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Oven-Baked Cheesy Tacos

Crispy oven-baked tacos filled with seasoned meat and melted cheese, perfect for an easy, crowd-pleasing dinner.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 22 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American, Autumn
Calories: 320

Ingredients
  

Taco Filling
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 onion diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 packet taco seasoning
  • 0.5 cup diced tomatoes drained
Assembly
  • 12 hard taco shells
  • 1.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
  • 0.5 cup sour cream for serving
  • 1 cup shredded lettuce for garnish
  • 0.5 cup diced tomatoes for topping

Equipment

  • Mixing bowls
  • Baking sheet
  • Wire rack
  • Hand mixer or stand mixer

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
  2. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook until soft, then stir in garlic.
  3. Add ground beef and cook until browned. Drain excess fat if needed.
  4. Stir in taco seasoning and diced tomatoes. Simmer 3–5 minutes, then remove from heat.
  5. Arrange taco shells upright on the baking sheet. Sprinkle a small amount of cheese into the bottom of each shell.
  6. Fill shells with meat mixture, then top with remaining cheese.
  7. Bake for 10–12 minutes until shells are golden and cheese is melted.
  8. Remove from oven, garnish with lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, and serve immediately.

Notes

For extra crispiness, bake an additional 2–3 minutes. Add fresh toppings after baking for best texture.