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Home Mexican

Baked Beef Tacos

By:Nagi
Published:2 Nov '18Updated:9 Mar '21
125 Comments
Recipe v Video v Dozer v

Beef Tacos – the old school way!!! With juicy seasoned beef taco meat and crispy shells, this taco recipe is made with a simple yet flavour packed homemade taco seasoning that truly tastes like store bought.

I like to BAKE my tacos to crisp the shells and melt the cheese before piling on the fresh toppings. Because melted cheese wins over unmelted cheese every day!

Close up of Beef Taco recipe, fresh out of the oven, with taco meat and melted cheese

Totally un-authentic Beef Taco Recipe!

You will never find ground beef / mince tacos in Mexico. Authentic beef tacos are either sliced seared steaks (like Carne Asada), or marinated beef chopped into thin strips that are pan fried to get golden crispy edges (taqueria style), or slow-cooked and shredded into sauce like this Shredded Beef Mexican Beef and Beef Barbacoa.

So beef mince tacos, the single most popular type of taco meat made in million and millions of households the world over, is totally un-authentic.

And that’s absolutely ok. We love them anyway – and we will always love them!

Bake them!

This is how I make my old school beef tacos – BAKING them to melt the cheese and crisp the tacos shells. I don’t know if that’s “normal”, but I’ll take any opportunity to melt cheese when appropriate.

Let me put it this way – if I had a choice of a cold slice of cheese slapped on bread, or a grilled cheese sandwich with gooey cheese oozing out the sides, I know which one I’d choose.

And you?? 😇

Preparation steps for baked Beef Taco recipe

Homemade taco seasoning

Skip the packet seasoning! It truly is quite incredible how simple it is to make homemade taco seasoning. Garlic, onion, cumin, paprika, oregano plus optional cayenne pepper for a touch of heat.

Just pure, normal spices and herbs – no scary sounding ingredients you can’t pronounce like maltodextrin, silicon dioxide and ethoxyquin that you’ll find in packets of store bought!! (Yes really, just Google “Old El Paso taco seasoning ingredients”)

This taco seasoning mix is a terrific staple to add to your arsenal for all things Tex Mex, from Quesadillas to Burritos, Enchiladas to Taco Soup (don’t knock it until you’ve tried it, it’s amazing!). While stores sell different seasonings for each of these, essentially they have the same flavour base which is the Taco Seasoning mix used in this recipe.

Ingredients for the BEST Taco Meat

The taco meat

The taco meat recipe as written is my base recipe made with just beef and onion, and it will stuff 10 tacos generously or 12 normal size tacos.

Add vegetables

Add vegetables for extra nutrition and make one batch go further. Capsicum/bell peppers, corn, black beans, zucchini, to name a few. If you add vegetables, scale up the homemade taco seasoning using the recipe scaler (click on servings and slide up).

Old school taco toppings

There’s a plethora of taco topping options, but today I’m sticking with the old school way: shredded cheese, taco sauce (optional), iceberg lettuce, tomato, onion and even sour cream.

That’s right folks. We’re going Tex-Mex all the way. No fancy salsas, no authentic chilli sauces, no Mexican pickles.

Pile on that shredded cheese and sour cream! 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

Beef Taco Filling and Toppings

Just to be clear – baking the tacos with the filling and cheese is totally optional.

If you’re not a Melted-Cheese-Monster, by all means feel free to serve it the normal way – bake the empty taco shells then lay it all out for people to stuff themselves. – Nagi x


More taco topping options

  • Guacamole, Avocado Sauce or avocado slices/diced

  • Pico de Gallo (chunky tomato salsa) or a smooth Salsa Sauce

  • Taco Sauce or hot sauce / chilli sauce of choice

And more tacos

  • Quick Chicken Tacos – 2 in 1 recipe, shredded taco seasoned chicken AND taco sauce

  • Beef Tacos – the old school way

  • Marinated Grilled Chicken Tacos

  • Slow Cooked Shredded Mexican Chicken for Tacos

  • Fish Tacos – marinated and grilled, healthy and delicious!

  • Pork Carnitas Tacos – the iconic Mexican pulled pork tacos

  • Shredded Beef Tacos – tender slow cooked shredded beef in a deep flavoured Mexican sauce

  • Beef Barbacoa – another braised, shredded beef, but tangier and punching through with chipotle chill flavours

Close up of Beef Taco recipe, fresh out of the oven, with taco meat and melted cheese

WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT

Sometimes it helps to have a visual, so watch me make this Beef Taco recipe – the old school way!

