Description
These oven-baked tacos are a delicious and easy way to enjoy a crispy taco experience without frying. Made with seasoned ground beef, a blend of spices, enchilada sauce, and melted cheese, these tacos are folded and baked to golden perfection. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a casual gathering, they offer a flavorful twist on traditional tacos using the oven to achieve a crunchy texture.
Ingredients
For the Taco Meat
- 1 lb Ground Beef, 96/4
- 1 medium (200g) Yellow Onion, diced
- 5 cloves (25g) Garlic, minced
- 2 tsp Paprika
- 1/2 tsp Kosher Salt (or 1/4 tsp table salt)
- 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
- 1/2 tsp Cumin
- 1/2 tsp Crushed Chipotle Pepper
- 1/2 C (120g) Enchilada Sauce (Trader Joe's recommended)
For Assembling the Tacos
- 15 Extra Thin Corn Tortillas (Mission recommended)
- 1 C (112g) Finely Shredded Mozzarella (or your choice of cheese)
- 1/2 C (56g) Finely Shredded Reduced Fat Cheddar
Instructions
- Prep the Meat and Vegetables: Dice the onion and mince the garlic before adding both to a large skillet along with the ground beef over medium-high heat.
- Cook the Beef: Cook the beef mixture until no pink remains. While the beef is cooking, combine the dry spices (paprika, salt, pepper, cumin, crushed chipotle pepper). Add these spices toward the end of the cooking and stir well to ensure even seasoning.
- Add the Sauce: Reduce the heat to low and stir in the enchilada sauce. Continue stirring until the sauce thickens and coats the beef evenly. Remove the mixture from heat.
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 400°F (204°C) to prepare for baking the tacos.
- Warm the Tortillas: Wrap the corn tortillas in a slightly damp paper towel and microwave them for 45-60 seconds, flipping halfway through to make them soft and pliable for folding. Lay the warmed tortillas out on a large wire rack or baking sheet.
- Assemble the Tacos: Place a generous pinch of shredded cheese on one half of each tortilla, then add a layer of the seasoned beef mixture on top, followed by another pinch of cheese. Carefully fold the tortillas in half, pressing gently to seal without squeezing out the filling.
- Prepare for Baking: Spray the tops of the folded tacos lightly with cooking spray. Place a baking sheet on top of the tacos to keep them closed during baking.
- Bake the Tacos: Bake in the preheated oven for 14-18 minutes or until the tacos are golden brown and crispy. Keep an eye on them to prevent burning, as the thin tortillas cook quickly. If needed, you can remove the top baking sheet after a few minutes to help crisp the tacos faster.
Notes
- Heating the tortillas before folding prevents cracking; if tortillas crack, warm them slightly longer.
- Using a baking sheet on top helps keep the tacos closed and ensures even baking.
- Be careful not to press too hard when folding so the filling doesn’t spill out.
- Extra thin tortillas cook faster, so watch the bake time carefully to avoid burning.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
