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Baked Tacos

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posted: 11/07/24

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This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy

Baked Tacos are a quick and easy delicious dinner that the whole family will love. Once you make these, they will be a regular in the rotation.

overhead of baking dish of baked tacos topped with melted cheese, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, diced Jalapeños, and lime wedges

Tacos are pretty much my favorite food group, and baked tacos are such a delicious and fun spin on them. They are pretty much exactly what they sound like. We fill hard taco shells with the perfect filling, top it with cheese, and bake it. This is a great way to feed your family!

How to Make Baked Tacos

Here is a brief overview of how this baked tacos recipe comes together. For the full recipe including all ingredients and measurements, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

  • Cook the ground beef. Cook the ground beef in a skillet, adding the garlic and onion as the meat begins to brown. Cook until the onion is translucent and the meat is no longer pink.
  • Make the taco meat. Stir in the taco seasoning and tomato sauce to the ground beef. Turn the heat down and let simmer for five minutes.
  • Put the tacos together. Divide the beans among the shells. Then divide the ground beef mixture and top with the shredded cheese.
  • Bake the tacos. Bake the tacos in a preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until the cheese is completely melted and the shells begin to brown. Top with chopped lettuce and tomatoes and enjoy!

What Taco Shells to Use

When making baked tacos, it’s important to use hard taco shells for that satisfying crunch. Whether you are making these baked beef tacos or my BBQ Chicken Baked Tacos, corn taco shells are a great option because they not only hold up well in the oven but also make this recipe gluten-free!

I recommend buying an 18-count box, even though you’ll only need 12 for the recipe. This way, you can select the shells with a wider bottom, which stand up better when filling and baking. Plus, there are always a few broken shells in the box, so having extras ensures you’ll have the perfect ones for your tacos.

baking dish of Baked Tacos topped with diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce, lime wedges, and diced Jalapeños. Bowl of salsa and two bottles of beer sitting behind

How to Make Taco Meat

We flavor the ground beef with taco seasoning and tomato sauce, essentially making my Taco Meat Recipe which can be used in many different ways, from taco pizza to these baked ground beef tacos. I always keep my homemade taco seasoning on hand. The flavor is perfect and I can whip up a batch with seasonings I already have on hand, skipping the extra preservatives and additives that can be in store-bought seasoning packets.

You could also make this recipe with ground turkey instead of ground beef if your family prefers that. Follow the recipe as written, skipping the step to drain any grease.

Homemade Taco Seasoning

This Homemade Taco Seasoning comes together fast with measurements for one pound of meat or for a whole container to keep in your pantry! Make it extra spicy or keep it mild. We use this recipe weekly!
bottle of spice jar with homemade taco seasoning

Homemade Refried Beans

Refried beans are another part of these baked beef tacos that is easy to make at home. Simply make my recipe for pinto beans in the Instant Pot or Crockpot and toss them in the blender or food processor to get a smooth texture.

Flavor Packed Instant Pot Pinto Beans

Instant Pot Pinto Beans come together in a snap and are a fantastic vegan dinner or easy side dish. Blend them and use them as the perfect burrito filler!
bowl of instant pot pinto beans topped with cilantro, red onion, and cilantro
two baked tacos topped with melted cheese, diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce, and diced Jalapeños with bowl of sour cream and casserole dish of baked tacos sitting in background

Taco Topping Ideas

I love serving these baked ground beef tacos topped with diced tomatoes and shredded lettuce. You can add any (or all) of your favorite taco toppings! Here are a few ideas:

  • Salsa
  • Sour cream
  • Jalapeños
  • Avocado or Guacamole
  • Lime wedges
  • Cilantro

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

Store any leftover tacos (without toppings) in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat only the tacos you plan to eat in the air fryer or oven until heated through.

Variations

This is a great starting point for so many spins on oven-baked tacos. I absolutely love coming up with more baked taco recipes.

Close up of baked tacos in a baking dish topped with melted cheese, diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce, lime wedges, and diced jalapeños

Other Taco Recipes With Ground Beef

If you make this ground beef taco recipe or any of my other recipes, I’d love to hear what you think! Reading your comments makes my day.

overhead of baking dish of baked tacos topped with melted cheese, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, diced Jalapeños, and lime wedges
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Baked Tacos

Serves: 12 tacos
(tap # to scale)
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 35 minutes
Baked Tacos are a quick and easy delicious dinner that the whole family will love. Once you make these, they will be a regular in the rotation.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground beef I used 80/20 (458.59 grams)
  • 1 small yellow onion diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 8 ounces tomato sauce (227 grams)
  • 3 tablespoons taco seasoning or 1 ounce store bought packet
  • 12 hard shell tacos
  • 1 cup refried beans
  • 2 cups cheddar cheese shredded (226 grams)
  • shredded lettuce
  • tomatoes diced

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 9 by 13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
  • In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef. Once it begins to break up, add in the onion and garlic. Cook until the beef is no longer pink and the onion is soft and translucent, about 5 to 7 minutes. Drain any excess fat.
    1 pound ground beef, 1 small yellow onion, 2 cloves garlic
  • Stir in the tomato sauce and the taco seasoning. Turn the heat to low and let simmer for 5 minutes.
    8 ounces tomato sauce, 3 tablespoons taco seasoning
  • Divide the beans amongst the hard shell tacos. Then divide the meat mixture. Top with the shredded cheese.
    12 hard shell tacos, 1 cup refried beans, 2 cups cheddar cheese
  • Bake the tacos for 12 to 15 minutes or until the cheese is completely melted and the shells begin to brown. Top with chopped lettuce and tomatoes and enjoy!
    shredded lettuce, tomatoes
Serving: 1taco Calories: 256kcal (13%) Carbohydrates: 13g (4%) Protein: 13g (26%) Fat: 17g (26%) Saturated Fat: 7g (44%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g Monounsaturated Fat: 6g Trans Fat: 0.5g Cholesterol: 46mg (15%) Sodium: 359mg (16%) Potassium: 243mg (7%) Fiber: 2g (8%) Sugar: 2g (2%) Vitamin A: 363IU (7%) Vitamin C: 3mg (4%) Calcium: 165mg (17%) Iron: 2mg (11%)
Author: Lisa Longley
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
overhead of baking dish of baked tacos topped with melted cheese, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, diced Jalapeños, and lime wedges

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Baked Tacos

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Hi! I'm Lisa Longley, and I am committed to giving you simple dinner ideas and recipes that are easy to make; recipes that will fill your home with joy. I am the owner and author of SimpleJoy.com and I'm so glad that you are here.

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