Oven-Baked Cheesy Tacos
Enjoy these crispy and loaded oven-baked cheesy tacos filled with seasoned beef and topped with melty cheese, making them perfect for any family gathering or casual dinner.
Ingredients
Taco Filling
- 1 lb ground beef use lean ground beef for healthier option
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 packet taco seasoning (or homemade mix)
- ⅔ cup tomato sauce or salsa
- to taste Salt & pepper
Taco Shells & Toppings
- 8 hard taco shells
- 2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Mexican blend) use your favorite cheese blend
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
- ½ cup diced tomatoes
- ¼ cup diced red onion
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro (optional) for garnish, can be omitted
- to taste Sour cream (optional)
- to taste Guacamole (optional)
- to taste Jalapeño slices (optional)
- to taste Hot sauce (optional)
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and arrange taco shells upright in a baking dish.
Cooking the Beef
- In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and diced onion until browned.
- Drain excess fat and add minced garlic and taco seasoning; stir for 1 minute.
- Pour in the tomato sauce and simmer for 5 minutes.
Assembling and Baking
- Spoon the seasoned beef evenly into each taco shell.
- Generously sprinkle each with shredded cheese.
- Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 10–15 minutes, or until the cheese melts and the shells turn crisp and golden.
Serving
- Remove from the oven, then top with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, diced red onion, and cilantro.
- Serve warm with optional sour cream or guacamole for extra flavor.
Notes
You can customize your toppings and try adding corn or black olives for more flavor. For a vegetarian option, substitute ground beef with a mixture of black beans and vegetables. If you like spicy tacos, consider adding diced jalapeños.
Nutrition
Serving: 1gCalories: 350kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 20gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 7gSodium: 600mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2g