Description
These Crispy Ground Beef Tacos are a delicious and satisfying meal featuring seasoned ground beef cooked with enchilada sauce, melted Mexican cheese, and baked to perfection in crispy corn tortillas. Perfectly balanced with flavors and textures, they make an effortless and crowd-pleasing dinner.
Ingredients
Meat and Sauce
- 1 pound lean ground beef (90% lean)
- 1 packet of taco seasoning
- 3/4 cup red enchilada sauce
Cheese and Tortillas
- 2 1/2 cups Oaxaca cheese or Mexican cheese or Monterey Jack, shredded
- 10 corn tortillas
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C) to prepare for baking the tacos so they become crispy and the cheese melts perfectly.
- Cook Beef: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and brown the ground beef, breaking it up as it cooks. Stir in the taco seasoning packet and the red enchilada sauce, bring the mixture to a simmer briefly, then remove from heat to stop cooking.
- Prepare Tortillas: Wrap the corn tortillas in a damp paper towel and microwave them for 30 to 60 seconds until they become pliable and easy to fold without breaking.
- Assemble Tacos: Brush one side of each tortilla with olive oil. Place the tortilla on a baking sheet with the oiled side down. Add 2 tablespoons of shredded cheese to half of the tortilla, top with about 1/4 cup of the seasoned ground beef mixture, and then layer 2 more tablespoons of cheese on top. Fold the tortilla over to enclose the filling.
- Repeat Assembly: Repeat the assembly process with the remaining tortillas, filling, and cheese. Arrange the folded tacos in a single layer on the baking sheet, ensuring they don't overlap so they bake evenly.
- Bake Tacos: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake the tacos for 16 minutes or until the tortillas are crispy and golden brown, and the cheese inside has melted completely.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the tacos from the oven and let them sit for 3 minutes to cool slightly and firm up before serving to ensure the filling sets and the tacos are easy to handle.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, you can flip the tacos halfway through baking if desired.
- Use Oaxaca cheese for a more authentic Mexican flavor, but Monterey Jack or any good melting cheese will work well.
- Corn tortillas can be a bit fragile; warming them in the microwave with a damp towel makes folding easier.
- Leftover tacos can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days and reheated in the oven or air fryer for best results.
