Beef Tacos Hard Shells (Printable Version)

Crispy shells filled with seasoned ground beef, fresh veggies, and melty cheese for a flavor-packed meal.

# What You Need:

→ Beef Filling

01 - 1 pound ground beef (80% lean)
02 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
05 - 2 teaspoons chili powder
06 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
07 - ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
08 - ½ teaspoon dried oregano
09 - ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
10 - ½ cup beef broth or water
11 - 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

→ Tacos & Toppings

12 - 8 hard taco shells
13 - 1 cup shredded lettuce
14 - 1 cup diced tomatoes
15 - 1 cup shredded cheddar or Mexican cheese blend
16 - ½ cup sour cream
17 - ¼ cup sliced green onions
18 - ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
19 - 1 jalapeño, thinly sliced
20 - Lime wedges

# How To Make It:

01 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook for 2–3 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
02 - Add ground beef to the skillet. Cook, breaking up meat with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 5–7 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
03 - Stir in tomato paste, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, cayenne, salt, and pepper. Mix well to coat the beef evenly with spices.
04 - Pour in beef broth or water. Simmer uncovered for 4–5 minutes until mixture thickens, stirring occasionally. Adjust seasoning to taste.
05 - Warm hard taco shells according to package instructions while beef filling simmers.
06 - Fill each shell with seasoned beef mixture. Layer with lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, sour cream, green onions, cilantro, and jalapeño if desired.
07 - Serve immediately with lime wedges on the side for squeezing over the top.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The seasoned beef filling comes together faster than delivery and tastes infinitely better
  • Hard shells stay perfectly crispy when you follow the warming trick I learned
  • Everyone can customize their own tacos so picky eaters and food adventurers both win
02 -
  • Draining excess fat after browning keeps the filling from becoming too heavy
  • The beef mixture needs those few minutes of simmering to let flavors meld properly
  • Warm shells right before serving or they will get soft and disappointing
03 -
  • Use a potato masher to break up ground beef into perfectly small, even crumbles
  • Squeeze fresh lime juice over the beef just before serving for brightness

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