Easy Baked Tacos Recipe
These Easy Baked Tacos are a quick and delicious meal featuring seasoned ground beef baked in crispy taco shells topped with melted cheese. Perfect for a family dinner or casual gathering, they are customizable with your favorite fresh toppings for extra flavor and texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Cooking spray
- 1 lb lean ground beef (may substitute ground sirloin or ground turkey)
- 2 tablespoons homemade taco seasoning (or packaged taco seasoning of choice)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste (may substitute ketchup)
- ⅓ cup water
- 12 taco shells
- 1 cup finely shredded cheddar or monterey jack cheese
Optional Toppings
- Shredded lettuce
- Diced tomatoes
- Pico de gallo or salsa
- Sour cream
- Guacamole or diced avocado
- Pickled onions
- Chopped cilantro
- Lime wedges
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375℉ to prepare for baking the tacos.
- Prepare Taco Shells: Arrange the taco shells upright in a 9×13-inch baking dish. If they don’t stand on their own, wedge a ball of foil between them to keep them upright. Set aside.
- Heat Skillet: Place a medium skillet over medium heat and spray it with cooking spray once hot to prevent sticking.
- Cook Ground Beef: Add the ground beef to the skillet, breaking it into small pieces with a spatula. Cook for 7-8 minutes stirring occasionally until the beef is almost cooked through.
- Add Seasoning: Stir in the taco seasoning, tomato paste, and water. Cook the mixture for 3-4 more minutes, stirring occasionally, until it is heated through and well combined.
- Fill Taco Shells: Remove the skillet from heat and spoon the seasoned meat mixture evenly into the taco shells.
- Add Cheese and Bake: Sprinkle shredded cheese over the filled tacos. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve: Remove tacos from the oven and serve immediately with your choice of optional toppings such as lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, sour cream, guacamole, pickled onions, cilantro, or lime wedges.
Notes
- You can substitute ground turkey or ground sirloin for the ground beef for a leaner option.
- If your taco shells are too soft or flimsy, warming them in the oven briefly before filling can help them hold their shape.
- Homemade taco seasoning allows for control over salt and spice levels, but store-bought works great for convenience.
- Feel free to customize toppings based on preference or dietary needs.
- Leftover meat mixture can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated for quick meals.
Find it online: https://marthatasty.com/easy-baked-tacos-recipe/
