Beef Tacos with Hard Shells (Printable)
Seasoned beef in crispy shells topped with fresh vegetables, cheese, and zesty salsa.
# Ingredient List:
→ Beef Filling
01 - 1 lb ground beef (80/20 preferred)
02 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 tbsp chili powder
05 - 1 tsp ground cumin
06 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
07 - 1/2 tsp dried oregano
08 - 1/2 tsp salt
09 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
10 - 1/4 cup tomato sauce
11 - 1/4 cup water
12 - 2 tsp vegetable oil
→ Taco Shells
13 - 8 hard taco shells
→ Fresh Toppings
14 - 1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce
15 - 1 cup diced tomatoes
16 - 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
17 - 1/4 cup diced red onion
18 - 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
19 - 1/2 cup sour cream
20 - 1/2 cup salsa (mild or spicy)
21 - 1 jalapeño, sliced (optional)
22 - 1 lime, cut into wedges
# How to Make:
01 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add finely chopped onion and sauté for 2-3 minutes until softened.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
03 - Add ground beef, breaking it up with a spatula. Cook for 5-6 minutes until fully browned and cooked through.
04 - Drain excess fat if necessary. Stir in chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper until evenly combined.
05 - Pour in tomato sauce and water, mix well, and simmer for 4-5 minutes until slightly thickened. Remove from heat.
06 - Heat hard taco shells according to package instructions while beef simmers.
07 - Fill each shell with the seasoned beef, then layer with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, cheddar cheese, red onion, cilantro, sour cream, salsa, jalapeño slices (optional), and a squeeze of lime.
08 - Serve immediately to ensure shells remain crisp.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Hard shells stay crispy even after you load them up with all the toppings you want.
- The seasoned beef is rich enough to stand on its own but plays beautifully with fresh cilantro and lime.
- You can prep everything ahead and let people build their own—it's the kind of meal that brings people together without keeping you stuck at the stove.
02 -
- If you don't warm your shells, they'll taste stale and crack before you even take a bite—this one small step changes everything.
- Don't skip the lime wedge; it's not a garnish, it's the seasoning that makes the whole thing sing.
03 -
- An 80/20 ground beef blend is your friend here—leaner meat gets dry, and ultra-fatty meat pools grease that's hard to manage.
- If you want extra flavor depth, add a tiny splash of hot sauce or Worcestershire sauce to your beef once it's browned; it intensifies everything without making it spicy.