Description
These Oven-Baked Cheesy Tacos deliver a perfect blend of savory, cheesy goodness and fresh toppings. Ground beef is seasoned and simmered before being loaded into crisp taco shells, topped with melted cheese, and baked to golden perfection. Finished with fresh lettuce, tomato, onion, and optional garnishes like sour cream and guacamole, this recipe offers a crowd-pleasing taco night meal that’s easy to prepare and irresistibly delicious.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef Filling
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 packet taco seasoning (or homemade mix)
- ⅔ cup tomato sauce or salsa
- Salt & pepper to taste
Taco Assembly
- 8 hard taco shells
- 2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Mexican blend)
Toppings
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
- ½ cup diced tomatoes
- ¼ cup diced red onion
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro (optional)
- Sour cream (optional)
- Guacamole (optional)
- Jalapeño slices (optional)
- Hot sauce (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Heat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Arrange the hard taco shells upright in a baking dish, preparing them to be filled and baked.
- Cook Beef Mixture: In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and finely diced onion until the beef is browned and cooked through. Drain any excess fat. Add the minced garlic and taco seasoning; stir for about 1 minute to release the flavors. Pour in the tomato sauce or salsa and let the mixture simmer gently for 5 minutes to meld the flavors and thicken slightly.
- Assemble Tacos: Spoon the seasoned beef mixture evenly into each taco shell. Generously sprinkle shredded cheese over the filled shells, ensuring every taco has a cheesy topping.
- Bake: Place the baking dish with the assembled tacos into the preheated oven. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until the cheese is fully melted, bubbly, and the taco shells become crisp and golden brown.
- Add Fresh Toppings: Carefully remove the tacos from the oven. Top each taco with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, red onion, and chopped cilantro if using. Serve the tacos warm accompanied by optional sides such as sour cream, guacamole, jalapeño slices, and hot sauce for personalized flavor enhancements.
Notes
- Use homemade taco seasoning for a fresher, customizable flavor if preferred.
- Drain excess fat from ground beef to reduce greasiness in the tacos.
- Add jalapeño slices or hot sauce for extra heat according to taste.
- For a milder version, omit jalapeños and hot sauce.
- Hard taco shells can be substituted with soft tortillas if preferred but baking time may vary.
- Leftover taco filling can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for later use.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Keywords: oven baked tacos, cheesy tacos, ground beef tacos, Mexican dinner, easy taco recipe, baked tacos with cheese
