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Easy Oven Baked Beef Tacos Recipe

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Updated: · Published: by

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Servings 8 tacos
Prep 20 minutes
Cook 25 minutes

Oven Baked Beef Tacos Recipe is perfect for busy weeknights. Prepare the beef ahead of time. Assemble the tacos and bake. Easy, delicious, and always a hit with family and friends.

baked tacos that are made in the oven with jalapenos, cilantro, and cheese.

Tacos are always a hit. Try some of our favorites, Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Tacos, Easy Chicken Taco, or Fry Bread Tacos.

For specifics on the recipe use the table of contents to click on sections of the recipe.

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Why Crispy Baked Beef Tacos are the best!

  • Quick and Easy: Baked beef tacos are quick and easy to prepare, making them ideal for tight schedules.
  • Flavorful: These crispy oven-baked tacos are packed with perfectly seasoned beef and melty cheese for a satisfying bite every time.
  • Crispy and Crunchy: Baked beef tacos are cooked to perfection with crispy taco shells, with no frying needed.
  • Crowd Pleasing: Perfect for feeding a crowd or a fun family dinner, everyone will enjoy.

Ingredients for Baked Ground Beef Tacos

Ingredients to make baked beef tacos.
  • olive oil - Avocado oil is another alternative.
  • yellow onion
  • Garlic - fresh garlic adds flavor
  • ground beef 80/20 - ground turkey, chicken, or pork are alternate proteins to try.
  • Homemade taco seasoning - store-bought taco seasoning is fine to use.
  • hard taco shells - soft flour tortillas can also be used.
  • Cheddar cheese - Monterey Jack, Colby, or Queso Fresco can be used.
  • Toppings - chopped tomato, jalapeno, red onion, fresh cilantro, sour cream. lime

Kitchen tools for making baked tacos

  • 9x13-inch casserole dish
  • Measuring Spoons and Cups
  • knife
  • Cutting Board
  • Grater

How to Make Baked Beef Tacos

This is an overview of the recipe. The full instructions are below in the recipe card.

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Diced onions being sauteed in a pan to make oven baked beef tacos.
  1. In a preheated skillet, saute the onions for 3 minutes. Then add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
Ground beef and onions sauteed to make baked beef tacos.
  1. Add the ground beef and cook until browned.
Ground beef that is browned with onions and taco seasoning to make baked tacos.
  1. Add taco seasoning and water, and simmer for 5 minutes.
Easy baked tacos made with ground beef in hard taco shells in a casserole.
  1. Place taco shells in the baking dish and fill them as desired. Bake for 8-10 minutes.
A casserole baking pan with hard tacos with seasoned ground beef and cheddar cheese.

Eileen's Tips for Crispy Baked Beef Tacos

  • When sautéing onions and garlic, keep the heat at medium to prevent burning.
  • For extra crispy tacos, lightly brush the shells with oil before baking.

FAQs about Baked Beef Tacos

Can I use a different type of meat?

Absolutely! You can easily swap out ground beef for ground turkey, chicken, or even a plant-based alternative.

How do I keep the taco shells from getting soggy?

To keep your taco shells crunchy and delicious, bake them with the filling for the specified time. You can also add a layer of shredded cheese at the bottom of the shell before adding the beef mixture to help create a moisture barrier.

Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

Yes! You can prep the beef filling in advance and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When ready to bake, reheat the filling, assemble the tacos, and bake as directed.

Variations for Oven-Baked Tacos

Do you want to change up this recipe? Here are some ways to change the flavor of this dish.

  • Cheese: Add a layer of melted queso or nacho cheese to the top of the tacos before serving for a cheesy twist.
  • Spice: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper with the beef filling for added heat.
  • Vegetables: Add sautéed peppers, mushrooms, refried beans, or beans to the filling for a hearty, veggie-packed dish.
  • Gluten-free: Use gluten-free taco shells.
  • Dairy-free: Use dairy-free cheese and sour cream.

Make-ahead, storage, and freezer tips

Storage - Store leftover beef filling in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Freezing - You can freeze the cooked beef filling in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 2 months. Thaw before reheating on the stove or in the microwave.

What to serve with Ground Beef Baked Beef Tacos

More Taco Recipes

Are you looking for taco inspiration? Here are a few of my favorite taco recipes:

Check all our Mexican recipes here.

I love any comments or questions, please feel free to leave them below.

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Eileen  xo

If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.

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A white baking dish with baked beef tacos in hard shell tacos topped with chopped tomatoes, cilantro, jalapeno, and sour cream.
Eileen Murphy Kelly

Baked Beef Tacos

Baked Beef Tacos made with ground beef sautéed with chopped yellow onion, garlic, and a zesty taco seasoning make for a delicious, easy dinner. Each taco is loaded into a crisped shell, topped with melty cheddar cheese, and baked to perfection for that unbeatable crunch.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
0 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 8 tacos
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Calories: 208
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium chopped yellow onion
  • 2 cloves minced garlic
  • 1 pound ground beef 80/20 ground beef or minced beef
  • 3 Tablespoons homemade taco seasoning or 1 ounce packet of taco seasoning
  • 2 Tablespoons water
  • 8 hard taco shells
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 medium chopped tomato
  • 1 large diced jalapeno seeded
  • 1 medium diced red onion
  • 3 Tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro optional garnish
  • Sour cream optional garnish
  • 1 large lime optional garnish
  • non-stick cooking spray

Instructions
 

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  2. Heat a large pan over medium heat and add 1 Tablespoon olive oil. Add 1 medium chopped yellow onion and saute for about 3 minutes to soften the onions. Add 2 cloves minced garlic, stir, let the garlic bloom to blend the flavor, about 30 seconds.
  3. Add 1 pound ground beef and saute until browned, about 7 to 10 minutes. Drain and discard the grease.
  4. Mix in 3 Tablespoons homemade taco seasoning and 2 Tablespoons water. Turn heat to low and let simmer 5 minutes. Set aside.
  5. Spray a 9x13-inch pan with non-stick cooking spray.
  6. Arrange 8 hard taco shells in the baking pan, pressed against each other so they stand up. Spoon beef filling into each taco shell and evenly sprinkle each taco with 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese.
  7. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the taco shells are slightly browned.
  8. Remove tacos from the oven and garnish with 1 medium chopped tomato1 large diced jalapeno, 1 medium diced red onion, 3 Tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, and Sour cream. If desired squeeze 1 large lime over the baked beef tacos. Enjoy.

Nutrition

Serving: 2tacosCalories: 208kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 14gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 43mgSodium: 225mgPotassium: 248mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 167IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 85mgIron: 2mg

Notes

Be sure to check Expert Tips and FAQs above with important tips and questions that can help make a delicious recipe.
Storage - Store leftover beef filling in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Freezing - You can freeze the cooked beef filling in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 2 months. Thaw before reheating on the stove or in the microwave.
 
I'm not a registered dietician, I do my best to provide the most accurate nutritional values. Any nutritional data I provide is an approximation. Actual dietary information can vary based on ingredients and portion sizes. 
 

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