Description
Delicious and crispy oven-baked tacos loaded with seasoned ground beef, melted cheese, and fresh toppings. Perfect for a quick, flavorful meal with a satisfying crunch.
Ingredients
Beef Mixture
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 packet taco seasoning (or homemade mix)
- ⅔ cup tomato sauce or salsa
- Salt & pepper to taste
Taco Assembly
- 8 hard taco shells
- 2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Mexican blend)
Fresh Toppings
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
- ½ cup diced tomatoes
- ¼ cup diced red onion
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro (optional)
- Sour cream (optional)
- Guacamole (optional)
- Jalapeño slices (optional)
- Hot sauce (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Heat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and arrange the hard taco shells upright in a baking dish to prepare for baking.
- Cook Beef Mixture: In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef with the finely diced onion. Once cooked, drain any excess fat. Add minced garlic and taco seasoning, stirring for 1 minute to blend the flavors. Pour in the tomato sauce or salsa and simmer the mixture for 5 minutes to thicken and develop a rich taste.
- Assemble Tacos: Spoon the seasoned beef mixture evenly into each taco shell. Generously sprinkle shredded cheese over the beef-filled shells to ensure a cheesy topping.
- Bake: Place the baking dish with the assembled tacos in the preheated oven. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until the cheese has melted fully and the taco shells turn crisp and golden brown.
- Add Fresh Toppings: Remove the tacos from the oven and top them with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, red onion, and chopped cilantro as desired. Serve while warm with optional sides like sour cream, guacamole, jalapeño slices, or hot sauce for extra flavor.
Notes
- Feel free to customize toppings based on your preference.
- For a spicier kick, add jalapeño slices before baking to infuse heat into the cheese and beef.
- These tacos can be prepared ahead of time and reheated in the oven for convenience.