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Close up of Beef Taco recipe, fresh out of the oven, with taco meat and melted cheese

Old School Beef Taco recipe

Author: Nagi
4.95 from 58 votes
Servings4
Tap or hover to scale
Print
  • 132
Recipe video above. Beef tacos - the old school way! A juicy beef filling stuffed in crispy taco shells. For the real old school experience, go with shredded iceberg lettuce, tomato and sour cream! I like to BAKE my shells with the taco meat and cheese for molten goodness, but this is optional. If you skip it, just bake the empty shells per packet directions. SCALE UP the seasonings and add vegetables to make the filling stretch further!

Ingredients

  • 10 to 12 crispy taco shells ("stand and stuff) OR soft tortillas of choice (Note 1)

Beef Tacos:

  • 1 tbsp oil
  • 2 garlic cloves , minced
  • 1 onion , finely chopped
  • 500 g / 1 lb beef , ground / mince (Note 2)
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1/4 cup / 65ml water

Homemade Taco Seasoning:

  • 1 tsp EACH garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano
  • 2 tsp EACH cumin powder, paprika
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (adjust spiciness to taste, can skip)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper

Toppings:

  • Shredded cheese (Note 3)
  • Shredded iceberg lettuce
  • 2 tomatoes , chopped
  • 1/2 red or white onion , chopped
  • Sour cream
  • Taco sauce (optional)
  • Other: coriander/cilantro , jalapeño, hot sauce / chilli sauce, pickled chillies, salsa sauce, pico de gallo

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 180C/350F.

Beef Filling:

  • Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add garlic and onion - cook 2 minutes until golden.
  • Add beef and cook for 2 minutes, breaking it up as you go, until it changes from red to light brown.
  • Add Taco Seasonings and cook for 2 minutes until beef is cooked through.
  • Add tomato paste and water. Cook for 1 minute or until water is evaporated and you're left with a juicy not not watery beef filling.

Bake (optional):

  • Place taco shells in a baking pan (I can fit 10 in). Fill with taco meat, top with cheese.
  • Bake 5 to 7 minutes until cheese is melted by which time the shells with be crispy.

Serve:

  • Serve tacos hot, straight out of the oven. Lay out toppings and sauces of choice on the table and let everyone assemble their own!

Recipe Notes:

1. Taco Shells - whatever taco shells or tortillas you use, warm them! Taco shells should be baked until crispy (they are kind of chewy and bendy straight out of the packet) and tortillas only need 20 seconds or so in the microwave (or wrap in foil and bake 5 to 10 minutes)
2. Meat - I usually use lean. If you use fatty beef, you can drain excess fat before adding Seasoning. Can also use chicken, turkey, pork.
3. Cheese - Monterey Jack is my favourite, then cheddar, tasty, pepper jack. Australia - Monterey Jack is now sold at Aldi, sometimes at Costco! Use to be sold at Harris. Melts like mozzarella, tasty like cheddar, non greasy. It's my fave.
4. Nutrition for 3 tacos, including crispy taco shell, meat, cheese, lettuce, tomato and onion.
Nutrition Facts
Old School Beef Taco recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 490 Calories from Fat 207
% Daily Value*
Fat 23g35%
Saturated Fat 9g56%
Cholesterol 99mg33%
Sodium 998mg43%
Potassium 755mg22%
Carbohydrates 31g10%
Fiber 4g17%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 36g72%
Vitamin A 630IU13%
Vitamin C 6.8mg8%
Calcium 212mg21%
Iron 4.2mg23%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 490cal (25%)Carbohydrates: 31g (10%)Protein: 36g (72%)Fat: 23g (35%)Saturated Fat: 9g (56%)Cholesterol: 99mg (33%)Sodium: 998mg (43%)Potassium: 755mg (22%)Fiber: 4g (17%)Sugar: 4g (4%)Vitamin A: 630IU (13%)Vitamin C: 6.8mg (8%)Calcium: 212mg (21%)Iron: 4.2mg (23%)
Did you make this recipe?I love hearing how you went with my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @recipe_tin.

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Hi, I'm Nagi!

I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative!

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125 Comments

  1. H says

    December 10, 2023 at 11:10 am

    5 stars
    So, so happy with this! I just made these now for the first time and they were so wonderfully simple and delicious! Thank you for creating such a delicious, easy and quick recipe! I will absolutely be trying more of your recipes

    Reply
  2. Carolyn says

    November 20, 2023 at 7:22 pm

    5 stars
    Delicious and so simple. Used both soft and hard shells in the oven with the meat and cheese and it was perfect. Hard shells were crispy and slightly chewy on the bottom which just made them better and the soft shells had a little crisipy bit on the edge which was also delicious. Pretty sure I’ll never use a packet mix again.

