Beef Tacos Hard Shells (Print Version)
Crispy hard shells filled with savory beef and fresh vibrant toppings, perfect for family meals or gatherings.
# What You'll Need:
→ Beef Filling
01 - 1 pound ground beef (80/20)
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 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
08 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
10 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
11 - 1/4 cup water
12 - 1 tablespoon 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
# Directions:
01 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook until softened, about 2 to 3 minutes.
02 - Add minced garlic to the skillet and cook for 30 seconds, stirring frequently.
03 - Increase heat to medium-high, add ground beef, and cook while breaking it apart with a spoon until fully browned, about 5 to 7 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
04 - Stir in tomato paste, chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute until aromatic.
05 - Pour in water, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes until slightly thickened. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
06 - Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Arrange hard taco shells on a baking sheet and warm for 3 to 5 minutes until crisp.
07 - Fill each shell with a generous portion of beef filling. Top with shredded lettuce, cheddar cheese, diced tomato, and additional desired toppings.
08 - Serve immediately with lime wedges and extra salsa on the side.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The beef comes together in barely fifteen minutes, so dinner can actually happen on a weeknight without stress.
- Everyone builds their own taco, which means no one complains about the toppings and somehow it feels like an event instead of just eating.
- The spice blend is balanced enough that even people who shy away from heat will actually enjoy it.
02 -
- If you don't drain excess fat after browning the beef, the filling will be greasy and slide right out of the shell.
- Warming the shells matters more than most people think—they go from fragile to actually structural and way more pleasant to eat.
03 -
- An 80/20 ground beef blend gives you that perfect balance of rich flavor and tender texture—don't cheap out on the meat quality here.
- If your shells seem to break too easily, try warming them individually in a dry skillet for just thirty seconds instead of using the oven; sometimes gentler is stronger.