Easy Taco Cups: Quick Weeknight Dinner Win! (Print Version)
Whip up these Easy Taco Cups for a fast, flavorful meal! Crunchy, cheesy, and packed with savory goodness. Perfect for busy evenings.
# Recipe Info:
Prep Time: 15 Minutes minutes
Cook Time: 20 Minutes minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 6 Servings
Difficulty: Beginner
Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Dietary: Meat-based
# Ingredients:
→ For the Taco Filling
01 -
1 lb (450g) lean ground beef
02 -
1 (1 oz / 28g) packet taco seasoning
03 -
1/2 cup (120ml) water
04 -
1/2 cup (120g) your favorite salsa
→ For the Crispy Shells
05 -
12 small (6-inch) flour tortillas
06 -
1 tbsp olive oil (or cooking spray)
→ Flavor Boosters
07 -
1.5 cups (170g) shredded cheddar cheese (or Mexican blend)
→ Toppings & Finishers
08 -
Sour cream or lime crema
09 -
Fresh cilantro, chopped
10 -
Diced red onion
11 -
Guacamole or avocado slices
# Instructions:
01 -
First things first, grab your biggest skillet and get it hot over medium-high heat. Add a splash of olive oil – just enough to coat the bottom. Toss in your ground beef and break it up with a spoon. You're looking for that beautiful browning, that sizzle, that smell that tells you dinner is happening! Drain any excess grease; we want flavor, not an oil slick, for our Easy Taco Cups. This is where I always get impatient and try to rush it, but truly, let it get nice and brown for depth of flavor.
02 -
Once your beef is beautifully browned, stir in your taco seasoning and about half a cup of water. Let it simmer for a few minutes, until most of the liquid has evaporated and the beef is coated in that savory, spicy goodness. This step is crucial; it infuses every bit of meat with flavor. Don't skip it! I once added too much water, and the filling was watery, making for soggy tortillas. Oops. Just a little simmer, that's the trick for flavorful Easy Taco Cups.
03 -
While your taco meat is doing its thing, grab your small flour tortillas. Lightly spray both sides with cooking spray or brush with a tiny bit of olive oil. This helps them crisp up in the oven. Gently press each tortilla into the cups of a standard muffin tin. You want them to form a little cup shape. This can be a bit fiddly, but don't stress if they aren't perfect. Mine never are! They'll still hold all the yumminess.
04 -
Now for the fun part! Spoon your seasoned taco meat into each tortilla cup. Don't overfill them, trust me on this – I've been there with the overflowing cheese mess. Just a good, generous scoop. You want enough room for that glorious cheese on top. The smell at this point is just incredible, making your kitchen smell like your favorite taco joint. This is a moment of pure anticipation for your Easy Taco Cups.
05 -
Sprinkle a generous amount of shredded cheddar cheese over the taco meat in each cup. Seriously, be generous. This cheese isn't just for flavor; it's going to melt and create a delicious, slightly crispy topping that holds everything together. I once ran out of cheddar and used a mix of random cheeses. It worked, but it wasn't the same. Cheddar just hits different here for these Easy Taco Cups.
06 -
Pop your muffin tin into a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for about 15-20 minutes. You're looking for golden-brown, crispy tortilla edges and bubbly, melted cheese. When they come out, the kitchen smells amazing, and the cheese on top of your Easy Taco Cups will have that irresistible slightly browned, gooey texture. Let them cool for just a minute or two before carefully removing them; they'll be hot!
# Notes:
01 -
Don't overfill the taco cups, they'll spill and make a mess in the oven. Learned that the hard way, cleaning sticky cheese from the muffin tin isn't fun.
02 -
You can prep the taco meat a day ahead and store it in the fridge. Makes assembly even faster when dinner time hits!
03 -
Ran out of cheddar once, used Monterey Jack and it was still delicious, just a bit milder. Experiment!
04 -
A drizzle of lime crema right before serving just elevates everything, trust me on this one.
# Equipment Needed:
01 -
Standard 12-cup muffin tin
02 -
large skillet
03 -
mixing bowls
# Nutrition (Per Serving):
Calories: 350-400
Total Fat: 20-25g
Total Carbohydrate: 25-30g
Protein: 20-25g