Crispy Beef Tacos
Taco night just got better! These super Crispy Beef Tacos are the perfect combination of seasoned ground beef, cheese and crispy tortillas. Ready in just 40 minutes, these easy tacos are fantastic for quick weeknight dinners.
Crispy Beef Tacos are perfect for busy weeknights and are easily customizable. Serve them alongside this family favorite Spanish Rice recipe and your favorite taco toppings. Whether you eat them plain or simply dip them in hot sauce, these tacos will hit the spot. Seriously, you are going to love how good these tacos are!
We make a lot of different taco recipes around here, and this recipe is one of my favorite "quick and easy" taco recipes to make. I love how crispy and crunchy the corn tortillas get when baked. They are so much better than the store-bought hard taco shells. You can use flour tortillas, but they will not get as crispy as corn tortillas.
The ingredient list is pretty short. Just a few basic taco ingredients are needed. If you plan on topping the tacos you will need additional ingredients. Below I have provided customization options for some of the ingredients, as well as topping suggestions.
These tacos are fantastic by themselves, but I love adding toppings to them. Here are a few suggestions that my family loves.
Keep it simple and dip them in your favorite hot/taco sauce.
Dip them in Guacamole, my personal favorite!
Drizzle them with this AMAZING Garlic Sauce recipe that I use in my Carnitas Nachos recipe.
A squeeze of fresh lime juice and a sprinkle of fresh cilantro is always a good topping for tacos.
The full recipe is in the recipe card below.
Cook the Meat - In a large skillet, brown the ground beef. When the meat is halfway through cooking add in the diced onions and continue cooking until the meat is fully cooked. Add in the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Remove from the heat and drain off the fat.
Season the Meat - Return the meat to the skillet, then stir in the tomato paste and water. Once the tomato paste and water have been fully incorporated add in all of the seasonings. Stir to combine. Remove from the heat.
Stuff the Tacos - Evenly divide the meat and cheese among the tortillas. Fold to make a taco.
Bake - Place in the preheated oven and bake for 8-10 minutes. Once crispy carefully flip the tacos and place back in the oven to bake for 8-10 minutes.
Serve with your favorite toppings and enjoy!
Tips
Warm the tortillas in the microwave before filling them. This will make them easier to work with.
Brush the tortillas with oil to help them get super crispy in the oven.
Store tacos in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 5 days.
To reheat the tacos place them in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes or until crispy. You can also reheat them in a 350°F air fryer for just a few minutes.
Taco night just got better! These super Crispy Beef Tacos are the perfect combination of seasoned ground beef, cheese and crispy tortillas. Perfect for busy weeknights and easily customizable.
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1/2 large onion (small diced)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 4 teaspoons cumin
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- As Needed pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon chipotle powder (or cayenne powder)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons water
- 4 cups shredded cheese (such as cheddar, Mexican blend or queso fresco)
- 16-20 soft corn tortillas
- As Needed olive oil (or any neutral tasting oil)
In a large skillet over medium high heat begin browning the meat. Crumbling as it cooks. Once the meat is halfway through cooking add in the onions and continue cooking until done.
Add in the garlic, cook for 30 seconds then remove from the heat and drain off the fat.
Return the meat to the skillet, over medium-low heat, then stir in the tomato paste and water. Once the tomato paste and water have been fully incorporated add in all of the seasonings. Stir to combine. Remove from the heat.
Preheat an oven up to 400°F. Brush a sheet pan with olive oil. Place the tortillas in a damp towel, cover completely, and warm in the microwave for 20 seconds. Flip and microwave for 20 more seconds.
Brush one side of a tortilla with olive oil, place that side down on the prepared pan. Place some of the beef mixture and shredded cheese on one side of the tortilla, fold over, press down gently and repeat until all of the meat and cheese are used.
You will need 16-20 tortillas, depending on how much meat you place in each tortilla.Place in the oven and bake for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and carefully flip each taco. Place back in the oven and bake for 10 more minutes. Serve with your favorite toppings. Enjoy!
Thank you for stopping by!