Easy Baked Tacos (with ground beef)

Easy baked tacos are the best weeknight meal or taco Tuesday tradition. They are made with an easy ground beef taco meat that your whole family will love. These tacos are so versatile and can be topped with any additions you like.

Baked tacos

Tacos make the best easy week night dinner! These baked tacos are going to become one of your go-to weeknight dinners. They are so easy to make, they are family friendly, and everyone will love them so you’ll find yourself turning to them more times than you think! With just a few simple ingredients and 10 minutes of baking time you’ll be biting into these crunchy tacos.

Ingredients in easy taco recipe

You only need 5 main ingredients! Here are the ingredients we are working with.

Ground beef is the main protein source in these tacos. I prefer using 90/10 lean beef but feel free to use any beef you prefer.

Taco seasoning, store bought or home made.

Water mixes with the taco seasonings to coat the beef in the final stages of cooking.

Hard taco shells to make the tacos. Any kind will do!

Shredded cheddar cheese to top the tacos! Freshly shredded cheese from a clock of cheese works best.

Toppings: onions, salsa, cilantro, sour cream, fresh lime juice. And any other toppings you prefer! I have listed some topping ideas below.

Why you’ll love baked tacos

These tacos are absolutely delicious, crunchy and flavorful. You’re going to love them!

• They are perfect for taco Tuesday!

• Beef tacos are so easy to make.

• They are great for a crowd as the recipe can easily be doubled.

• You can use any protein source you like.

• Tacos are crunchy, fun, and so versatile.

How to make

Follow the few simple steps below to make this easy taco recipe.

Preheat your oven. To start, preheat your oven to 350 degrees and grease a large baking dish or a deep cookie sheet.

Cook the beef. Now in a large pan, start to brown the ground beef. Cook until fully browned and almost cooked through. Drain and excess fat. Add in the seasonings and water and stir frequently. Stir until the water evaporates and the taco seasoning coats the meat about 2-4 minutes.

Assemble the tacos. Time to make the tacos! Grab the taco shells and one by one add a large spoonful of taco meat. Repeat this process until all the tacos are filled. Assemble them in your baking dish so they all stand upright and add the shredded cheddar cheese on top.

Bake. Time to bake for 10 minutes! While the tacos bake prepare your toppings.

Add the toppings and enjoy. Remove the tacos from the oven, add your desired toppings, and enjoy!

Substitutes and variations

Cheese. Freshly shredded cheddar cheese works best for these tacos. But feel free to get creative! Pepper jack, Mexican cheese, mild cheddar, and cotija cheese are also great options.

Toppings. Get creative with the toppings! Some of the most popular toppings are cheese, salsa, sour cream and salsa but feel free to add whatever you like. Peppers, hot sauce, beans, corn, and grilled veggies are also great toppings ideas.

What to serve with baked tacos

Enjoy tacos on their own! These tacos are completely delicious and filling on their own.

Make a side of rice. Cilantro lime rice, Mexican rice, white rice, or brown rice all pair nicely with this meal.

A side salad is always a good option. Grab some crunchy leafy greens and add top it with a delicious Mexican dressing.

There are many different types of beans. However, black beans, refined beans, and pinto beans are best with Mexican tacos.

Mexican pasta salad. This Mexican pasta salad is packed with corn, pasta and veggies and makes the best side dish.

Fajita veggies. Sauté peppers and onion in a little olive oil on the stove. Add some salt, pepper, and oregano and cook until wilted.

Frequently asked questions

Why do you bake the tacos?

Baking tacos is an easy way to cook the tacos shells, melt the cheese, and cook the tacos as a whole. They only take 10 minutes of baking time in the oven.

What is the best meat for tacos?

These baked tacos are so versatile so you can really use any meat you like. This recipe calls for lean ground beef but feel free to use ground turkey or ground chicken.

What makes this the best ground beef taco recipe?

Firstly, these tacos are so easy to make. Anything that is easy to make is the best in my book! Secondly, they require minimal ingredients and are so versatile. They will suit anyones taste buds! Lastly, the ground beef is seasoned perfectly with the right amount spice.

How to store

I recommend assembling and baking however many tacos you think your family will consume. It’s best to do this for leftovers as the full stuffed tacos don’t store very well. Store the leftover meat and toppings separately in airtight containers.

However, if you do have leftover full tacos, store them in an airtight container in the fridge. Please note the taco shells may get a little soft. They will still taste delicious the next day but the shells will soften. To reheat, add them back into the oven at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes. Or you can heat them back up in the microwave for an easy lunch the next day.

Other recipes you’ll love

If you love easy dinner meals, definitely give some of these other recipes a try.

Spaghetti Squash Taco Casserole

The Best Flavorful Turkey Meatballs

Baked Salmon and Coconut Rice

BBQ Turkey Burger

Mexican Pasta Salad

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If you do give these beef tacos a try, please let me know! Please leave a comment with a star rating below. Your reviews and comments help support Brae’s Bites and allows me to continue to make delicious recipes!