Beef Tacos with Hard Shells (Print Version)
Crispy hard shells filled with seasoned beef and fresh, zesty toppings for a quick, tasty meal.
# What You Need:
→ Beef Filling
01 - 1 pound ground beef, 80/20 blend recommended
02 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 packet (1 ounce) taco seasoning or homemade blend
05 - 2/3 cup water
06 - 1 tablespoon tomato paste, optional
→ Shells
07 - 8 hard corn taco shells
→ Toppings
08 - 1 cup shredded lettuce
09 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
10 - 1 medium tomato, diced
11 - 1/2 cup sour cream
12 - 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
13 - 1 jalapeño, thinly sliced
14 - Salsa or hot sauce to taste
15 - Lime wedges for serving
# Preparation Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Arrange taco shells on baking sheet and warm for 5 minutes until crisp.
02 - Heat large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking up with spoon, until browned, approximately 5-6 minutes.
03 - Add chopped onion to skillet and sauté until softened, about 2 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
04 - Sprinkle taco seasoning and add tomato paste if using. Mix well to combine. Pour in water, reduce heat to medium, and simmer for 4-5 minutes until sauce thickens.
05 - Remove taco shells from oven. Spoon beef mixture evenly into each shell, filling about three-quarters full.
06 - Top with lettuce, cheese, diced tomato, sour cream, cilantro, jalapeño, and salsa as desired. Serve immediately with lime wedges on the side.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The beef filling gets incredibly flavorful and thick, not watery like some versions that drip everywhere
- Everything comes together in under 30 minutes, making it perfect for those nights when you want something fun but don't have hours to cook
02 -
- Overfilling hard shells is the quickest way to end up with broken tacos and beef all over your plate
- Letting the beef mixture cool slightly before filling the shells helps prevent the bottoms from getting soggy too fast
03 -
- If your taco shells came in a box with that plastic sleeve, keep them in there until serving time to maintain maximum crunchiness
- Mixing a little extra cumin and chili powder into your sour cream creates an amazing two-minute topping sauce