    Reply
  3. Dav W says

    October 24, 2023 at 8:21 pm

    3 stars
    The beef mix etc is nice and old skool but putting that mix into your tacos with cheese and baking it will ruin your night (unless you enjoy soggy bases). Definitely crisp those shells first

    Reply
  4. Angela says

    October 16, 2023 at 11:02 pm

    5 stars
    My daughter made this today it was lovely, she will be making it again.

    Reply
  5. Nicole Kennedy says

    October 9, 2023 at 7:22 pm

    5 stars
    Absolutely amazing….puts Old El Paso to shame. Thanks Nagi ❤️

    Reply
  6. Helen says

    August 20, 2023 at 5:46 pm

    Hi Navi, I congratulate you on your wonderful comprehensive recipes that are always reliable. My grandchildren particularly love the Old School Tacos and we make and enjoy them regularly. I love everything I have made from your website. Thank you for your attention to detail and all the helpful hints along the way. Keep up the fabulous work.

    Reply
  7. Shaheen says

    August 1, 2023 at 6:48 pm

    5 stars
    I can’t believe how simple and quick this recipe is, considering how delicious it turned out. Bravo

    Reply
  8. Jen says

    June 14, 2023 at 9:35 am

    5 stars
    These are amazing! Nagi, thank you for sharing such wonderful food with us. This is my go to for tacos from now on.

    Reply
  9. Basia P says

    June 3, 2023 at 12:17 pm

    5 stars
    A+ recipe. Did not change one thing in the recipe and don’t plan too. No more store bought taco seasoning for me. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  10. Julie Duvall says

    May 9, 2023 at 4:28 am

    5 stars
    AWESOME!

    Reply
  11. Esther says

    April 27, 2023 at 9:18 pm

    5 stars
    Another winner. Turned out exactly as promised. Thanks Nagi!

    Reply
  12. Yaiza says

    April 20, 2023 at 6:18 am

    5 stars
    Made these tonight with your taco sauce. They were awesome, restaurant quality.

    Reply
  13. Mary says

    March 3, 2023 at 11:27 pm

    The beef filling here was terrific and baking with the cheese worked nicely. We make our own salsa and guacamole as toppings, plus black beans and substitute the sour cream with plain yogurt. Now a favourite!

    Reply
  14. Jatt says

    November 14, 2022 at 6:28 pm

    I’m a working wife who’s never cooked anything before I was married. Your recipes were always my go-to whenever I need to make new dinners. Thanks for saving me.

    Reply
  15. Barbara says

    October 28, 2022 at 6:16 pm

    5 stars
    This was GREAT! We love tacos , the flavor for us is spot on. Thank you so much for sharing!

    Reply
  16. KN says

    October 12, 2022 at 8:21 pm

    5 stars
    Everyone loved this recipe and genius idea for baking – no more cracked tacos where all the ingredients then fall back onto the plate!! I am buying your book for my birthday (from all of my family that get to enjoy your recipes!!)

    Reply
  17. Teresa says

    October 6, 2022 at 8:44 am

    5 stars
    Oops! Forgot the stars!

    Reply
  18. Michele says

    September 14, 2022 at 9:12 pm

    5 stars
    I did not realise my entire life I had been doing tacos wrong! This is brilliant, the shells are lovey and crunchy and warm the cheese seals the meat in place so no more loose escaping bits and lovely contrast with fresh toppings! Even easier with the stand and stuff shells!!

    Reply
  19. Juloo says

    September 12, 2022 at 8:29 am

    5 stars
    THIS is the caliber of taco I’ve been wanting to make from home. Hubs said “don’t lose that recipe.” Will look for the flat bottom taco shells next time.

    Reply
  20. Girllovestheriver says

    April 12, 2022 at 11:08 am

    5 stars
    Nagi, I didn’t feel like cooking tonight. Leftover ground beef in the fridge so I thought … tacos. No taco seasoning … thought… @recipetineats will have a seasoning recipe and came across this recipe. It was like comfort food and hubby’s first words were, “oh my word”. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      April 12, 2022 at 1:39 pm

      I’m so glad I could help out with a last minute dinner!! N x

      Reply
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Hi, I'm Nagi!

I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative! Read More

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