Beef Tacos Hard Shells (Print Version)
Crisp shells filled with seasoned beef and topped with fresh, colorful ingredients for a tasty meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ Beef Filling
01 - 1 lb ground beef (80/20)
02 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
05 - 2 tsp chili powder
06 - 1 tsp ground cumin
07 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
08 - 1/2 tsp dried oregano
09 - 1/2 tsp salt
10 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
11 - 1/4 cup water
12 - 1 tbsp vegetable oil
→ Tacos
13 - 8 hard taco shells
→ Toppings
14 - 1 cup iceberg lettuce, shredded
15 - 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
16 - 1 large tomato, diced
17 - 1/2 cup sour cream
18 - 1/2 cup salsa
19 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
20 - 1 ripe avocado, sliced or diced
21 - 1 small red onion, finely diced
22 - Jalapeño slices (optional)
23 - Lime wedges, for serving
# How to Cook:
01 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook until softened, about 2 to 3 minutes.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds, stirring frequently.
03 - Increase heat to medium-high and add ground beef. Cook, breaking up with a spoon, until browned, about 5 to 7 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
04 - Mix in tomato paste, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
05 - Add water, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes until slightly thickened. Adjust seasoning to taste.
06 - Preheat oven to 350°F and place hard taco shells on a baking sheet. Heat for 3 to 5 minutes until crisp.
07 - Fill each shell generously with beef mixture. Top with lettuce, cheese, tomato, and preferred toppings.
08 - Serve immediately with lime wedges and additional salsa on the side.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- They come together in under 35 minutes, which means dinner without the stress.
- The beef seasoning is balanced enough that even people who say they don't like spice will eat three tacos without noticing.
- Hard shells stay crispy, and toppings let everyone build exactly what they want.
02 -
- Taste the beef mixture before serving—if it needs salt or heat, add it now rather than at the table.
- Cold toppings on warm shells is the point, so assemble right before eating or everything becomes soggy within minutes.
03 -
- Use an 80/20 ground beef blend so the filling has enough fat to taste rich without turning into a grease puddle on your plate.
- Add a splash of water to the spice mixture before it burns—this deglazes the pan and keeps the flavors from turning bitter.