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Oven-Baked Cheesy Tacos: The Easy Weeknight Dinner That Changed My Tuesday Nights

Oven baked cheesy tacos with melted cheese in baking dish
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Delicious and crispy oven-baked tacos loaded with seasoned beef and topped with cheese and fresh ingredients. These tacos are baked to perfection with melted cheese and crispy shells.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
  • 1 small onion, finely diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 packet taco seasoning (or homemade mix)
  • ⅔ cup tomato sauce or salsa
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 8 hard taco shells
  • 2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Mexican blend)
  • 1 cup shredded lettuce
  • ½ cup diced tomatoes
  • ¼ cup diced red onion
  • 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro (optional)
  • Sour cream (optional)
  • Guacamole (optional)
  • Jalapeño slices (optional)
  • Hot sauce (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and arrange taco shells upright in a 9×13-inch baking dish, leaning them against each other.
  2. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef and diced onion for 6-8 minutes until browned. Drain excess fat.
  3. Add minced garlic and taco seasoning to the beef and stir constantly for 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. Pour in tomato sauce, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 5 minutes until mixture thickens slightly.
  5. Spoon seasoned beef evenly into each taco shell, being careful not to overfill.
  6. Sprinkle shredded cheese generously over each filled taco, using about ¼ cup per taco.
  7. Place baking dish in oven and bake for 10-15 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly and shells are crispy and golden.
  8. Remove from oven, let cool for 2 minutes, then top with lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, and cilantro. Serve with sour cream and guacamole.

Notes

  • Use 80/20 ground beef for juiciest texture without making shells soggy. Drain fat thoroughly to prevent sogginess.
  • Freshly shredded cheese melts better than pre-shredded because it lacks anti-caking agents.
  • Don’t overfill shells or they may crack. Stand shells upright in baking dish to prevent cheese from spilling.
  • For extra crispy shells, bake empty shells for 3-5 minutes before adding filling.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://www.benefitiany.com/oven-baked-cheesy-tacos/