Description
This Oven-Baked Cheesy Tacos recipe offers a deliciously crispy and loaded taco experience baked to perfection. Ground beef cooked with savory spices is nestled inside warm taco shells, topped with melted cheddar cheese and fresh veggies, making it a perfect family-friendly dinner that’s quick to prepare and full of flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Mixture
- 1 lb ground beef (or ground turkey/chicken)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 packet taco seasoning (or homemade mix)
- ½ cup tomato sauce or salsa
- Salt & pepper, to taste
Taco Assembly
- 10 small taco shells (flour or corn, slightly warmed)
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (or Mexican blend)
Toppings
- 1 cup lettuce, shredded
- ½ cup diced tomatoes
- ½ cup red onion, diced
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- Optional Toppings: Sour cream, Jalapeños, Guacamole, Hot sauce
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a baking dish or line it with foil for easy cleanup.
- Cook Meat Mixture: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and minced garlic, sautéing until fragrant and translucent. Add ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Stir in the taco seasoning, tomato sauce, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Allow the mixture to simmer for 5 minutes to blend flavors.
- Assemble Tacos: Fill each warmed taco shell with the cooked meat mixture. Sprinkle each taco generously with shredded cheese. Arrange the filled tacos standing upright, side by side, in the prepared baking dish.
- Bake Tacos: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 10–15 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and the taco shells are lightly crispy.
- Add Fresh Toppings: Remove tacos from the oven and top with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, red onion, and chopped cilantro. Add optional toppings like sour cream, jalapeños, guacamole, or hot sauce as desired before serving.
Notes
- For a lighter option, use ground turkey or chicken instead of beef.
- Warm taco shells slightly before assembling to prevent cracking during baking.
- Use corn shells to keep the recipe gluten free.
- Customize toppings to suit your taste preferences or dietary needs.
- Leftover taco mixture can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking, Sautéing
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 taco
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0.2g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
Keywords: oven baked tacos, cheesy tacos, ground beef tacos, crispy tacos, easy taco recipe, baked Mexican tacos, family dinner, taco night
