Cheesy Baked Tacos
These cheesy baked tacos feature seasoned ground beef and melted cheddar-jack cheese in crispy hard shells, making a simple, flavorful meal perfect for family taco night.
Equipment
- 1 9x13-inch baking dish
- 1 large skillet
Ingredients
- 10 hard stand & stuff taco shells
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef 85% lean
- 3/4 cup diced yellow onion
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 3/4 cup tomato sauce
- 1 ounce packet taco seasoning
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar-jack cheese
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh cilantro optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Arrange taco shells standing upright in a 9x13 baking dish without overcrowding to ensure even crisping.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add diced onions, ground beef, salt, and black pepper to the skillet and cook, breaking up beef, until no pink remains, about 8-10 minutes.
- Drain excess grease from the skillet.
- Stir in tomato sauce and taco seasoning, cooking for 2-3 minutes until the meat absorbs the sauce but is not too wet.
- Fill each taco shell with 1/3 to 1/2 cup of the taco meat mixture, dividing evenly.
- Top each filled shell with shredded cheddar-jack cheese evenly.
- Bake tacos for 5-7 minutes until the cheese melts and shells are crispy.
- Remove from oven and sprinkle with chopped fresh cilantro if desired before serving.
Notes
- Use stand & stuff shells for easy filling and crisping.
- Substitute cheddar-jack with Monterey Jack or your preferred melting cheese.
- Add fresh toppings like lettuce, diced tomatoes, or sour cream after baking.
- Double the recipe by using a larger box of taco shells for bigger groups.