give these amazing Crispy Baked Ground Beef Tacos a try tonight!
Storing and Reheating Tips
Leftover Crispy Baked Ground Beef Tacos are just as delicious the next day, with a little care in their storage and reheating.
Refrigeration: Once the tacos have cooled slightly to room temperature, store any uneaten tacos in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will stay fresh for up to 2-3 days. It’s best to store the taco shells and filling separately from very wet toppings like salsa or sour cream to prevent sogginess.
Reheating:
- Oven Method (for best crispiness): Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the leftover tacos on a baking sheet and reheat for 6-8 minutes, or until warmed through and the shells have regained some of their crispiness. You may want to add fresh cheese before reheating if desired.
- Toaster Oven Method: Similar to the oven, a toaster oven can work well for reheating smaller batches.
- Microwave Method (use with caution): While the quickest, the microwave can make the shells soft. Reheat in 30-second intervals until warm, but expect a less crispy texture. For a better result, you can reheat the filling in the microwave and then stuff it into freshly crisped shells.
Freezing: For longer storage, you can freeze the cooked ground beef filling separately from the taco shells. Once the filling has cooled completely, transfer it to a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze for up to 2-3 months. Reheat the filling on the stovetop or in the microwave before assembling fresh tacos. Freezing the assembled tacos is not recommended as the shell texture will suffer significantly.
Final Thoughts
These Crispy Baked Ground Beef Tacos truly offer a simpler, more enjoyable taco night experience. They are incredibly easy to make, budget-friendly, and absolutely delicious—a winning combination for any home cook. We encourage you to whip up a batch of these Crispy Baked Ground Beef Tacos and discover your new favorite weeknight meal!
try also :
- Lentil and Sweet Potato Salad
- Cranberry Brie Bites
- Crispy Sweet Potato Bites
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Crispy Baked Ground Beef Tacos
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Arrange the hard taco shells in a single layer on a large baking sheet. If your taco shells tend to fall over, you can use a muffin tin to help them stand upright.12 hard taco shells
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the finely diced yellow onion and cook until softened and translucent, about 3-5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 small yellow onion, 2 cloves garlic
- Add the lean ground beef to the skillet. Break it up with a spoon and cook until it's evenly browned. Drain off any excess grease.1 pound lean ground beef
- Return the skillet to medium heat. Sprinkle the taco seasoning over the ground beef and stir to combine.1 packet taco seasoning, 1 pound lean ground beef
- Pour in the 2/3 cup of water. Stir well, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 5-7 minutes, or until the sauce has slightly thickened and coats the ground beef.2/3 cup water, 1 pound lean ground beef
- Remove the baking sheet with taco shells from the oven (they don't need to be fully baked yet, just warmed). Spoon the seasoned ground beef mixture evenly into each taco shell, filling them generously.12 hard taco shells, 1 pound lean ground beef
- Sprinkle the shredded Mexican blend cheese over the top of the ground beef in each taco shell.1 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese, 1 pound lean ground beef
- Place the baking sheet back into the preheated oven. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the taco shells are golden brown and crispy, and the cheese is melted and bubbly. Keep a close eye on them to prevent burning, as shell crispiness can vary.1 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese, 12 hard taco shells
- Carefully remove the baking sheet from the oven. Let the Crispy Baked Ground Beef Tacos cool for a minute or two before serving. Serve immediately with your favorite toppings like shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sour cream, salsa, and fresh cilantro.Shredded lettuce, Diced tomatoes, Sour cream, Salsa, Chopped cilantro