As a passionate food lover, I crafted these Oven Baked Tacos using lean ground beef, garlic, and chopped onions. The blend of taco seasoning with cheddar in crispy shells awakens your senses. With tomato, lettuce, and sour cream finishing every bite, this dish offers a truly satisfying twist for dinner.

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I recently experimented in my kitchen with Oven Baked Beef Tacos and let me tell you it turned out amazin! I started with 1 lb of 90% lean ground beef, then tossed in a chopped medium yellow onion and two cloves of minced garlic.

After browning the beef, I added a packet of taco seasoning and 1/2 cup of water to let everything really blend together. Once that was done, I spooned the savory mix into 8 taco shells and topped them with shredded cheddar cheese, chopped lettuce, diced tomatoes, and a bit of sour cream, with salsa to taste.

It had that extra twist of flavor that reminded me of classic Ground Beef Recipes For Dinner and Oven Baked Tacos that are quick and satisfying. If you’re looking for a new dinner idea, I think you’ll dig this Baked Tacos Recipe Beef style meal—it’s a game changer!

Why I Like this Recipe

I like this recipe because it’s super simple to make and doesn’t take forever to prep. I love how the beef, onion, and garlic all come together to bring out an amazing flavor combo – it always makes me crave more. The crispy taco shells with melted cheddar are just awesome; I seriously get a kick out of that crunchy, cheesy topping. Plus, I can totally mix it up with extra salsa or sour cream whenever I feel like it, which makes it feel personalized and fun to eat.

Ingredients

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Ground beef is lean protein that builds muscle and makes the taco filling hearty.
Yellow onion adds sweetness and crunch while also giving you good fiber and vitamins.
Taco seasoning is a spicy blend that uplifts the flavor with cumin, chili powder, and paprika.
Cheddar cheese provides a creamy texture and extra calcium but can be a bit rich.
Sour cream adds a tangy smoothness that cools down the spices ever so nicely.
Salsa gives a fresh, zesty punch and loads of vitamin C for an extra kick.
Taco shells hold all the wonderful layers and offer a satisfying crunch or soft bite.

Ingredient Quantities

1 lb ground beef 90% lean

1 medum yellow onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 packet taco seasoning (or a mix of chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt and pepper)

1/2 cup water

8 taco shells (corn or flour works great)

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup chopped lettuce

1/2 cup diced tomatoes

1/4 cup sour cream

Salsa to taste

How to Make this

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1. Preheat your oven to 375°F.

2. In a large skillet, cook your ground beef over medium heat until it’s browning.

3. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the beef and cook until the onions are tender.

4. Stir in the taco seasoning along with 1/2 cup water; let it simmer for about 5 minutes so the flavors mash together.

5. Place your taco shells on a baking sheet and spoon the beef mixture equally into each shell.

6. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on top of the beef in each shell.

7. Pop the taco shell tray in the oven for about 8 to 10 minutes, until the cheese melts and the shells get a little crispy.

8. Take them out of the oven and carefully open each taco.

9. Top each taco with chopped lettuce, diced tomatoes, and a little bit of sour cream.

10. Finish off with a drizzle of salsa on each taco and serve warm. Enjoy your dinner!

Equipment Needed

1. An oven to bake the tacos and melt the cheese
2. A large skillet to cook the ground beef and veggies
3. A cutting board and a sharp knife for chopping the onion and mincing the garlic
4. A spatula or wooden spoon for stirring the beef mixture
5. A measuring cup for adding water correctly with the taco seasoning
6. A baking sheet to arrange the taco shells in the oven
7. A serving spoon or fork for topping and serving the finished tacos

FAQ

How do I keep my taco shells crispy?

Try to bake the beef and taco shells separately and fill the shells just before serving so they stay crunchy.

Can I use a different meat besides ground beef?

Yeah, you can totally swap in ground turkey or chicken if you prefer a lighter option or simply want to mix it up.

What do I do if I don't have taco seasoning?

You can easily whip up your own with chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt and pepper and it'll work just as good.

Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

Sure, you can cook the beef mixture ahead of time and keep it in the fridge. Just remember that prefilled taco shells might lose a bit of their crunch.

How long should I bake the tacos?

Preheat your oven to 350°F and bake for about 10 minutes until the cheese melts. Keep an eye on them to avoid overcooking.

Oven Baked Beef Tacos Recipe Substitutions and Variations

Instead of 1 lb ground beef, you can use 1 lb ground turkey for a slightly lighter taco.
If you don’t have a medium yellow onion, a red onion or even a shallot works pretty well in its place.
Don’t have a packet of taco seasoning? Mix together chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt and pepper to your taste.
If you dont have sour cream, you can substitute it with plain Greek yogurt or even a bit of avocado crema.

Pro Tips

1. When browning the beef, try not to overcrowd the pan so that it really gets a good sear instead of just stewing in its own juices. I noticed that doing it in batches can make a big difference in how much flavor you end up with.

2. If you’re using your own spice mix in place of packet taco seasoning, taste as you go. Sometimes you need a pinch a bit more salt or extra cumin to get that perfect taco flavor bursting through.

3. Keep a close eye on the taco shells in the oven – they can go from perfectly crispy to too hard pretty quickly. I’ve learned to pop ’em out a little early if the cheese is just about melted and let them finish crisping off the heat in the pan for a minute or two.

4. For that extra pop of flavor, warm your toppings (like the lettuce and tomatoes) just a little before adding them in. It might seem weird, but slightly warmed fresh ingredients blend better with the hot meat filling without becoming soggy.

Oven Baked Beef Tacos Recipe

Recipe by Dan Coroni

0.0 from 0 votes

Servings

servings

Calories

250

kcal

Equipment: 1. An oven to bake the tacos and melt the cheese
2. A large skillet to cook the ground beef and veggies
3. A cutting board and a sharp knife for chopping the onion and mincing the garlic
4. A spatula or wooden spoon for stirring the beef mixture
5. A measuring cup for adding water correctly with the taco seasoning
6. A baking sheet to arrange the taco shells in the oven
7. A serving spoon or fork for topping and serving the finished tacos

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef 90% lean
1 medum yellow onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 packet taco seasoning (or a mix of chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt and pepper)
1/2 cup water
8 taco shells (corn or flour works great)
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup chopped lettuce
1/2 cup diced tomatoes
1/4 cup sour cream
Salsa to taste

Directions

Preheat your oven to 375°F.
In a large skillet, cook your ground beef over medium heat until it's browning.
Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the beef and cook until the onions are tender.
Stir in the taco seasoning along with 1/2 cup water; let it simmer for about 5 minutes so the flavors mash together.
Place your taco shells on a baking sheet and spoon the beef mixture equally into each shell.
Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on top of the beef in each shell.
Pop the taco shell tray in the oven for about 8 to 10 minutes, until the cheese melts and the shells get a little crispy.
Take them out of the oven and carefully open each taco.
Top each taco with chopped lettuce, diced tomatoes, and a little bit of sour cream.
Finish off with a drizzle of salsa on each taco and serve warm. Enjoy your dinner!

Notes

Below you’ll find my best estimate of this recipe’s nutrition facts. Treat the numbers as a guide rather than a rule—great food should nourish both body and spirit. Figures are approximate, and the website owner assumes no liability for any inaccuracies in this recipe.