Oven-baked tacos are an easy crowd-pleaser that let everyone add their favorite toppings. Baking the filled shells keeps them crisp and intact, and it’s an efficient way to make a large batch for family dinners or gatherings.
Time needed
If you need to brown the beef, plan on about 15 minutes of prep. The tacos bake for 10–12 minutes, so the whole meal comes together in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
- ground beef
- onion
- diced green chilies
- homemade taco seasoning mix
- tomato sauce
- shredded Colby-Jack or Mexican blend cheese
- hard taco shells
- optional condiments: shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, salsa, avocado or guacamole, sour cream, sliced olives, hot sauce, taco sauce, cilantro, green onions
Adaptations for dietary restrictions
Gluten-free. Many store-bought hard taco shells are made from corn and are gluten-free; always verify package labeling. If making shells at home, use corn tortillas rather than flour tortillas.
Vegetarian. For a meatless option, use a lentil taco filling or plant-based crumbles in place of ground beef. There are several high-quality meat substitutes available if you prefer a texture similar to ground beef.
How to make oven-baked tacos
Preheat the oven to 400ºF. While it heats, brown the ground beef with diced onion in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Drain any excess fat or liquid. Return the meat to the skillet and stir in drained diced green chilies, tomato sauce, and taco seasoning. Simmer the mixture for about 5 minutes so the flavors meld.
Spoon the meat mixture into hard taco shells and arrange them upright in a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. If needed, prop the shells against one another or use a taco rack to keep them stable. Top each filled shell with shredded cheese.
Bake at 400ºF for 10–12 minutes, until the cheese melts and the tacos are heated through. Serve immediately with your choice of condiments.
Side dishes
Pair these tacos with easy sides:
- Mexican-style rice
- Refried beans
- Mixed green salad with a Mexican-style dressing
Recipe
Oven-Baked Beef Tacos (30 Minute Recipe)
Equipment
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Taco holder or rack (optional)
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 4 ounces can diced green chilies, drained
- 4 tablespoons homemade taco seasoning mix
- 8 ounces tomato sauce
- 8 ounces Colby-Jack or Mexican blend cheese, shredded
- 12 hard taco shells
Optional Condiments
- Shredded lettuce
- Diced tomatoes
- Salsa
- Guacamole or sliced avocado
- Sour cream
- Sliced olives
- Hot sauce
- Taco sauce
- Fresh cilantro
- Green onions
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 400ºF.
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Brown the ground beef and diced onion over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Drain any excess fat or liquid.
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Return the meat to the skillet and add drained green chilies, tomato sauce, and taco seasoning. Stir to combine.
-
Simmer the mixture for about 5 minutes to let the flavors meld.
-
Spoon the filling into hard taco shells and arrange them upright in a 9×13-inch baking dish, propping shells together or using a rack to keep them steady.
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Top each taco with shredded cheese.
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Bake for 10–12 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the tacos are heated through.
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Serve with your preferred condiments and enjoy.
Notes
- Swap in taco-seasoned shredded chicken or leftover shredded beef for a different protein.
- Stir in a can of refried beans to make the filling heartier.
- Use your favorite salsa or enchilada sauce instead of tomato sauce.
- Add a can of drained fire-roasted tomatoes for extra depth.
- Finish tacos with crumbled cotija or another cheese after baking.
- Try different cheeses such as cheddar or pepper jack for varied flavor.
- Make a chipotle sour cream by mixing 2 tablespoons chipotle sauce with ½ cup sour cream.
Gluten-free. Check hard-shell labels to confirm they are corn-based and gluten-free. For homemade shells, use corn tortillas.
Vegetarian. Use lentil taco filling or your preferred plant-based crumbles instead of beef.
Nutrition info does not include optional toppings.