Beef Tacos Hard Shells (Printable Version)

Crisp hard shells filled with seasoned beef, fresh toppings, and a bold, zesty flavor for any meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Beef Filling

01 - 1 lb ground beef, 80/20 blend
02 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 packet taco seasoning, 1 oz
05 - 2/3 cup water
06 - 1 tbsp tomato paste

→ 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
15 - Lime wedges

# How to Make It:

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, about 5-6 minutes.
03 - Add chopped onion to skillet and sauté until softened, about 2 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook 30 seconds.
04 - Sprinkle taco seasoning and tomato paste over beef. Mix well. Pour in water, reduce heat to medium, and simmer 4-5 minutes until thickened.
05 - Remove shells from oven. Spoon beef mixture evenly into each shell.
06 - Top with lettuce, cheese, tomato, sour cream, cilantro, jalapeño, and salsa as desired. Serve immediately with lime wedges.

# Expert Insights:

01 -
  • Comes together in under 30 minutes, faster than delivery and infinitely more satisfying
  • The beef filling gets incredibly flavorful and thick, so every bite is loaded with seasoning, not just meat
  • Hard shells stay perfectly crisp when you warm them properly, eliminating that tragic soggy bottom situation
02 -
  • Never skip warming the shells in the oven, which is what keeps them structural and crispy instead of breaking apart immediately
  • Let the beef mixture cool slightly in the pan before filling shells, as piping hot filling can make the shells soften faster
03 -
  • If your taco shells came with a stand or box, save it for next time because it makes assembly so much easier
  • Double the beef mixture and freeze half for an even faster dinner next week

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